Literacy Now

Are you ready to go back to school? Build excitement for learning and new school-year adventures with these books—perfect to kick the year off to a great start!

Ages 4–8

ABC School’s For Me! Susan B. Katz. Ill. Lynn Munsinger. 2015. Scholastic.

A perfect ABC book, especially for preschoolers who are heading to school for the first time. Katz’s ABC book features an adorable class of bear cubs who are ready to learn their alphabet, read books, and color with new crayons. Read this rhyming picture book to find out what else they do during their busy school day!

Daddy’s Back-to-School Shopping Adventure. Alan Lawrence Sitomer. Ill. Abby Carter. 2015. Disney-Hyperion.

What happens when Dad takes the kids for school supplies? He’s likely to go OFF THE LIST! How can anyone resist such temptations as glow-in-the-dark glue sticks or sparkly purple wet wipes? Check out this picture book to see if Dad gives in to the kids’ wishes or if he sticks to the list!

Ollie’s Class Trip: A YES-and-NO Book. Stephanie Calmenson. Ill. Abby Carter. 2015. Holiday House.

Encourage shared reading with this book that invites new readers into the story by having them respond with YES or NO to the questions posed along the way. Will Ollie’s class go to the moon? NO! Will they visit the aquarium? YES! Complete with a Class Trip YES list at the end of the story, this book is perfect to prepare for the first field trip of the year.

Ready for School, Murphy? Brendan Murphy. 2015. Disney-Hyperion.

Murphy’s got a bad case of butterflies-in-his tummy. Or is it the heebie-jeebies? Or maybe it’s—OH NO—a computer virus?! Whatever it is, he’s pretty sure he’s too sick to go to school today. Will Murphy be able to convince his dad to let him stay home? Read this book to find out what happens!

Ages 9–11

Ginny Louise and the School Showdown.Tammi Sauer. Ill. Lynn Munsinger. 2015. Disney-Hyperion.

Dagnabbit! There’s some rowdy rule breakers at Truman Elementary, like Make-My-Day May, Destructo Dude, and Cap’n Catastrophe. These pint-sized bandits rule the school with their rule-breaking ways until Ginny Louise moves in and starts turning things around. Filled with lots of alliteration, this picture book is perfect for teaching figurative language and for getting the school year off on the right foot.

Ruby on the Outside. Nora Raleigh Baskin. 2015. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Eleven-year-old Ruby has a pretty big secret—her mom is in jail. This is an important topic in the lives of children that is often overlooked or not discussed. Ruby’s inner struggle with whether to tell her friends the truth about her mom is at the heart of this novel about family and friendship.

Rufus the Writer. Elizabeth Bram. Ill. Chuck Groenink. 2015. Schwartz & Wade.

Build excitement for writing with this picture book about Rufus, who created his own Story Stand! Young writers might be inspired to make their own Story Stand in the classroom and create stories for their friends. This is a wonderful book to create a community of writers.

Ages 12–14

After the Bell Rings: Poems About After-School Time. Carol Diggory Shields. Ill. Paul Meisel. 2015. Dial Books for Young Readers.

Fans of Shields’s other poems about school will enjoy this new collection that features verses about common after-school activities like homework, snacks, car pools, and text messaging. Great for using as a mentor text to have middle-level learners write their own after-school poems.

Saving Mr. Terupt. Rob Buyea. 2015. Delacorte.

The kids from the first two Mr. Terupt books are getting ready to start middle school. Fans of Buyea’s series who may also be starting middle school themselves will enjoy this book that captures each character’s story through alternating chapters.

We Are All Made of Molecules. Susin Nielsen. 2015. Wendy Lamb.

When popular girl Ashley and nerdy science geek Stewart suddenly find themselves living in the same household, how will they possibly survive middle school? This novel about compromises and seeing each other’s strengths is a great way to challenge the cliques that inevitably form in middle and high schools.

Ages 15+

Galgorithm. Aaron Kato. 2015. Simon Pulse.

