DIAMOND BOOKSHELF #27

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The Memoirs & Biographies Issue

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• Past Lives: Using Congressman John Lewis’ MARCH in the Classroom

PLUS:

• Graphic Medicine: Healing Through Comics • Tips for Planning Free Comic Book Day At Your Library • Graphic Novel Reviews and Lesson Plans from Professor Katie Monnin • And more!

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WELCOME TO BOOKSHELF T H E G R APH IC NOV EL RES OURCE F OR EDU CA TOR S A ND LIB R A R IA NS Graphic Novels have a lot to offer as literature, educational tools, entertainment and more!

Whether you are a teacher or reading specialist seeking to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom; or a librarian or media specialist looking to add graphic novels to your collection, our mission with the Diamond BookShelf is to provide you with comprehensive information on the latest graphic novel news, reviews and events.

On Our Cover A graphic novel of two sisters and their correspondence from Palestine to Belgium.

Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine is a personal look into a complex reality, through the prism of the experience of a young woman writing letters to her sister about her feelings and adventures in the occupied territories.

HOW TO USE THIS PUBLICATION The BookShelf magazine was created as a compliment to Diamond’s BookShelf website. With this publication, you’ll find articles designed to introduce you to the world of graphic novels and help you learn how to integrate them into your classroom or library. You’ll also find reviews, core lists, reference recommendations and special extras to help you get started.

If you want to know what comics and graphic novels are and how or why to use them, or if you are already familiar with graphic novels and are looking for a great resource to improve your collection… Read on!

Read BookShelf Online!

To read a pdf version of previous issues of Diamond BookShelf, visit http://bit.ly/BookShelfMag

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TABLE OF CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES Before They Were Legends….......................... 25 Preview Valiant’s most formidable heroes before they took up the mantle in Valiant High

EDUCATORS Past Lives – Teaching the March Trilogy........... 11 Social studies teacher Tim Smyth discusses his use of Congressman John Lewis’s graphic memoir trilogy March

Graphic Medicine: Healing Through Comics....14 Librarian Specialist Brenda Fay discusses how the graphic novel format ties into the world of medicine

Katie’s Korner.................................................. 28 Prof. Katie Monnin provides lesson plans for Sheets from Lion Forge and The Ghost, The Owl from Action Lab Entertainment

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Planning Free Comic Book Day for Librarians................................................... 16 Adult Services Specialist Dalene Schrier provides tips on hosting a successful Free Comics Book Day event at your library

News and Notes................................................ 5 Graphic Novels 101........................................... 6 Reviews............................................................ 30 Core Lists......................................................... 34 Resources........................................................ 37 Editor: Ashley Kronsberg Contributing Writers: Dr. Katie Monnin, Tim Smyth, Brenda Fay, Darren DeFrain, Dalene Schrier, Matt Powell Designer: Belinda Miller Special Thanks to: Cindy Anderson, Roger Fletcher, Steve Geppi, Allan Greenberg, Dan Manser For ad rates and info e-mail: ads@diamondcomics.com PRINTED IN CANADA

© 2018 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, Diamond BookShelf logo and diamondbookshelf.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries.

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NEWS AND NOTES Geppi Makes Multi-Million Dollar Donation of Comics, Pop-Culture Memorabilia to Library of Congress Diamond Comic Distributors President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen A. Geppi has made a multi-million dollar donation of more than 3,000 items from his personal comic book and pop-culture collection to The Library of Congress.

Geppi’s gift encompasses comic books, photos, posters, original comic book and comic strip art, newspapers, pinback buttons, and other rare, vintage pop-culture artifacts including the original Plane Crazy storyboards that document the creation of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse.

Items are expected to go on display at the Library of Congress Summer 2018. The move represents a huge next chapter in

one of Geppi’s long-held dreams.

For more than a decade, the material has been on display at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (GEM) in Baltimore and includes Big Little Books, Beatles memorabilia, a collection of flicker rings popularizing comic book characters and political figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr., R.F. Outcault’s The Yellow Kid printing blocks, and the No. 2 Brownie camera model F from Eastman Kodak Company.

With the acquisition of these items by the Library of Congress, GEM will close its doors in June. Its last day open to the public was Sunday, June 3, 2018 from 10am to 6pm.

ALA Releases the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2017

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Every year, the American Library Association (ALA) releases their The State of America’s Libraries magazine - a magazine catered towards academic, school, and public libraries providing expertise, dynamic collections, digital resources, and many other tools to empower librarians to help make their communities better places to live. Among the resources provided in the magazine is the annual “Most Challenged Books” list. This year, the OIF collected 416 challenged reports to calculate the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2017. For the full list, see below: l Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher – Discusses suicide l The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie – Profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit l Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier – Includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing” l The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini – Includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam”

l George written by Alex Gino – Includes a transgender child. l Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth – Addresses sex education and is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex” l To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee – Violence and its use of the N-word l The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas – Considered “pervasively vulgar”, includes drug use, profanity, and offensive language l And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole – Features a samesex relationship l I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas – Addresses gender identity

For more industry news and notes please visit Diamond Bookshelf at bit.ly/2uoEgD8.

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GRAPHIC NOVELS 101 STARTI N G A GRAPHIC NO V EL COLLECTION Deciding to include comic books and graphic novels in your collection is the first step into a larger world. Now, you must decide what to do once you’re there. Here are some basic steps on your path to using graphic novels in your collection:

1. Determine Needs

First, you need to ascertain what books you would like to incorporate into your collection. Perhaps you have one or two graphic novels already, or you may be deciding to carry these books for the first time.

You’ll need to decide which books would be appropriate for your community of readers, which books they’re hankering for, and which books would delight and surprise them.

2. Find An Expert

You don’t have to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of comics and graphic novels to successfully integrate them into your library’s offerings.

There are people out there who can advise you on what books are valuable. Reach out to your library community or local comic book retailers who are armed with detailed information about this area of reading they have a vested interest in supporting.

(See “A Great Resource: Your Local Comics Shop“ on page 46 for information) And, of course, you can also feel free to contact those of us at the Diamond Bookshelf!

3. Purchase The Books

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4. Decide How To Catalog/

Where To Shelve

Now you need to decide where to put them! For information on cataloging to make integrating graphic novels into your collection easier and shelving, visit the BookShelf website for a comprehensive look at options and resources.

5. Promote Your Graphic Novels

You could have the finest graphic novel collection in history, but if no one knows about, it won’t matter. The success of your collection relies on a certain level of promotion. If you don’t get the word out, no one will know the books are there. Start including the news about your graphic novels into your existing newsletters, pamphlets, and other promotional materials. Put up easy-to-read signs at the entrances to your library so that nobody who enters will fail to know about the new additions. Add the news to your e-mail correspondence. Contact your local media and encourage them to do a story about your library’s efforts to expand and enhance readership through this vital art form. Stage contests, offer giveaways, and plan fun events.

Coordinate promotions with your local comic book retailer.

6. Evaluate Success /Circulation Data

Once you have consulted with your readers, experts in the field, and any others who can offer insight, you’ll be ready with a list of titles of graphic novels to acquire for your library.

After a certain period of time, you’re going to want to crunch the numbers. Measuring the graphic novel circulation at your library indicates the extent to which your readers are using this new library resource and will help you evaluate the success of the program. It will also point you in the right direction as to which titles and series to snap up in the future!

GRAPHIC NOVEL SELECTION IS KEY but the best titles to

include can vary from library to library. There is no national standard when it comes to appropriateness of graphic novels, so it is vital — once you’ve decided on a particular book — to read through the book yourself. What might pass muster in some communities may not pass muster in yours. This website and the various resources listed throughout are your best starting points if you are approaching comics from a starter’s perspective.

