Graphic Novels from A to Z
Many teachers are turning to comic books as a tool to develop reading skills as well as a deeper love for reading.
This final collection has some Young Adult (YA) graphic novels that are not Manga (I didn’t cover Manga simply because I haven’t read any. My son is not old enough yet). From gritty to fantasy, YA graphic novels cover the gamut.
Thank you for reading my collection of posts covering the ABCs of graphic novels. You must love graphic novels too!
Day 1: ABCs of Graphic Novels, A-E
Day 2: ABCs of Graphic Novels, F-J
Day 3: ABCs of Graphic Novels, K-O
Day 4: ABCs of Graphic Novels: P-T
Day 5: ABCs of Graphic Novels: U-Z
U is for Underpants. Captain Underpants that is! And now there is Super Diaper Baby too!
V is for Vendetta by David Lloyd for grades 9 and up. A powerful story about the loss of freedom and individuality, V FOR VENDETTA takes place in totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. The perfect graphic novel for Hunger Games fans!
W is for surviving in the wilderness. The True Story: The Lost Trail, Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness by Donn Fendler with Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Ben Bishop. The perfect realistic (because it’s a true story!) graphic novel for boys who liked The Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain. This is a perfect book for anyone who has been to Newport, Maine. Bonus points for knowing where Sebasticook Lake is. Donn, as a 12-year-old boy scout, spent nine days alone in the wilderness, struggling to survive with no supplies or weapons.
X is for eXtinct. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay reads like an epic adventure from Greek mythology of King Arthur. The story begins with the last dragon emerging two hundred years later from when the dragons were thought to be destroyed in a group of islands known as Dragonfield (but remind me of Olde England) and it must be destroyed before it consumes the people of Meddlesome. A hero is required and two emerge. Lancelot, a hero for hire, and Tansy, the daughter of an herbal healer. [young adult, but appropriate for grades 5 and up]
Y is for Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri. A gritty inner-city graphic novel, it tells the true story of author G. Neri’s classmate, Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, and his descent into gang warfare and an early death. Consider this a graphic novel version of Scared Straight.
Z is for Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler. Zig and Wikki are aliens so that instantly makes this book appealing for boys. Also, Z is for Zombies. Did you know there is a Hardy Boys graphic novel series?
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More great posts from the Kid Bloggers Network on THE ABC’S OF…
- Books for Preschoolers from Mommy and Me Book Club
- Building a Home Library from Ready Set Read!
- Early Language Learning from Playting with Words 365
- Early Literacy from Playdough to Plato
- Exploring Books from JDaniel4’s Mom
- Graphic Novels from Pragmatic Mom
- Learning to Read Through Play from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
- Learning to Write from NurtureStore
- Reading Comprehension for Pre K-Grade 1 from The Wise Owl Factory
- Storytelling from A Mom with a Lesson Plan
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If only there had been Hardy boys graphic novels about zombies when my husband was a kid… I think he would have become a book lover! This was a fantastic series. I’m so excited to have this as a reference for now and the future. I love how it spans multiple ages! Thanks for taking the time to write this for us.
Hi Jackie,
Thanks so much for your kind words! Yes, Hardy Boys graphic novels with zombies is a nice addition to the mystery series! Can’t imagine how it existed without it! 🙂 I was surprised and delighted myself to find that graphic novels now exist for toddlers and preschoolers. That’s a new trend and wonderful as word gets out that graphic novels are truly an effective genre to teach kids inferencing as well as get kids reading more.
I love your series. It’s an important one – to have children unplug and read! We really like Captain Underpants – so clever and funny. And it’s great to find out about so many books I didn’t know about. Great series!
Thanks so much Susan! My 8-year-old son drove this series by making me constantly take him to the library to find more graphic novels when he wasn’t able to get them at his school library. If more than one person wants the same limited book, they have this jar of numbers and highest number wins. He came home several times because he drew “the stinky number and it’s just not fair!” I’d take him to the public library to find that book instead. One was a Dav Pilkey Super Baby one.
It was eye opening to me to watch my son who much prefers screen time in general, reading the books he selected in the car on the way home from the library and then all day until he was done. I think it helped set him up for chapter books.
Now I’m thinking that graphic novels and action adventure chapter books like Percy Jackson have that same exciting, plot driven appeal as video games. He also liked Choose You Own Ending adventure books. It’s tough to get kids reading such that they choose it over everything else given all the choices on screens these days so I think it’s important to get “reading” associated with “fun” by having books they are excited about and reading time a special time that is pleasurable.
You make me rethink about comic books. Thanks!
Hi iGameMom,
I’m so glad! I thought of graphic novels as comic books too, as I did not really read them growing up except for the bible stories as comics I got as a child for going to Sunday School. Now, I’m a big fan!
Times have changed and teens find graphic novels very interesting. The art, however, is the key. Graphic Novels are so well-drawn that the can pass as art. You can see graphic novel design if you go http://www.artcentron.com. If you have some time, you also read some art news <a href
Thanks so much Blue for the link and heads up! I do agree that graphic novels are art!