High school student Shane Chambliss has finally done it—he’s figured out the secret formula for dating success that he names “the Galgorithm.” Word travels quickly, and Shane becomes the unofficial “dating guru” of Kingsview High. Filled with both hilarious and poignant moments, this book will appeal to teens experiencing their first foray into romance.

Sophomore Year Is Greek to Me. Meredith Zeitlin. 2015. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

The author of Freshman Year & Other Natural Disasters is back with a new book aimed at the high school crowd. In this story, main character Zona finds herself unexpectedly spending her sophomore year of high school in Greece when her journalist dad announces that they will be living there for 6 months while he finishes a story he is writing. This book about being brave, facing new challenges, and the power of family will resonate with teen readers.

Why’d They Wear That? Fashion as the Mirror of History. Sarah Albee. 2015. National Geographic.

Nothing says “back to school” like a new outfit! This nonfiction book shows how “what people wore” was also a reflection of the era in which they lived. Filled with drawings, photos, and infographics, this is a great way to get teens excited for research.

Jennifer W. Shettel is an associate professor at Millersville University of PA, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy for preservice and practicing teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Millersville, she spent 16 years as both an elementary classroom teacher and a reading specialist.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG)and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

Teachers recognize the importance of reading aloud to their students. Reading aloud to students on a daily basis continues to have a significant impact on students’ literacy development. As members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, we considered new releases that would generate appeal and interest across genres for readers. 

Ages 4–8

Bee Dance. Rick Chrustowski. 2015. Henry Holt.

This basic informational book features a playful tone and inviting illustrations. The text has poetic appeal (Now the bees know just where to fly/Soon they see flowers reaching toward the sky), but also is heavy on content. Readers may not even realize the facts and terms (e.g., scout, forager, waggle run) they are learning about bees and their behavior. The book functions well as a picture book because of the bright collage artwork, but the text is set in a large size and printed in either black or white, so it stands out against the colorful backgrounds, making it suitable for young readers to navigate on their own. Ample back matter is provided to help readers gain a better understanding of the tidbits of information shared in the story.  
—LC

A Chicken Followed Me Home! Robin Page. 2015. Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster.

What would you do if a chicken followed you home?  How would you know what kind of chicken you have? How would you feed it? These are just some of the questions posed by the unnamed narrator in this nonfiction picture book for young readers. Using a question-and-answer format, this selection offers concise facts about what chickens eat, their life cycle, and other interesting information. Each page offers visually attractive illustrations, boldfaced questions, and boldfaced key words (e.g., chick, egg). The back matter includes additional questions about chickens.

—MN

Dory and the Real True Friend. Abby Hanlon. 2015. Penguin.

Dory from Dory Fantasmagory is back to celebrate the playful moments of childhood. In this second book, Dory is determined to make a friend. Her siblings remind her that if she wants to make new friends, she should leave her ‘imaginary’ ones at home. Dory’s free-spirited character and quest to find a like-minded friend is told with both sensitivity and gentle humor. Readers will enjoy learning more about Dory’s new REAL friend, Rosabelle, as they embark on “imaginative” outings. The return of Mrs. Gobble Gracker and Mr. Nuggey along with the amusing illustrations will leave readers giggling for more.

—MN

How to Read a Story. Kate Messner. Ill. Mark Siegel. 2015. Chronicle.

Kate Messner’s latest picture book is organized into 10 easy-to-follow steps that encourage budding readers to enjoy reading. Upon opening the first double-page spread, readers meet a young boy surrounded by books of all genres and formats. As the story continues, each step serves as a “guide” to enjoy the gift of reading. Messner offers tips, such as varying inflection for different characters, pausing to think about what is happening in the story, and reading with expression. Mark Siegel’s illustrations provide visual cues to support the text. (Hint: Look closely at the book underneath the boy’s dog.) The message that reading is personal and enjoyable resounds across the pages.

—MN

Vincent Paints His House. Tedd Arnold. 2015. Holiday House.