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THREE CATEGORIES TO KEEP IN MIND:

7. Poll Patrons

Never forget to meet the needs of your readership. Consulting the experts and embarking on your own research into which titles to carry is a necessary element of this program, but asking your patrons what they want is also crucial.

8. Make Graphic Novels

a Regular Part of Your

Ordering Cycle

Once you’ve talked to your readers and assessed your circulation data to see how successful the addition of comic books and graphic novels has been, you’ll want to keep the ball rolling. An established graphic novel program in your library needs to be sustained, and making graphic novels a regular part of your ordering cycle will ensure the vibrancy of your collection. Including these titles in your regular decisions on what books to carry will help make them a significant and popular segment of your library.

1. BESTSELLERS Lists of bestselling graphic novels can be obtained each month from www.DiamondBookShelf.com.

Additionally, resources such as BookScan (www.bookscan.com) can provide similar information for the highest selling graphic novels in the book-store market.

2. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TITLES Graphic

novels

that

have

received stellar reviews and won literary awards are sure to generate interest in the medium, will attract new readers, and also make a great case for having

REMEMBER:

As with any collection development, there is a period of experimentation during which you will learn which titles will circulate and which will not. You cannot judge the effectiveness of a graphic novel collection with a handful of titles, any more than you would do so with a handful of DVDs or audiobooks. If there’s no room in your budget to make a large initial purchase, start small and evaluate regularly.

Add titles as you can, polling your patrons, reading review sources, and keeping diversity in mind. As time goes on, you will find the right combination for your readership and community.

Soon, you’ll come to realize that comic books and graphic novels are an engaging and vibrant form of literature, and the promotional possibilities for your library are endless!

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publications that review graphic novels,

including

Publishers

Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA and others. See pages 40-41 for a selection of recent reviews.

3. MEDIA TIE-INS Titles that tie in to hit movies, games, novels and TV shows are sure to appeal to fans of the same. Many manga titles are also TV cartoons, and many blockbuster movies are adapted from comic books.

The BookShelf newsletter stays current with the latest media tieins and adaptations.

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novel

There are a number of literary

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Anaële is a writer…

Delphine is an artist…

THEIR STORY IS AN INTIMATE JOURNEY WITH BIG IMPLICATIONS

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reen Almonds: Letters from Palestine is the graphic novel collaboration and true story of two sisters, Anaële and Delphine. Anaële, a writer, leaves for Palestine volunteering in an aid program, swinging between her Palestinian friends and her Israeli friends. Delphine is an artist, left behind in Liège, Belgium. From their different sides of the world, they exchange letters.

Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine is a personal look into a complex reality, through the prism of the experience of a young woman writing letters to her sister about her feelings and adventures in the occupied territories.

Anaële discovers a country, works there, makes friends, lives a love story, and is confronted with the plight of the Palestinians, the violence on a daily basis that we see on our screens and read in our newspapers.

Anaële’s story is brought to life by Delphine’s simple and evocative drawings, which give full force to the subject and evoke the complexity of this conflict, creating a journey to the everyday life of Palestinians.

Their graphic novel collaboration received the Doctors Without Borders Award for best travel diary highlighting the living conditions of populations in precarious situations when it was published in France in 2011.

Preview Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine on page 9.

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PREVIEW GREEN ALMONDS: LETTERS FROM PALESTINE

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LIVING PICTURES TOP 10 GRAPHIC MEMOIRS AND BIOGRAPHIES Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven

Good Eggs

Published by: Lion Forge Written by: Brandon Easton Illustrated by: Denis Medri Format: Softcover, 104 pages, Ages 13+ 9781941302149 • $12.99 Available Now!

Published by: Harper Written and Illustrated by: Phoebe Potts Format: Softcover, 272 pages, Ages 16+ 9780061711466 • $10.99 Available Now!

Based on testimony from Andre’s friends and colleagues - including his daughter Robin - this is the story you’ve never been told. This unprecedented biography of Andre the Giant charts his earliest days on his family’s farm, to his enormously successful runs in Japan, to his heated feuds with the biggest wrestling stars of all time, to his memorable turns in Hollywood TV and cinema and to his darkest moments caused by excessive substance abuse.

Phoebe’s quest to conceive a baby forces her to come to terms with her lapsed Judaism, her aspirations as an artist, her neurotic family, and her depression—happily, all with the support of her true loving husband.

It’s All Absolutely Fine

Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing Written and Illustrated by: Ruby Elliot Format: Softcover, 256 pages, Ages 16+ 9781449480424 • $16.99 Available Now!

Becoming Unbecoming

Published by: Arsenal Pulp Press Written and Illustrated by: Una Format: Softcover, 216 pages, Ages 16+ 9781551526539 • $24.95 Available Now! This extraordinary graphic novel is a powerful denunciation of sexual violence against women. As seen through the eyes of a twelve-year-old girl named Una, it takes place in northern England in 1977, as the Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer of prostitutes, is on the loose and creating panic among the townspeople.

An honest and unapologetic account of day-today life as a groaning, crying, laughing sentient potato being for whom things are often absolutely not fine. Through simple, humorous drawings and a few short narratives, the book encompasses everything from mood disorders, anxiety, and issues with body image through to existential conversations with dogs and some unusually articulate birds.

Lighter Than My Shadow

The Best We Could Do

Published by: Lion Forge Written and Illustrated by: Katie Green Format: Softcover, 516 pages, Ages 13+ 9781941302415 • $20.99 Available Now!

Published by: Harry N. Abrams Written and Illustrated by: Thi Bui Format: Softcover, 336 pages, Ages 16+ 9781419718779 • $26.99 Available Now! Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and her family, Bui documents the story of her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves.

Like most kids, Katie was a picky eater. She’d sit at the table in silent protest, hide uneaten toast in her bedroom, listen to parental threats that she’d have to eat it for breakfast. But in any life a set of circumstance can collide, and normal behavior might soon shade into something sinister, something deadly.

One day you can find yourself being told you have two weeks to live.

Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White

Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing Written and Illustrated by: Lila Quintero Weaver Format: Softcover, 264 pages, Ages 16+ 9780817357146 • $24.95 Available Now! An arresting and moving personal story about childhood, race, and identity, rendered in stunning illustrations by the author, Lila Quintero Weaver, chronicling what it was like being a Latina girl in the Jim Crow South, struggling to understand both a foreign country and the horrors of our nation’s race relations.

Nothing Lasts Forever

Published by: Image Comics Written and Illustrated by: Sina Grace Format: Softcover, 176 pages, Ages 16+ 9781534301832 • $14.99 Available Now! Chronicling a year of heartbreaks, writer’s block, career highs, emotional lows, and the emergence of a mystery illness, Nothing Lasts Forever is Grace’s unflinching exploration of how to pick up the pieces and find hope when absolutely everything falls apart.

Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations

Rendez-vous in Phoenix

Published by: Dynamite Entertainment Written and Illustrated by: Joe and Joan Clokey Format: Hardcover, 300 pages, Ages 16+ 9781524104344 • $34.99 Available Now! Clay animated superstar Gumby has made an indelible impact on our culture and continues to enchant and entertain generations.

Filmmaker Art Clokey’s personal story is one of mystical adventure, tragedy, triumph, art, and most of all, love. This lavish career-spanning retrospective explores the legendary creator’s life and complete works.

All of his many creations, including Gumby and Davey & Goliath, are interwoven with a rich tapestry of rare photos and stories - the ingredients for a fascinating tale.

