This week I will be looking at graphic novels. They have a tendency to be pretty controversial for some, most adult readers.

Annable, Graham. Peter & Ernesto:  A Tale of Two Sloths. First edition. New York, NY, First Second, 2018.

The first graphic novel for the week is Peter & Ernesto. This is a graphic novel geared toward those beginning readers. It is almost like a level one graphic novel. The tale is adorable and easy to follow. The illustrations are very effective in capturing the attention of those young readers. They are cute and often silly. The sloth’s large eyes convey emotion in each illustration. 

The pictures tell a story and there are not an overwhelming amount of words. The words are large enough to read and follow. Children will definitely understand the simple plot of adventure and friendship. There is a second installation in the series, so readers can keep the adventure going. 

Brown, Jeffrey. Jedi Academy. Edition statements vary on different printings of this edition. New York, NY, Scholastic Inc, 2013.

The next graphic novel is Star Wars Jedi Academy. This is a great series for comfortable readers. There are definitely far more words than Peter and Ernesto, though there are still ample images. The images are cartoonish and look like they could be made by children. What makes this series interesting is that it plays with the graphic novel format, adding in different lists, homework assignments, etc.

There is far more reading involved in this series than Peter & Ernesto, but the storyline is still accessible for young readers. This series is especially great for those Star Wars fans out there. Jedi Academy is a 4 part series, so interested readers will have several books to read. 

King, Thomas and Natasha Donovan. Borders. First U.S. Trade paperback edition. New York, Little, Brown and Company, 2022

The next graphic novel is definitely more mature than the previous two. Borders is beautifully written and illustrated. The story is not terribly difficult to follow, but I believe this would be better suited for a middle school or above reader. At first glance, the story looks to be about the US/Mexico border, but it is actually about a Native American that neither identifies with the US or Canada. This is a great subject to write a graphic novel about, as we need to have more conversations about this in our society. I enjoyed this one the most of my reading for the week and think it’s a valuable addition to a library collection for a more mature reader.

The use of color throughout the graphic novel also conveys so much information. Here is a somber scene, in monotone. 

Brown, Don. In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers. Etch/Clarion Books. 2021, August 10. 

The final graphic novel gets even more mature. This one  is actually an informational graphic novel and takes readers through the day of and the days following 911. The pictures tell a harrowing tale and are rendered in a chaotic, dark style. There is often smoke and fire depicted throughout the scenes designed to represent the rescuing efforts that took place in the days after 911. It really gets the reader to think about how hot the ashes must have been. The pages seem to smolder.

The storyline  is not difficult to read in skill, but difficult to read in content. I would say this is a young adult book, or YA. I believe the details presented in the writing are for an older audience. 

The graphic novels discussed all offer distinct benefits to readers of all ages. I believe if every adult chose to read a graphic novel in a subject that interested them, the great graphic novel debate would die down.