The endpapers, full of tubes of colored paint, immediately introduce the story told in this clever picture book featuring, but never naming, Vincent van Gogh. Vincent begins by painting his house white, but his companions (from the spider to the bat) all have an opinion. The repetitive pattern of Vincent choosing a color and then being interrupted will make for a dynamic read-aloud. The last page nods to van Gogh’s Starry Night painting, with a picture of the colorful house set against swirls of blue and yellow. Readers will want to see the real painting as well as images of van Gogh’s house at Arles.
—LC

Ages 9–11

Circus Mirandus. Cassie Beasley. 2015. Dial Books for Young Readers.

The book opens with a letter addressed to The Lightbender, reminding him that “you promised me a miracle.” The letter is from Micah Tuttle’s Grandpa Ephraim, who is dying. The two have lived together since Micah’s parents died. Now his very unsympathetic Aunt Gertrudis has moved in to help, but Micah knows the magical circus from his grandfather’s stories is the key to making thing better. When Micah and his friend Jenny meet Chintzy, the messenger (mail parrot) from Circus Mirandus, the question moves from the existence of the circus to the real power of The Lightbender. Brief chapters and intermittent illustrations make this an ideal read-aloud for a wide range of grades.

—LC

The Stars of Summer. Tara Dairman. 2015. G.P. Putnam.

Fans of Tara Dairman All Four Stars (2014) featuring pint-size chef and (secret) restaurant reviewer, Gladys Gatsby will be delighted with her new adventures. The Stars of Summer opens with Gladys’s birthday celebration dinner with her family and friends and sprinkles just the right balance of backstory to reacquaint readers with its protagonist. Her circle of friends know about her secret and assist her in any way to help her accomplish her reviewing assignments for The Standard’s restaurant review column. But how will Gladys continue to keep this secret from her parents? How will she be able to fulfill her latest assignment of finding the best hot dog in New York City while attending summer camp? Throughout this action-packed novel, Gladys’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, love of food, wit, and determination rise to the occasion as she learns important lessons about friendship and life.

—MN

Ages 12–14

All the Answers. Kate Messner. 2015. Bloomsbury.

Twelve-year-old Ava Anderson, like many girls her age, worries a lot about her friends and family. While rummaging through some drawers, Ava comes across an ordinary-looking pencil—a pencil that could talk! Ava uses the magical pencil to ask questions. For example, her best friend Sophie wants to know what a popular celebrity is doing that very minute! However, after each use, the pencil has to be sharpened and becomes smaller. Soon, Ava recognizes that she needs to ask the questions more wisely to prolong its use. Throughout the novel, Ava grapples with serious concerns about those around her, including her mom’s breast cancer and the death of a loved one. This beautifully written story, with its magical realism, will certainly appeal to readers.

—MN

The Sign of the Cat. Lynne Jonell. 2015. Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt.

Full of mystery and adventure, this animal fantasy with a royal context will keep readers guessing and rooting for the hero. Duncan McKay can speak cat and has been told by his mother not ever to be the best or to come in first. Both of these aspects of Duncan’s life are clues to his real identity. The book is perfectly paced to scaffold readers as they put the pieces of history together. You certainly don’t have to be a cat lover to fall in love with Duncan’s cat companions, Fia and Brig. Each of the 28 chapters features a sketch with clues about the story. Teachers could use the pictures and chapter titles to invite predictions.

—LC

Ages 15 +

Audacity. Melanie Crowder. 2015. Philomel.

Based on the true story of Clara Lemlich, this powerful novel in verse captures her emotions, strong will, and social activism for improved labor regulations in factories. Organized by the significant time periods of Clara’s life, author Melanie Crowder carefully weaves poignant details about Clara and her family’s immigration to the United States to Clara’s stance for equal rights. With ample use of white space, strong characterization, intense emotion, and imagery, readers glimpse into Clara’s deepest thoughts, convictions, doubts, and victories. Lemlich, determined to receive an education, attended classes after arduous work days and frequently visited the library: “I will come here after work/after my English classes/when I can/a book for dessert/after the long, hard days.” Historical notes, glossary, and an interview with Clara Lemlich’s living relatives is included. This is an outstanding selection to launch interdisciplinary subject area connections.