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Published by: Lion Forge Written and Illustrated by: Tony Sandoval Format: Hardcover, 80 pages, Ages 16+ 9781942367284 • $19.99 Available Now! Tony Sandoval was born and raised in northwestern Mexico, where the temptation to cross the border in the US becomes a matter of the heart. Drawn by Love, his urge to visit his American girlfriend can’t wait for the lengthy, frustrating visa process. So, he makes the ultimate romantic gesture: smuggling himself across the border, despite the dangers he’ll face from the heat, coyotes, barbed wire, and – most daunting – the US border patrol.

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PAST LIVES: TEACHING THE MARCH TRILOGY

BY TIM SMY TH

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s a reading specialist and history teacher for over 17 years, I can attest that the March Trilogy has impacted my students like no other resource. Students who do not like to read, students who have told me they have never finished a book before, remarked that they could not stop reading these books.

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This is due to the compelling and exciting narrative from Andrew Aydin that provides an exciting break from the traditional text while increasing student confidence in reading comprehension by pairing vivid illustrations. The beautiful artwork by Nate Powell adds so much to the narrative John Lewis, a real-life superhero, provided. My students love to hear stories in class and will sit mesmerized when we can humanize historical events by focusing on a single person. When students read March, they get to know John Lewis. This is no longer a text about some far off historical event – this becomes the story of individuals who bravely fought against so much hatred and injustice. It inspires my students and continues to inspire me each time I reread it with them.

In these books, students learn the success of the Civil Rights movement was not guaranteed. Many people disagreed with the changes and the process. Each year, my students arrive with an in-depth knowledge of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. While this is wonderful, March allows them to expand their knowledge to John Lewis, Stokely Carmichael, Emmett Till, Jim Lawson, Diane Nash, Stephen Wright, Z. Alexander Looby, Thurgood Marshall, and many others. Together, we discuss how each one approached a common goal, how they interacted, helped one another, and how they disagreed about the path of the movement. The artwork allows students connect in a visual and powerful manner.

The educational influence of graphic novels is beautifully showcased throughout these books and March is the perfect way to introduce graphic novels in any classroom. Among the many powerful examples of the visual medium in this book, I’ll share one that comes at the end of Book One. As the lunch counters become desegregated, many students believe all will go well.

However, when asked to react to a particular panel, the students most often predict much work is yet to be done. Although laws change, they may not be enforced, and people’s attitudes may never change. In this case, the illustration is more powerful than any words.

Each year my students reflect on the powerful message in the book that encourages them to stand up for what they believe in.

This year, many connected to John Lewis by noting he was also a student when involved in this process as a leader of SNCC. We were able to discuss civic values and the importance of being an active participant in the country. This is an empowering message for student – they can have a positive impact on the world even while in school.

In addition to the extensive educational opportunities, the March Trilogy is easy to use. In the past, I taught only the first book, but this year my class used all three. The first, and perhaps most important step in teaching this, or any other graphic novel, is to teach students how to read this form of text. Often, students

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to page numbers. For each section, students need to summarize what they read – this is an important skill because so much is going on. What to leave out is often as hard as deciding what to include in the space provided. They also must write down several questions for each section. Lastly, they must react to one specific panel and explain why they chose it. This leads to animated discussions as the students debate the merits of their choices to one another – often, students will realize they did not see something another had in the images.

Book Three – As the students already have so much background have never read a comic or graphic novel and even the most advanced readers can get lost when not given the proper skills before reading this medium. It is important to walk students through a page or two together. Discuss the importance of the gutters, filling in the blanks, splash pages, and nonlinear panels.

Most importantly, students must understand the pictures cannot be ignored and their presence adds depth and meaning to the story. This is what makes graphic novels a powerful tool of literacy – they teach students to look closely for textual evidence in both the text and illustrations.

I give different assignments as we read each book and follow up with the students discussing the method they like most about the reading process. Don’t be afraid to experiment, you can ask the students to give you feedback. I begin by giving a survey about the Civil Rights movement and the reading of graphic novels.

Next, I give a similar survey when we are finished, and we compare the answers. One thing I’ve found beneficial is having students read in class rather than for homework – this allows students the opportunity to stop and discuss certain panels.

Some of our most valuable discussions have come from this, and reading in isolation would ruin the thought process. We spend weeks on the books – not reading every day, but we use it as a thread within the traditional Civil Rights Unit. However, we discuss many other movements throughout the year as well – Latino, women, Native American, LGTBQ+, equality in education, healthcare, and more – to show the universality of the struggle for equality. This trilogy is the perfect beginning and ending to these topics. Below are some methods we have used:

Book One – We use a traditional guided reading packet with multiple stopping points for research and drawing. I phase myself out of the process as we go through each book, but I find it necessary to provide more guidance with Book One, especially as this is often the first time students have read a graphic novel.

I have students read the first few pages and then stop. Students then go online to conduct research about the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and then draw what happens next. As the students answer the questions, they are directed to use specific textual/ visual evidence in their responses. With all three books, I often give a stopping point for students to conduct research to deepen their understanding of the events.

knowledge and are already invested in the story, I simply hand out sticky notes and have students place their notes on a panel/ page they react to along with a small note about their choice.

The discussions are again animated as students note the different pages and panels chosen. I love collecting these books that are overflowing with sticky notes and personal anecdotes as I can easily see each student’s individual interaction and response to the text.

As a culminating activity, the students form small groups and complete research on a modern civil rights issue of their choice.

After completing this research, students begin storyboarding ideas to make their own comic. I allow students to use an online comic making tool or hand draw, depending on their skills and comfort. Often, the comic will be a combination of both with the cover being hand-drawn and the interior being completed on the computer (see example below).

When the highly anticipated Run comes out in August, I am hoping to get a class set of this book as well. My plan for this book is to simply read it and discuss when the students feel inspired to do so. This book chronicles the backlash against the Civil Rights Movement and John Lewis’ path to become a member of the US Congress.

I would be more than happy to share resources or to answer any questions you may have about teaching March or any other graphic novel.

You can find me on Twitter @historycomics, email historycomicsguy@gmail.com, or peruse my website where I post many resources on www.historycomics.net

About the Author Tim Smyth has been a high school social studies teacher since 2002, and currently teachers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has a BA in History and received his Masters as a Reading Specialist. Smyth is a firm believer in cross-curricular writing and close reading analysis and has used graphic novels and comics to engage students while maintaining those beliefs.

Smyth takes his knowledge of teaching and the use of graphic novels in the classroom on the road by presenting panels at various conventions such as WizardWorld, San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con. More information about Smyth’s beliefs and adventures can be found on his website www.historycomics.net.

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GRAPHIC MEDICINE: HEALING THROUGH COMICS B Y BRE N D A FAY

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uperheros, villains, and fantastical characters are all well represented in comics. But what about us regular folks, where do we show up? One of the “human” areas of comics and graphic novels is the growing genre of graphic medicine.

First used by Dr. Ian Williams, being a practicing physician and comic artist himself in the late 2000’s, graphic medicine aims to draw back the veil at the “intersection of comics and healthcare.” It’s about you and me. More specifically it deals with the health issues people face from infertility to cancer to Parkinson’s disease and everything in between. It deals with aging and having to put parents in nursing homes; it tells stories of nurses, doctors, and other health care providers learning how to cope with the ups and downs of taking care of others. It deals with the nitty gritty of an abusive family and sudden death of a child.

