The second installment of this column, here to recommend books to tweens and teens, is all about graphic novels -- one of my favorite genres to read.
Graphic novels are not only fun to read but also give you a different way to see from the character's perspective through visual art. And they are very popular. In fact, since 2019, graphic novel sales have spiked by 100 percent! According to one survey, two out of five kids read graphic novels at least once a month.
So why are they so popular? Well, graphic novels are engaging to kids because of the way their images aid the development of the story. Also, graphic novels help some readers have a deeper connection to the characters in the story and foster a deeper connection to all reading and books.
Graphic novels and comic books are not the same thing. While both can be part of ongoing series, comic books tend to be much shorter and have their storylines stretched out over many editions. Graphic novels are longer and have contained storylines.
I have so many favorite graphic novels, so it was a challenge to pick just three for this column. Since it’s back to school time, these graphic novels are all about navigating the middle school experience. I’d say all of these books could be read by kids from fifth grade up.
The first I’m recommending is “Twins” by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright, about twin girls going into sixth grade: Maureen, the smart and antisocial twin, and Francine, the social butterfly. Francine is trying as hard as she can to separate herself from Maureen, and hates being confused with her twin. After Maureen finds out Francine had specifically asked the school to have different classes than her, Maureen lashes out Francine. She's so angry that she runs against Francine for student council president. Now the two girls are bickering and fighting nonstop, and eventually stop talking to each other. They get so wrapped up in their campaigns they forget about their bond as twins. They don’t know if they’ll make up, or if this election will change their dynamic forever. Some things I love about this book are the changing social dynamics, the colorful illustrations, and the incorporation of public speaking.
Another favorite is the “New Kid” series by Jerry Craft, which is told from the perspective of Jordan, a Black teenage boy going to a prep school that is almost entirely rich white kids. Jordan has always wanted to be an artist, and has always wanted to go to an art school. His mother convinced him to go to a middle school in Riverdale for a year. He makes friends, frenemies, and builds relationships with teachers there, but he also struggles with discrimination, puberty, and fitting in. Jordan’s experiences in middle school range from perfect to awful and everything in between. There are currently three books in this series. I love the realness of the teenage experience in them and how the author portrays the bonds forged between friends and incorporation of art and sketches in the series.
Finally, I'd like to recommend “Clash” by Kayla Miller, about a sixth-grade girl named Olive. Olive is very content in her life. She has a lot of friends, she’s doing great in school, and she’s closer to her family than ever. Then all of a sudden, a new kid comes to school. Her name is Nat. At first, Olive can't wait to show Nat around and welcome her to the school. Then, it seems like Nat has something against her. She never goes out of her way to say hi to Olive, rolls her eyes at her jokes, and even goes so far as to call things Olive loves dorky. Olive feels like her friends are turning on her in favor of this cool girl, and she feels that she can’t blame them. As Olive navigates this dilemma, she learns valuable lessons about loyalty, friendship, and family. I love the personalities of all the characters, the ways the characters begin to see from each other's point of view, and Olive’s family dynamic. This book is part of a six-book series, so if you like it, there are five more to read!
Do you have suggestions a theme or a book series I should explore. Email me at [email protected].
Happy reading!
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Rafaela DeMartis is an eighth-grader at the Springs School.