—MN

Please Excuse This Poem: 100 New Poets for the Next Generation. Brett Fletcher Lauer & Lynn Melnick (Eds.). 2015. Viking.

This collection of poetry is a great find for any high school teacher. Choosing poems to share daily with classes, for enjoyment or for further study, would be easy. The collection features a wide range of topics and poets from diverse backgrounds. Readers should be prepared for the treatment of challenging subjects, as exemplified by Thomas Sayers Ellis’s “Race Change Operation,” Prageeta Sharma’s “On Immigration,” and Patricia Lockwood’s “Rape Joke.” Only one poem by each writer is shared, and the collection seems meant to browse. Aspiring writers will be interested in the “about the poets” section, which contains biographical information as well as a selected set of questions and answers (e.g., first poem you loved, your idea of misery, natural talent you would most like to have).

—LC

Additional resources about reading aloud:

• Dynamic Read-Aloud Strategies for English Learners: Building Language and Literacy in the Primary Grades. Peggy Hickman and Sharolyn D. Pollard-Durodola. 2009. International Reading Association.
•  In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practice. Steven Layne. 2015. Stenhouse.
• The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th ed.). Jim Trelease. 2013. Penguin.

Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses in children’s/adolescent literature. Mary Napoli is an associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg, where she teaches literacy courses.
The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

There are ways in which roller derby is a lot like life. It moves fast, it can be slippery, sometimes you get a little bruised—physically and emotionally.

When Victoria Jamieson saw those connections, she turned it into Roller Girl, her latest graphic novel. In it she also follows the theme of many of her other books: Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you still fail. And that’s OK. Jamieson knows that’s a hard lesson to learn, even for adults, but she keeps reinforcing it for her readers.

In Olympig! and Roller Girl, you aren’t afraid to show that sometimes, even when you tried really hard, you can fail. Do you think students are told enough that failing IS an option?

I know it was a tough lesson for me to learn as a kid. Instead of being told that failure is an option, I was more likely to hear, “If you try really hard, you can do anything you put your mind to.” That’s an important sentiment, but sometimes when the big game, test, or competition comes around, you try really hard and still fail. For example, Olympig! was born out of the memory of a Kid Olympics we had on my block when I was 6 years old. I was obsessed with Mary Lou Retton and was determined to win the gold medal (tin foil) in gymnastics. I practiced for weeks, tried really hard and—lost. I was devastated, because I wasn’t prepared for the fact that I could practice hard, try my best, and still lose. As an adult, this still happens of course, and I don’t think the pain gets any easier to bear! As an author, I think this is great fodder for stories—how do you rebound from crushing defeat? It’s a real test of character.

You are a roller girl yourself. How far were you into roller derby before you thought, “This would be a great book concept for kids”?

I first learned about roller derby through a YA novel (Derby Girl, by Shauna Cross; later renamed Whip It after it was turned into a movie). At first, I was not thinking at all about writing a book about derby; it was a new and exciting obsession, but it took all my energy just to learn how to skate. As time went on and derby became more integrated into my daily life, I began to see how “real life” and roller derby intersected and informed one another. I began making little “mini-comics” about my personal trials and tribulations with the sport. At the same time, junior roller derby for skaters ages 12–17 was becoming more and more popular. I finally felt ready to write a longer story about roller derby, and a story about junior derby told as a graphic novel seemed like a perfect match.

I’m sure you’ve been asked this a million times, but… What is it like as a woman creating graphic novels, and has that changed since you began in picture books?

I am very lucky that my book came out in the PRT (Post–Raina Telegemeier) age. I am not even sure that I would have considered a graphic novel format if I had not read Smile and thought, “Yes! This is the type of book for older readers I want to write!” And of course, the month before Roller Girl was published, Cece Bell won the Newbery Honor for her graphic novel El Deafo. So I am very lucky and grateful for the achievements of these trailblazing women. Honestly, when I decided to write a graphic novel I was less concerned about being a woman, and more concerned with not knowing very much about the comics industry. I didn’t read comic books growing up, I wasn’t interested in superheroes, and I wasn’t aware of anything beyond that in comics. I loved comic strips like “For Better or For Worse” and “Calvin and Hobbes,” but that was about the extent of my knowledge. In that respect, I am also thankful to the work of Matt Phelan and Jarrett J. Krosoczka; I watched as they transitioned from picture books to graphic novels, and it gave me the courage to try it too.