Some people mention Jack Kirby and the part he took in creating Steve Rogers (Captain America) as planting the seed for graphic medicine. Steve returned from war with what we would recognize today as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Graphic medicine is as much about what our minds go through as it is about what our bodies go through. Others point to Brian Fies’ Mom’s Cancer as a catalyst to piquing readers (and publishers) interest in comics about everyday people. Fies deftly portrays what his elderly mother, himself, and his adult siblings are put through when she is diagnosed with both lung and brain cancer. From unexplained symptoms, to seemingly heartless physicians and nurses, to the struggle of being a caregiver, his work is readable, important, and unforgettable.

future and current health care providers’ training, self-awareness, and compassion. Those students and practicing physicians are encouraged to tell their own stories via comics. Annals of Internal Medicine, a highly respected medical journal, publishes a monthly “graphic medicine” series with comics submitted by patients, students, and health care providers. Penn State University Press took their interest to the next level this past May, when they published eleven graphic medicine titles on everything from Alzheimer’s and infertility to the HIV/AIDS picture in the 1990’s and zombies in medicine. Additionally, the Graphic Medicine Manifesto is about a group effort from five individuals using this format to teach or analyze this form of literature; and it especially interesting for those thinking about bringing graphic medicine to their institutions, universities, or schools.

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Medical schools aren’t alone in bringing this storytelling format and genre front and center; more and more, veterans are becoming involved as well. The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont has partnered with their local VA Medical Center to pair up comic artists with veterans to tell their stories. When I Returned: A Cartoonist and Veterans Project is the first to come to fruition from this project.

It’s not just readers and publishers who are interested in these titles, more and more medical schools are using comics and other humanities writings to help round out

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But these comics aren’t just for health care providers. Graphic medicine helps patients cope in crisis and provides comfort by showing them they are not alone in their experience.

Imagine being diagnosed

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diamondbookshelf.com with a serious medical condition, but instead of being handed a 100-page book with charts and medical jargon, you were given a comic written by someone who found themselves in the same uncertain place. Having that connection to not only art but an experience only helps educate a person about their own situation and can help guide them through it as well.

I worked with a young college student who had picked up Katie Green’s Lighter Than My Shadow, a graphic novel about eating disorders, abuse, and recovery. After reading, my student came to me and said “Finally, a comic I can relate to.” As someone with a history with an eating disorder, Green’s graphic memoir meant more to him than all the superhero stories in the world. If that isn’t a testament to the power of graphic medicine, I don’t know what is.

Like any genre, knowing where to start can be a daunting task. Check out my short list of suggestions to help get you on the right path.

Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me: A Graphic Memoir

by Ellen Forney Forney details her struggles with mental health and wondering, on the flip side, it makes her a better artist.

Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories About Mental Illness

by Daryl Cunningham Cunningham’s experience as a UK psychiatric nurse reads like a mental health 101 guide to conditions from bipolar disorder to schizophrenia.

Lighter Than My Shadow

by Katie Green Green’s account of her intensely personal struggle with sexual abuse and eating disorders has been receiving award after award. She deserves them all.

When I Returned download at www.cartoonstudies.org/cartoonist-veteranproject-release-of-when-i-returned-2/. Sobering, this collection of veteran and comic artist’s collaborations is an important new work in voicing contemporary veterans’ stories.

Aging, Neurological Disorders Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me

by Sarah Leavitt Leavitt illustrates both the big and small ways her family copes and even finds moments of happiness after her mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

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Mental Health

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir

by Roz Chast New Yorker cartoonist Chast, portrays her aging parents with humor even while her father’s mind is slipping away from Alzheimer’s.

For more graphic medicine reviews and recommendations, visit diamondbookshelf.com About the Author

Brenda Fay is a Librarian Specialist at the Aurora Health Care Libraries, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fay has worked in public, academic, and medical libraries. Her favorite things to do are read comics and historical mysteries, travel with her family, and sign along to “Science is Real” by They Might Be Giants. She taught a graphic medicine class to undergraduate students at Marquette University in Fall 2017.

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PLANNING FREE COMIC BOOK DAY FOR LIBRARIES B Y D AL E N E SCHRIER

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lanning any library event can be stressful. Planning Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) can consume your life (mostly in a good way). At Bentonville Public Library (BPL), FCBD has grown from a pet project to a full blown annual signature event.

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Everyone is a potential donor or a connection to a donor.

Start with local comic and gaming stores, then move on to other businesses that might be able to help. If you have a theme in mind for your event, make sure to mention it in your requests. Make a list of wants and needs for your event. Having a list helps donors meet specific needs.

Attendees line up in anticipation of free comics at Bentonville Public LIbrary’s First Annual Bentonville GeekCon event (2018) Photo by Mike Quain & Angelina Waterhouse

When I started planning my first FCBD event, I was not prepared for the enthusiasm and popularity of the program. Armed with a few comic books, a couple of door prizes, and a superhero movie, we opened the doors and the patrons flew in. Within 30 minutes, all my comics were gone, my door prize cups were full of tickets, and I had a room full of patrons watching the movie.

After the first year, I knew I had to start planning much further in advance. Since our first event in 2013, BPL has seen a 1,574.67% increase in attendance!

Reach out to prospective donors and supports no less than three months in advance so you do not run the risk of missing out on a donation due to lack of time. Go directly to the person who makes the decisions whenever possible. Managers and owners know exactly what they can donate to community organizations. Businesses that have allotted funds for donations each have different time periods to budget for (monthly, quarterly, yearly).

It is OK to take no for an answer. It’s going to happen.

Some places receive too many requests. Others just can’t support outside events and organizations. Don’t be afraid to ask for something small. Something as simple as hanging a flyer or posting on social media helps.

Where to Begin

Funding an event with the potential to be as large as a comic convention can be difficult. Many libraries already have a limited programming budget with little room for additional events. FCBD does not have to be a drain on library funds. For the first four years of my event, I barely spent any money on the program. Once it became evident our event would continue, BPL reached out to our support group, the Friends of the Bentonville Library (FOL) for additional support to grow FCBD into Bentonville GeekCon.

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Members of the Northwest Arkansas Roleplaying Gamers played until closing during Bentonville GeekCon (2018) Photo by Mike Quain & Angelina Waterhouse

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Lessons Learned

Along the way we have learned a few things. Signage is very important. Make sure all your events are easily accessible and attendees know where the programs are being held. In addition, make sure your schedule of events is printed and distributed at least one week before the event. During the day of the event, attendees are going to be too excited about all the things you have planned to worry about a schedule.

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Little superheroes attend a hero themed story time event (2014) Photo by Chris Schrier

Main Event

The first thing you need to plan for is the comics. The whole event is centered around free comics. As soon as you can, register for comics through Diamond Comic Distributors. However, don’t solely rely on Diamond for your comics. Due to high demand, libraries may not receive their requested amount. Talk to your local comic book stores and ask about possible partnership opportunities. Most of the time, they are willing to offer support of some kind. (See page 38 for more information on finding and working with your local comic shop.)

Once you have the patrons at your library for the comics, you will want to keep them there with other events with a comic or pop-culture theme. Superhero meet and greets are always a good idea. Children don’t know the person they are meeting is anyone other than their favorite hero or character. Try reaching out to your local PBS affiliate or other non-profit organization that may have access to characters and costumes and inquire about partnership opportunities or sponsorships.

Be sure your donors get recognized during the event.

They helped to make the event possible, so they deserve to be recognized for their contributions. If you have a scrolling PowerPoint or other digital signage in your library, this is the best place for donor logos. If you have the space, include the top donors on your printed marketing materials, including your event schedule.

