By Michael Gianfrancesco
I have been doing this whole “teaching with comics” thing for nearly 15 years and I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with teachers all over the country. During panels and workshops, I find that I often hear (or overhear) a specific remark: “I love these books. They’re great for my reluctant readers.”
When I hear teachers say things like this, or that comics are only for the “kids who don’t like to read,” I feel they’re buying into a common myth: that reluctant readers are the only ones who can benefit from comics. While it’s true that comics and graphic novels do work well with reluctant readers, that’s precisely because they work well with nearly all readers. Rather than relegated to only the most struggling students, comics can be useful – even invaluable – for elementary all the way up to College Preparatory or even Advanced Placement classes, offering up countless opportunities for teachers and administrators to better engage their students.
For my part, I use comics with all my students who vary in gender, age, and academic performance – from reluctant to engaged and everything in between. Of course, curation is key here. Should you decided to take on the challenge and joy of teaching with comics in your classroom, it is important to understand what titles you have to choose from and the complexity level of these texts – particularly if you are not familiar with them – as some of them are every bit as complex as their chapter-based counterparts. For example, while I’d avoid handing a difficult book like Maus or Persepolis to a student who struggles with reading, I would also be hesitant to hand an elementary-level Smile to an 11th or 12th grade honors or college prep group.
See, that’s the rub! With the diverse range of comics available today, it’s hard to know exactly what works best for your students – especially if you’re new to comics. To help, I have taken the liberty of listing some great examples below, along with a few of the themes that the texts take on to help you decide how to work them into your curriculum:
Elementary/Middle School Level:
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
An emotional coming of age story about trust, betrayal and acceptance of fate.
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
A fantasy epic which explores the concepts of responsibility, reaching one’s potential, and understanding what family is really all about.
The Eternal Smile or American Born Chinese by Gene Yang
Three short stories which shatter the concepts of identity, reality, and the ability to be satisfied with our lives.
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis
Illustrates the importance of critical thinking, teamwork and understanding of natural laws to solve practical problems.
Astronaut Academy (Series) by Dave Roman
Lots of short attention span stories that tie together into a larger narrative that explores emotion, science and self-awareness.
The Human Body Theatre by Maris Wicks
All of the systems of the human body join readers on stage in a comical and scientifically accurate exploration of anatomy.
Smile or Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
True stories of the author’s life which explore family, friendship, growth and the challenges of passing from one stage of life to another.
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Trying to connect to others and maintain some sort of identity amongst peers is the biggest challenge the characters face here.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
The story of a long-standing rivalry between a hero and a villain that blurs the line of what is bad and what is good.
High School Level:
Maus by Art Speigelman
The true story of a couple who survived Auschwitz told through the eyes of the son of the survivors. Pain, loss, survival and redemption are just a few of the themes explored.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Satrapi’s real life experiences growing up in Iran and Europe during and after the Islamic revolution in the 80’s.
Superman: American Alien by Max Landis
Superman is an iconic character, and there are many stories that have been told about him, but none like the ones in this book. Each tale conjuring a different emotion than the last, this book offers amazing new perspectives of the Man of Steel.
Batman: Year One by Frank Miller
Batman’s initial successes and failures as a costumed hero are fraught with pain, persistence and an unquenched desire for justice.
I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly
The role of an outsider is never an easy one. This story takes the concept of the other and multiplies it exponentially.
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Identity and the path to the future are not always evident.
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan
War harms everyone, even the animals in a zoo hit during a bombing run.
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
Dystopia, anarchy, revolution and the danger of unchecked authority.
The texts above are just a start. If you decide to start with your struggling readers by passing some comics into their hands, just keep in mind that this is where you should be beginning, not ending, your intervention. When you are comfortable with their effectiveness and your ability to implement them successfully, you can take the next step and bring these texts to your other, higher achieving students!
It may take some time but, in my experience, it usually does not take long to discover those books that will make your reading-loving students eager to explore and be challenged by new types of texts, topics, and content.