What’s your process for picture books compared with graphic novels?

The process for writing both is actually quite similar! I tend to spend a lot of time thinking about my characters first. I doodle, draw, and daydream for quite some time before worrying too much about the details of the plot. As I get to know the characters more, I can start to think more concretely about the story. For both picture books and graphic novels, I like to think of the story as an arc. Who is the character at the beginning of the story? What is his or her struggle? What is the emotional climax of the story? How has the character changed by the end of the book? The transition from picture book to graphic novel was actually much smoother than I had envisioned, because I could apply this same “formula” to both.

Recently, William Joyce released Billy’s Booger, a revision of the very first book he wrote in elementary school. You’ve mentioned Super Cow! as your first book. Would you ever go back and revise that?

I didn’t know Billy’s Booger was a revision of a childhood book! I also love No, David! which, as David Shannon explains in the author’s note, is a revision of the first book he wrote as a child. So maybe you’re on to something! I know my mom would be thrilled; I think it is still her favorite book that I’ve written. I’ll need to revisit the ending, because if I remember correctly, Super Cow! ends with the statement, “… and it was all a dream!”. I’m not sure if that ending will “fly”—har har!

April Hall is editor of Literacy Daily. A journalist for about 20 years, she has specialized in education, writing and editing for newspapers, websites, and magazines.

Graphic novels are often overlooked, dismissed even, when people come into our library. On more than one occasion, I have overheard a parent dismiss a book as nothing but a silly comic book and steer their child towards something they deem more acceptable. I will admit I was one of those parents. Graphic novels and comic books seemed too busy for me to follow, so when my daughter would look for a book to read, eventually selecting a graphic novel or comic book, I would pair her picks with “regular” novels. After being introduced to some wonderful titles through a former library vendor, I changed my opinion about comic books in general and have been looking for ways to share this revelation ever since.

Each summer, my library system is a part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, tweens, teens, and adults with a theme for children. The theme for 2015 is “Every Hero Has a Story,” which led to the creation of Superhero Reads at our library. Superhero Reads was originally to be a book discussion group for tweens, ages 8–11, to discuss books featuring heroes. The library would provide a list of titles from which the students would choose, and they would read the books on their own. During our weekly meetings, we would discuss our books. This would allow students the opportunity to share what they are reading, practice public speaking and expressing themselves, and introduce titles that may otherwise go unread.

The plans I made were abandoned after the first meeting. The group of students who showed up for the initial meet up ranged from ages 5–12, and the range of books being discussed was so broad that some of the children wanted to leave the first meetup.

The name of the program confused some of the members, because they thought a superhero was coming to read to them. Once we explained that THEY were creating their own heroes, the children were excited to get to work. As we started the ice-breaker activities, some of the students needed more encouragement than others to share their favorite hero traits and what book they were reading, and the format was altered to accommodate the attendees.

There was a discussion about favorite heroes, what makes a person a hero, and what’s in a name. Using an online tool to generate names, we created the ultimate superhero name and then we wrote backstories. Children were encouraged to read what they wrote in a judgment-free space. Feedback and suggestions were offered to those students who were struggling. Some participants created original characters whereas others went with established characters. Although some of the stories were familiar, there also were some unique additions that made familiar characters fun and fresh.

What good is a hero without a nemesis? So we created some.

I had found that many children were reluctant to share, worrying that their creation was not “right,” but I show them some of my artwork—which only can be described as horrible—to put them at ease and to demonstrate that everyone struggles, but that is not a reason not to try.

Supplies for these creations included paper, pencils, color pencils or crayons, books (which we got from the library), and a place to meet. My library owns a machine to make spiral bound books but we could easily substitute rings or use a binder, so costs were kept to a minimum.