Volunteers can be very helpful but beware, you will need to make sure they are able to work in a busy and crowded environment. If you plan to use volunteers, schedule some time before the event to go over a volunteer schedule, expectations, and any training necessary.

When it comes to planning an event that is sure to have children, it is important to also have events for adults too.

Comics are something all ages can enjoy, and you never really outgrow them. There are comics for everyone from the smallest reader to grown adults. No one is excluded when it comes to this classic American art form.

In The End

Just have fun! An event like Free Comic Book Day is meant to be fun while instilling the love of reading and adventure to everyone who attends. Comics are a gateway to classic works, other worlds, and the universe!

For BPL’s 2018 event, we held “Party on the Porch” with costumed characters, a recycled computer part jewelry workshop, a game design workshop with a local game designer, vendors, exhibitors, and an illustrator panel with local illustrators. Donated items we could not use in our collection and other items we received throughout the year were used for door prizes. Each bag we hand out has two tickets for our door prizes. Our silent auction is run by the FOL and all proceeds benefit the next year’s FCBD event.

Green Lantern and Batgirl are ready to fight crime (2018) Photo by Mike Quain & Angelina Waterhouse

About the Author

Dalene Schrier began working at Bentonville Public Library in October 2006. In March 2011, she was promoted from Part-Time Library Clerk to Full-time Adult Services Specialist and Meeting Room Manager. Dalene transferred from Meeting Room Manager to Adult Services Cataloger in June 2013. Dalene also serves as the Technology Specialist, assisting patrons and staff with all technology needs. To learn more about Dalene, please visit http://ow.ly/jkny30ktQIw.

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FALL RECOMMENDED READS K I DS ( AGES 4 A ND U P ) Aquicorn Cove

Published by: Oni Press • Written and Illustrated by: Katie O’Neill Format: Softcover, 96 pages, Fantasy 9781620105290 • $12.99 Available October 2018 When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a big storm, Lana remembers how much she’s missed the ocean—and the strong, reassuring presence of her aunt. As Lana explores the familiar beach, she discovers something incredible: a colony of Aquicorns, small magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef.

Gilbert Volume 1

Published by: Papercutz • Written and Illustrated by: Art Baltazar Format: Softcover, 88 pages, Humor 9781545801451 • $9.99 Available September 2018 Gillbert the Sea Creature is the son of KING NAUTICUS, king of all the oceans. One day, Gillbert will be king. But in the meantime, his playful curiosity takes him away from the kingdom on a journey of discovery.

Gillbert meets an amphibious mermaid and follows her into unknown parts of the ocean.

Honey Moon Shades & Shenanigans

Published by: Rabbit Publishers • Written and Illustrated by: Sofi Benitez Format: Hardcover, 200 pages, Action/Adventure 9781943785810 • $16.99 Available October 2018 Honey Moon comes face to face with Clarice Kligore and her Royal Shades she knows something must be done to keep this mean club from taking over Sleepy Hollow Elementary. Honey sets out to beat them at their own game, forming her own club, The Queen Bees. Instead of chasing the Shades off the playground for good, Honey learns that being the Queen Bee is more about the honey than the sting.

Peanut Bear: What’s in the Forest?

Published by: Pocket Books • Written and Illustrated by: Ralph Cosentino Format: Board Book, 24 pages, Fairy Tales 9781683832355 • $8.99 Available October 2018 The forest has all sorts of wonders to see. There are thin trees and thick trees, little ponds and big lakes, streams and waterfalls, fields of flowers, and so much more. Climb trees with Sqwhale, fish in the lake with Papa Bear, and buzz through all the different plants with Bea. Peanut Bear knows that if he has his friends and his family by his side, there are always new adventures to be had in his favorite place-the forest!

This is a Whoopsie!

Published by: Lion Forge • Written by: Andrew Cangelose, Josh Shipley • Illustrated by: Josh Shipley Format: Hardcover, 32 pages, Fairy Tales 9781941302873 • $15.99 Available October 2018 This is supposed to be a book about all the different things moose can do, like leaping and jumping and being really tall. But maybe Whoopsie isn’t the right moose for the job. You might want to pick a different moose for this book. Maybe instead we can do a book about falling down a lot? Yeah! Whoopsie would be great at that.This hilarious book about a clumsy moose shows that sometimes being a little different can make one great story.

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FALL RECOMMENDED READS

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YOUNG ADU L T ( A G E S 1 3 A ND U P )

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Apocrypha: The Legend of BabyMetal

Published by: Z2 Comics • Written by: The Prophet of the Fox God • Illustrated by: Greg Comichuk Format: Softcover, 144 pages, Sci-Fi 9781940878218 • $24.99 Available October 2018 Discover the myth of the worldwide music sensation BABYMETAL. Tasked with defeating the forces of darkness and division, the metal spirits must travel through a variety of eras of time, assuming different forms and identities. What we are seeing is not the BABYMETAL of the present. It’s the original story based on BABYMETAL you’ve never heard before.

Crush

Published by: Yen Press • Written and Illustrated by: Svetlana Chmakova Format: Hardcover, 224 pages, Drama 9780316363235 • $9.99 Available October 2018 Jorge seems to have it all together. He’s big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he’s also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Volume 1

Published by: Udon Entertainment • Written by: Natsuya Semikawa • Illustrated by: Virginia Nitouhei Format: Softcover, 164 pages, Manga 9781772940671 • $12.99 Available September 2018 A Japanese style pub called “Nobu” exists in a back alley of the fictional medieval European city of Eiteriach. Its customers? A pair of slacker soldiers, a spoiled heiress, an uptight tax collector, and more... When the citizens of this strange world sit down to enjoy some unfamiliar Japanese cuisine, their troubles simply melt away.

Skyward Volume 1: My Low-G Life

Published by: Image Comics • Written by: Joe Henderson • Illustrated by: Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela Format: Softcover, 168 pages, Sci-Fi 9781534308336 • $9.99 Available September 2018 One day, gravity on Earth suddenly became a fraction of what it is now. Twenty years later, humanity has adapted to its new low-gravity reality. And to Willa Fowler, a woman born just after G-day, it’s... well, it’s pretty awesome, actually. You can fly through the air! I mean, sure, you can also die if you jump too high. So you just don’t jump too high. And maybe don’t get mixed up in your Dad’s secret plan to bring gravity back that could get you killed.

Valiant High

Published by: Valiant Entertainment • Written by: Daniel Kibblesmith • Illustrated by: Derek Charm Format: Softcover, 122 pages, Superhero Adventure 9781682152799 • $9.99 Available September 2018 Before they became legends, the world’s most formidable heroes were roaming the halls at Valiant High – a super-powered preparatory academy where Aric “X-O Manowar” Dacia is a record-setting running back, Colin “Ninjak” King is a debonair foreign exchange student, and Coach Bloodshot is way, way too into dodgeball. Now, Amanda “Livewire” McKee and her best friend, Faith “Zephyr” Herbert, are taking it all in for the first time at the one high school where power trumps popularity!

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FALL RECOMMENDED READS M AT URE ( AG E S 1 6 A ND U P ) Infidel

Published by: Image Comics • Written by: Pornsak Pichetshote • Illustrated by: Aaron Campbell, Jose Villarrubia, Jeff Powell Format: Softcover, 168 pages, Horror 9781534308367 • $16.99 Available October 2018 A haunted house story for the 21st century, INFIDEL follows an American Muslim woman and her multi-racial neighbors who move into a building haunted by entities that feed off xenophobia.

Collects INFIDEL #1-5.

My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies

Published by: Image Comics • Written by: Ed Brubaker • Illustrated by: Sean Phillips Format: Hardcover, 72 pages, Crime 9781534308466 • $16.99 Available October 2018 Teenage Ellie has always had romantic ideas about drug addicts, those tragic artistic souls drawn to needles and pills have been an obsession since the death of her junkie mother ten years ago. But when Ellie lands in an upscale rehab clinic where nothing is what it appears to be... she’ll find another more dangerous romance and find out how easily drugs and murder go hand-in-hand.

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Walk Through Hell

Published by: Lion Forge • Written by: Garth Ennis • Illustrated by: Goran Sudzuka Format: Softcover, 120 pages, Horror 9781935002451 • $12.99 Available November 2018

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Special Agents Shaw and McGregor handle the routine cases nowadays, which is just the way Shaw likes it. When two fellow agents go missing inside a Long Beach warehouse, Shaw and McGregor are sent to investigate. But what they find waiting is far from routine, as the local police have already discovered to their cost.

Watersnakes

Published by: Lion Forge • Written and Illustrated by: Tony Sandoval Format: Hardcover, 144 pages, Fantasy 9781942367758 • $19.99 Available November 2018 Mila is a solitary teenager ready to put another boring summer vacation behind her until she meets Agnes, an adventurous girl who turns out to be a ghost. And not just a regular ghost, but one carrying the essence of an ancient fallen king and a mouth full of teeth that used to be his guardian warriors.

Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers

Published by: Dynamite Entertainment • Written by and Illustrated by: Francesco Francavilla Format: Hardcover, 120 pages, Superhero Adventure 9781524104818 • $19.99 Available October 2018

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A series of unexpected disappearances and deaths hit Central City. Initially, these cases seem purely unrelated; no apparent connection between the victims makes it easy for the police to just file them as runaways or natural deaths. But when someone close to Ebony White disappears, The Spirit is on the case!

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KATIE’S KORNER:

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GRAPHIC NOVEL TEACHER’S GUIDES

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Sheets Published by: Lion Forge Written by: Brenna Thummler Illustrated by: Brenna Thummler Format: Softcover, 6 x 8, 240 pages, Color ISBN: 9781941302675 Ages: 9+ REVIEW Thirteen-year-old Marjorie certainly feels like she may be dealing with some issues way above her age range. Her mother has passed away. Her father is depressed. And while her father tries to overcome his depression Marjorie must learn to take over the family laundry business. Quickly!

It’s just not that easy, however, for Marjorie.

The bullying at school isn’t helping her feel much better about either herself or the family business. And just in case she hasn’t been experiencing too much stress (and childish bullying) a man in town is badgering and intimidating her by saying that he is going to take over her family business and turn it into a spa and yoga resort.

And even with a mysterious ghost messing around in her family’s laundry business (literally) Marjorie is starting to think that she may be a little tougher than both she and her family first expected, for what she finds in the laundry sheets may just surprise her.

ELEMENTS OF STORY Plot: After her mother dies and her father becomes depressed, Marjorie must learn to juggle both high school and her mother’s laundromat business where her family works and lives. She’s also facing bullying from girls at school and from a man who keeps showing up at the laundromat determined to take it over and open his own “five-star spa and yoga resort.” To complicate matters further, a young ghost named “Wendell” keeps showing up and making trouble, but in the end that might be the answer to all of her troubles.

Other Elements of Story

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Major Characters: Marjorie, Owen, Marj’s Dad, Colton, Mrs. Waffleton, Tessi Waffleton, Mr. Nigel Saubertuck, Wendell, Mr. Duncan

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Major Settings: Glatt’s Laundry, Finster Bay Charter school, meeting place for the Dead Youth Empathetics (DYE), Land of Ghosts Themes: Death, Afterlife, Depression, Bullying, Loss, Family, Friendship LESSON PLAN RECOMMENDATION USING THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS (CCS) FOR YOUNG ADULTS Key Ideas & Details CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

DIRECTIONS FOR LESSON PLAN Ask students to choose two themes from the story: Death, Afterlife, Depression, Bullying, Loss, Family, Friendship.

Theme Choice 1: _______________________ Theme Choice 2: _______________________ With their themes chosen ask students to next fill out the below graphic organizer as they read the story, adding elements of story information (character, setting, and plot most importantly) as they encounter them.

By creating an elements of story guide focused on themes in Sheets students can help themselves better understand the story and, also, help future readers better understand how a well told story utilizes all of the other elements of story to further enhance its themes.

Theme 1: _______________

Theme 2: _______________

Plot(s):

Character(s):

Setting(s):

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diamondbookshelf.com Jessica may be the connection between Mr. Owl and Elenor, but she’s also in trouble so they will have to decide quickly what to do next.

The Ghost, The Owl Published by: Action Lab Entertainment Written by: Franco Illustrated by: Sara Richard

Major Characters: Mr. Owl (Aldus), Elenor, Mr. Crow (Septimus), Parliament of Owls, Jessica, creatures of the forest

Format: HC, 48 pages, Color, $9.99 ISBN: 9781632293596 Ages: 9+ REVIEW When Elenor, a ghost, finds herself alone in a forest and unsure of who she is she makes an unlikely friend: Aldus (or Mr. Owl).

Mr. Owl even wants to help Elenor out. A tip from Mr. Crow leads them to a woman named Jessica. Jessica seems to have a connection to the story’s events.

During an awkward interaction with a man trying to purchase Jessica’s home, Mr. Owl recognizes and shares with his new friends that Jessica is in fact the woman who rescued him as a baby owl. Uncomfortable with how the man is treating Jessica Mr. Owl intervenes and scratches the strange man. Even though he felt justified in protecting Jessica, Mr. Owl knows that his actions against the strange man are questionable so he goes before the parliament of owls to clear his name.

The parliament of owls forbid Mr. Owl from interacting with humans or ghosts. But when Mr. Owl leaves and learns that the man has returned to Jessica’s home, will he heed their advice or help Jessica again? And will Elenor ever learn who she is and how she is connected to Jessica? Middle-level readers will really enjoy trying to put the pieces of this story together as they get to know Elenor, Jessica, and Mr. Owl more intimately.

ELEMENTS OF STORY Plot: When a ghost arrives unexpectedly, a curious owl tries to help Elenor discover who she is. After following a lead from Mr. Crow, they find Jessica, a lover of nature and its creatures.

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Major Settings: Forest, Jessica’s home and garden, Elenor’s memories Themes: Ghosts, Good and Evil, Decisions, Friendship, Identity LESSON PLAN RECOMMENDATION USING THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS (CCS) FOR YOUNG ADULTS COMMON CORE STANDARD(S) Key Ideas and Details CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

DIRECTIONS FOR LESSON PLAN Because The Ghost, The Owl is such a suspenseful story it is helpful for students to track the decisions the characters make in order to resolve the story’s main conflict: Who is Elenor?

Identifying both the visual and textual clues about the character’s decisions in the story will help students track the story’s conflict and resolution. The following graphic organizer allows students space to select and analyze the top decisions from the story.

Student Illustration of Decision

Student Paraphrase of Textual Decision

Analysis: What does this decision mean for the characters?