The range of backstories were so much fun that for a moment one student said that he wished that he could be a supervillain (me too!). We flushed out characteristics for the villains. The students who were further along created logos and costumes for their characters. The first meeting seemed to be the most diverse with age and ability, and subsequent meetings found different students attending throughout the run of the program. We discuss what makes a hero, offered scenarios in which our hero may be confronted with unheroic behavior, and choices the hero should make. We talk about unlikely villains. We share artwork which may or may not be perfect. We have fun.

The final product is currently in production. We are combining the art and stories we have created into a graphic novel each student will receive at the end. Some stories are more complete than others, which is just fine. The idea was to encourage imagination, exploration, and to put to rest the words “I can’t.”

Resources to start your own graphic novel discussion group

• No Flying No Tights


• School Library Journal’s Good Comics for Kids


• Scholastic’s Guide to Using Graphic Novels With Children and Teens


• 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die. Paul Gravett (Ed.). Foreword by Terry Gilliam. 2011. Universe Publishing.


• The Complete Guide to Figure Drawing for Comics and Graphic Novels. Daniel Cooney. 2012. Barron’s Educational Series.


•  The Insider's Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels. Andy Schmidt. 2009. IMPACT.

Rachee Fagg is the children’s librarian at the Lansdowne Public Library in Lansdowne, PA.

The ever-expanding genre of the graphic novel contains fiction, biography, science, history, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and more. Listed below are some new titles for 2015 in the graphic novel realm. Reading the art as well as the text combines to make these stories a visual experience that sometimes can be very literal or, at other times, leave room for interpretation.

Ages 4–8

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Book Four: Dinosaur Dilemma. Frank Cammuso. 2015. Amulet.

Young witch Salem Hyde gets an idea for her science project after a field trip to the Natural History Museum. Disappointed that the dinosaurs aren’t alive and real, she uses her magic to bring them to life. After a few disastrous moments escaping a T-Rex and other large reptiles, she “accidentally” brings home a real dinosaur egg that hatches the next morning. As the little critter begins to eat and grow rapidly, the real trouble begins.  

Sleepless Knight. James Sturm. 2015. First Second.

Perfect for the preschool crowd, this introduction to graphic novels features a young Knight embarking on his first camping adventure. He cannot fall asleep. He realizes his Teddy is missing, thus causing the insomnia. Leaving his tent, he searches for Teddy. A few forest animals offer help, and when Teddy is found, the forest animals are now wide awake. The endpapers give instructions on how to draw the characters featured in the story.

Ages 9­–11

Lumberjanes: Book One: Beware the Kitten Holy. Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis. Ill. Brooke Allen. 2015. BOOM!/Boom Entertainment.

Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five kick-butt best friends attending summer camp for Hard-Core Ladies. Their supernatural camp adventure begins when they witness a woman transforming into a bear. Other escapades include a three-eyed fox and a confrontation with some yetis. With several subtle nods to female social activists, the feminist cast of characters, each with a special quality, embarks on several quests to conquer all kinds of difficulties and bizarre creatures. (Originally published in single magazine comic book form, numbers 1–4)

The Lunch Witch. Deb Lucke. 2015. Papercutz.

When Grunhilda Blackheart loses her witchy job at the Salem Museum for not being scary enough, she has to look for new employment. Knowing that her ancestors are probably ashamed of her, she forges ahead with the job hunting and ends up as a cafeteria lady. Handing out curdled milk is perfect for her until she befriends a young student who is failing all her classes. Grunhilda creates a smartness potion to give her friend an academic edge. The food scraps and grease spots and oil stains that decorate each page against a background of greens and browns are the perfect backdrop for the witch Grunhilda as she begins a new career in food service.

Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue. Paige Braddock. 2015. Andrews McMeel.

Cecil the toad and his other amphibian friends like to hang out at the pond and have contests and other water fun splashing around. When Cecil takes note of the construction of a new highway that appears to be coming their way, he alerts his friends and they develop a plan to halt the destruction of their home.
Filled with hilarious dialogue but also actual facts about the destruction of habitats and ecosystems this graphic novel is actually a look at an environmental problem facing wetlands today.