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GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS Queen Street

Written by: Emmanuelle Chateauneuf Illustrated by: Publisher: Chapterhouse Publishing Format: Semi-Autobiographical, Softcover, 96 pages, Black & White

ISBN: 9781988247236 Ages: 13 and up Taking the reader from Manila to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, and beyond to a seven-year-old Melodie’s fervent imagination, Emmanuelle Chateauneuf’s graphic novel Queen Street is a debut that’s full of heart and synergy. This fabulist story, of overworked Aimee and her precocious daughter Melodie, is rooted in Chateauneuf’s keen observations and character development. The author’s busy style creates a frenetic feel and movement to most scenes that really allows young Melodie’s Walter-Mitty-dream-life to come to life. As with most escapist characters we immediately understand that Melodie’s interludes are more than just her attempts at play. Melodie is navigating feelings of alienation at dance school and troubles too big for her to comprehend at home and so her forays into the wild empower her to confront those demons in meaningful ways that make her an endearing and memorable character.

Aimee, who leaves her position at an important law firm in Manila to pursue dreams of her own, is likewise fully rendered and compelling. Her scramble to provide for Melodie leads to a small series of increasingly comedic confrontations with her extended family that seem at once fresh and familiar.

Where Chateauneuf is at her finest, though, is with her attention to detail and the ability to show those details of the real world as authentically as the details of Melodie’s imaginary world are charming and engaging. Nearly every panel is packed with fine examples of place and character, from a Manila market to a character’s unmatched socks. But the novel really comes alive when Melodie’s world encroaches on the physical world, leading to a comfortable surreality that seems utterly inhabitable for Melodie and the reader. The very quick pace of the story, in spite of densely packed panels where numerous characters speak over and through each other, is somewhat mitigated by a series of lovely “bonus” vignettes at the end.

Queen Street has only some mildly and very occasional offensive language and is recommended for young adult readers.

Ninja-K: The Ninja Files

Written by: Christos Gage Illustrated by: Tomas Giorello Publisher: Valiant Entertainment Format: Crime & Mystery, Softcover, 160 pages, Color ISBN: 9781682152591 Ages: 13 and up In a world where people are almost as disposable as throwing stars, Valiant Entertainment’s Ninja-K; The Ninja Files serves up espionage and intrigue all within a paranoia-inducing story.

Collecting issues #1-5 of the Ninja-K series, writer Christos Gage (Netflix’s Daredevil) and a bevy of veteran artists including Tomas Giorello (X-O Manowar), Juan Jose Ryp (Britannia) and Ariel Olivetti (Punisher War Journal) enhance the story of series protagonist and super-spy, Colin King (Ninja-K) and the mysterious Ninja Programme. Gage gives the “programme” a palpable origin with roots emanating from nearly a century ago as Britain’s intelligence service, MI6’s employs a Japanese espionage agent (Ninja-A) as an answer to the clear and present dangers during World War I. Seeing the value of a highly-trained field agent, whist weighed down by the notion of an probable cessation of their alliance with Japan would ultimately lead to the Brits creation of a domestic agent (Ninja-B) and their subsequent, alphabetically-designated operatives. However, as names would imply, the anonymity of an agent’s codename suppresses not only their identity, but also any right they feel to a real life. When agents of the clandestine organization are hunted, King springs into action to unravel the mystery while questioning his own origins.

Gage paces the story well with strong characterization illustrating the many sides of damaged people who ultimate wanted a respite from their life of isolation and chaos. The utilization of different artists for flashbacks create stronger emotion when paired with the series’ consistent action.

Ninja-K: The Ninja Files is suggested for Young Adult (13+) readers who enjoy high octane action intrigue. Readers should be aware the book contains some coarse language, sexual situations, and some violent fight scenes.

Reviewed by Matt Powell, Public Relations & Community Outreach, East Orange Public Library

Reviewed by Darren DeFrain, Ph.D, Associate Professor of English, Wichita State University

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Crossroad Blues: A Nick Travers Graphic Novel

Paper Girls Volume 1

Written by: Ace Atkins Illustrated by: Marco Finnegan, Chris Brunner Publisher: Image Comics Format: Mystery/Detective, Softcover, 144 pages, Color ISBN: 9781534306486 Ages: 16 and up This book is part crime novel, part ghost story, and part music history with an aura of spookiness and mystery throughout.

The black and white artwork adds much to the tone of the story as it gives the reader time to dwell on each image.

The story focuses on Nick Travers, who resembles the typical dime store crime novel detective, as he is tasked with finding the truth behind a disappearance.

Woven throughout the story is a 1930s Mississippi Delta era blues singer named Robert Johnson, who in real life had his own mystery surrounding him, because some people claim he made a deal with the devil in order to write his music.

The title, Crossroad Blues, is also the title of one of Johnson’s songs, which has been covered by many other artists and is considered one of the “500 songs that rock” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I had to read the book several times in order to get a better understanding of the mystery and to see all the clues that were hidden throughout. Even at the end of the story, the reader still does not have a complete understanding of the mystery and there is some debate over the conclusion.

Before reading this book, do a little bit of research about Robert Johnson, you can even listen to his music while reading this graphic novel. With this ambience, the illustrations and dialogue will bring to life the people and the time-period.

Reviewed by Tim Smyth, Social Studies Teacher, Philadelphia, PA

Written by: Brian K. Vaughan Illustrated by: Cliff Chiang Publisher: Image Comics Format: Sci-Fi, Softcover, 144 pages, Color ISBN: 9781632156747 Ages: 16 and up In the early hours of November 1, 1988, 12-year-old Erin sets off on her first day delivering newspapers in her small Ohio subdivision. While on her route, she encounters three other paperdelivering girls her age – MacKenzie, Tiffany, and KJ – who ride together to keep safe from any lingering Halloween revelers.

But after the four encounter a group of men in black suits and hoods with strange eyes, they discover a mysterious object hidden in an unfinished house, only to re-emerge to find the sky has changed colors and most of their neighbors have gone missing. Soon, the quartet are on the run, trying to uncover the origins of these mysterious events while avoiding the pterodactyl-riding silver-suited figures after them.

Much like other titles from Vaughan (Ex Machina, Y the Last Man), Paper Girls is rooted in the real world while taking readers into new and unexpected places in it, giving the strange and fantastic elements even more power in their contrast to normal life. Paper Girls has the feel of a 1980s kids adventure movie (E.T., Explorers), fitting well with the period its set in. The protagonists act as middle schoolers would, while the few adults around are of little help. Clues are dropped as to what is going and who is responsible, but this is the mystery that propels this series.

Chiang’s art is energetic and dynamic, and smoothly juxtaposes the everyday elements with the fantastical. His use of framing moves the story along quickly, and also expands and contracts the scope of the action, keeping the book grounded in the experiences of the four protagonists.

Paper Girls Volume 1 is suggested for Young Adult (13+) readers who enjoy the films previously referenced as well as YA and sci-fi stories. The book contains some coarse language appropriate for the era as well as some science fiction-based violence, but nothing very graphic.

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Reviewed by Diamond BookShelf

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For more reviews, visit http://bit.ly/BookShelfReviews Summer 2018

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CORE LISTS BookShelf presents a list of selected essential titles for different age ranges releasing between May 2018 and August 2018

Titles for Kids (Age 6+) Avatar: The Last Airbender – Imbalance Part One Dark Horse | 9781506704890 Bad Machinery Volume 6 Oni Press | 9781620105436 DC Super Hero Girls: Search for Atlantis DC Comics | 9781401283537 DuckTales Volume 3 IDW Publishing | 978 1684053193 Doctor Who: Twelve Angels Weeping PUK | 9781405938273 Encounter Volume 1 Lion Forge | 9781549302701 Garfield Snack Pack Volume 1 KaBOOM! | 9781684152483 Honey Moon Shades & Shenanigans Rabbit Publishers | 9781943785810 Life With Archie Volume 1 Archie Comics | 9781682558591 Little Pierrot Volume 3 Lion Forge | 9781941302620 Little Witch Academia Volume 2 Yen Press | 9781975328108 Miraculous Adventures Volume 2 Action Lab | 9781632293589 Pirates of the Caribbean – Jack Sparrow’s Adventures Tokyopop | 9781427857866 Rugrats Volume 2 KaBOOM! | 9781684152568 Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 1 IDW Publishing | 9781684053278 Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia Dark Horse | 9781506708973 Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas – Zero’s Journey Tokyopop | 9781427858979

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This is a Whoopsie!