The Underground Abductor. Nathan Hale. 2015. Amulet.

Beginning with maps on the endpapers, this next installment of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series peeks at American History as seen through the genre of the graphic novel, taking readers to the Underground Railroad movement of Harriet Tubman. Born a slave in Delaware named Araminta Ross, this graphic novel tells the story of how she changed her name to Harriet Tubman and escaped to freedom. Not satisfied with her own free state, Harriet travels back into slave territory to lead other slaves to safety and freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad. Visit the author’s blogspot where book trailers, videos, and chats with the author about historical writing and graphic novels can be found.

Ages 12–14

Ares: Bringer of War: Olympians 7. George O’Connor. 2015. First Second.

Using Homer’s “The Iliad” as the basis for this graphic novel, the warring life of Ares comes to life in this graphic novel. Illustrated with blood-red backgrounds that are certainly representational of great battlefields, readers are spared from the actual gore of sword-drawn confrontations. The Trojan War and the wrath of Zeus are on display here as Ares does battle with his father and the other gods of Olympus. This is the seventh graphic novel in the series The Olympians, with 12 volumes planned in all. The publisher and author have created a website for the series that includes readers’ guides and activities for each book in the series.

Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure. Nadja Spiegelman. 2015. TOON.

Pablo is new to the city, and on his first day of school he finds himself going on a field trip to the Empire State Building. Paired with Alicia as his partner, they soon become separated from the rest of the class at 96th Street. Venturing onto the subway, they attempt to catch up with the group only to become separated from each other. Pablo is on his own but explores other trains heading to the famous building. A history of New York and transportation offers background material that includes actual pictures of the subway maps. Teachers should check out this CCSS Lesson Plan and Teacher’s Guide to accompany the book. A Spanish version entitled Perdidos in NYC: Una Aventura en el Metro is also available.

Ages 15+

March: Book 2. John Lewis. 2015. Top Shelf.

Book 2 in a planned trilogy, John Lewis continues the story of the Civil Rights movement from the 1960s in his books, March. Lewis talks about his involvement in sit-ins and the freedom rides and being chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The graphic illustrations create a vivid visual to add to the information about this turbulent time. This book is based on the experiences of U.S. Congressman John Lewis from Georgia, who was inspired to write this story and who chose the graphic novel format after reading a graphic novel about Martin Luther King, Jr. Teachers might enjoy showing an interview with Jon Lewis on The Daily Show.

Nimona. Noelle Stevenson. 2015. HarperTeen/HarperCollins.

Based on the author’s critically acclaimed web comic, this debut graphic novel is receiving starred reviews from many major review sources. Nimona is the mysterious sidekick to the newly acclaimed supervillain, Lord Ballister Blackheart. Blackheart is set on a vendetta against his former best friend Sir Ambrose Goldenloin, who now heads up The Institute of Law Enforcement. However, this institute may not be as virtuous as Goldenloin would have people believe. Shape-shifting Nimona adds vehemence to her partnership with Blackheart. A vivid use of contrasting colors for the main characters and lively dialogue enhance this action-packed story.

Yo, Miss. A Graphic Look at High School. Lisa Wilde. 2015. Microcosm.

This nonfiction graphic novel (oxymoron?) is a book for teachers as well as high school students, and is based on the teaching experiences of the author at John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy and the seniors she taught at this second-chance high school. These semiautobiographical portraits present eight students who have been expelled from previous schools and are considered at risk. From her 16 years of teaching here, Wilde reveals the inner thoughts and experiences of these kids who are trying to escape gangs, who are pregnant, who put on a false bravado about life and failing, to the hope that could possibly be on the horizon. For readers who enjoyed The Freedom Writers Diary (Erin Gruelle, 1999) or My Posse Don’t Do Homework (LouAnne Johnson, 1992), Yo, Miss adds the visual dimension to these stories of seriously struggling students in school today.

Karen Hildebrand is retired library media specialist and library director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, OH. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She also chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society. The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.