Lion Forge | 9781941302873

DC Comics Before Superman Hermes Press | 9781613451649

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Transformers Volume 3 IDW Publishing | 9781684053315

Descender Volume 6 Image Comics | 9781534306905

Valiant High Valiant | 9781682152799

Dragon Age Library Edition Volume 2 Dark Horse | 9781506706603

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The Wormworld Saga Volume 2 Lion Forge | 9781549302947

The Dog Rabbit Publishers | 9781943785858

Titles for Young Adults (Age 13+)

Elsewhere Volume 2 Image Comics | 9781534306899 The Flutter Dark Horse | 9781506708867

Aberrant Volume 1 Action Lab | 9781632294173

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma VIZ Media | 9781421599496

Age of Bronze Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534308299

Fruits Basket Another Volume 2 Yen Press | 9781975382247

Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETAL Z2 Comics | 9781940878218

Haikyu!! Volume 26 VIZ Media | 9781421598178

Archie: A Celebration of America’s Favorite Teenagers IDW | 9781631409721 B-Squad Volume 1 Starburns Industries Press | 9780988936386

Infinity Countdown: Companion Marvel | 9781302913090 Invader Zim Volume 6 Oni Press | 9781620105368 Jungle Girls IDW | 9781631409158

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Lumberjanes OGN: The Infernal Compass BOOM! Box | 9781684152520

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Batman and the Justice League Manga Volume 1 DC Comics |

Marvel Knights Black Panther Marvel | 9781302914103

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Batman: Prelude to Knightfall DC Comics | 9781401284220

Me the People Image Comics | 9781534310223

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Betty & Veronica Spectacular Volume 1 Archie Comics | 9781682559055

Mech Cadet Yu Volume 2 BOOM! | 9781684152537

Bane: Conquest DC Comics | 9781401284428

Black Clover Volume 12 VIZ Media | 9781974700400 Black Hammer Library Edition Volume 1 Dark Horse | 9781506710730

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Mickey Mouse & Walt Disney: How They Conquered the Third Reich Hermes Press | 9781613451663

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My Hero Academia Volume 14 VIZ Media | 9781421599472

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diamondbookshelf.com Norroway Book 1 Image Comics | 9781534308558 Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Volume 1 Udon Entertainment | 9781772940671

Harrow County Library Edition Volume 1 Dark Horse | 9781506710648 High School DxD Volume 11 Yen Press | 9781975328078

Titles for Adults (Age 18+)

I Am Young Fantagraphics | 9781683961390

A Bride’s Story Volume 10 Yen Press | 9781975327989

Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Marvel | 9781302910563

I Hate Fairyland Volume 4 Image Comics | 9781534306806

A Million Ways to Die Hard Insight Comics | 9781608879755

Sword Daughter Volume 1 Dark Horse | 9781506707822

Infidel Image Comics | 9781534308367

Adam Greens Hatchet Volume 1 American Mythology | 9781945205132

The Complete Angel Catbird Dark Horse | 9781506704562

Monstro Mechanica Volume 1 AfterShock Comics | 9781935002499

The United States of Murder Inc. Volume 1 DC Comics | 9781401287467

My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies Image Comics | 9781534308466

Skyward Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534308336

Upgrade Soul Lion Forge | 9781549302923 Vemon: The Complete Collection Marvel | 9781302913809 X-Men Red Volume 1 Marvel | 9781302911676

Titles for Older Teens (Age 16+) Agent 47 Volume 1 Dynamite | 9781524106607 Aliens: The Essential Comics Volume 1 Dark Horse | 9781506710037 Brothers Dracul Volume 1 AfterShock Comics | 9781935002475 Black Torch VIZ Media | 9781974700462 Deadpool By Posehn & Duggan Complete Collection Marvel | 9781302911409 Death or Glory Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534308589 Demi-God IDW | 9781684053902 Guncats Volume 1 Action Lab | 9781632294197

Oblivion Song Image Comics | 9781534306424 Saga Volume 9 Image Comics | 9781534308374 Robotech Archives The Macross Saga Volume 3 Titan Comics | 9781785862960

Bettie Page Volume 2 Dynamite | 9781524107048 Danger Doll Squad Volume 2 Action Lab | 9781632293947 Dark Metro: Ultimate Manga Edition Tokyopop | 9781427859365 Deep Roots Vault Comics | 9781939424389

To Love Ru Darkness Volume 7 Ghost Ship | 9781947804210

Deuce of Hearts Volume 1 Vault Comics | 9781939424396

Unnatural Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534309821

Don’t Be Cruel Volume 7 VIZ Media | 9781421593791

Vampirella Volume 2 Dynamite | 9781524106409

Fire Punch Volume 4 VIZ Media | 9781421598086

Walk Through Hell AfterShock Comics | 9781935002451

Fissure Vault Comics | 9781939424174

Watersnakes Lion Forge | 9781942367758

Golden Kamuy Volume 6 VIZ Media | 9781421594934

Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers Dynamite | 9781524104818

Interspecies Reviewers Volume 1 Yen Press | 9781975302009

World’s End Harem Volume 3 Ghost Ship | 9781947804265

John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction: VORTEX Storm King Productions | 9780997059960

Yokai Girls Volume 4 Ghost Ship | 9781947804135

Perdy Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534308473

Yunna & the Haunted Hot Springs Volume 4 Ghost Ship | 9781947804258

Sugar Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534310049

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Akame ga KILL! ZERO Volume 8 Yen Press | 9781975328030

Sunstone Volume 6 Image Comics | 9781534310049 Twisted Romance

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RESOURCES B OO K S ABO UT GRAPHIC NO V ELS Superhero Comics

By Chris Galaver A complete guide to the history, form and contexts of the genre, Superhero Comics helps readers explore the most successful and familiar of comic book genres. In an accessible and easy-tonavigate format, the book reveals: the history of superhero comics-from mythic influences to 21st-century evolutions; cultural contexts-from the formative politics of colonialism, eugenics, KKK vigilantism, and WWII fascism to the Cold War’s transformative threat of mutually assured destruction to the on-going revolutions in African American and sexual representation; key texts-from the earliest pre-Comics-Code Superman and Batman to the latest post-Code Ms. Marvel and Black Panther; approaches to visual analysis-from layout norms to narrative structure to styles of abstraction.

Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom

By Stephen Cary Comics are natural for second language development. Their unique mix of abundant comprehensionbuilding visuals and authentic text readily engages learners, contextualizes language, and offers a window into the culture. Building on the latest brain-based research, second language acquisition theory, and progressive literacy principles, Stephen Cary offers twenty-five proven activities for comics-based instruction in all classrooms, especially TESL/TEFL settings, and for all grade and English-proficiency levels.

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Reading with Pictures: Comics That Make Kids Smarter

By Josh Elder Uniting the finest creative talents in the comics industry with the nation’s leading experts in visual literacy to create a game-changing tool for the classroom and beyond, this fullcolor volume features more than a dozen short stories (both fiction and nonfiction) that address topics in Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, and Science, while offering an immersive textual and visual experience that kids will enjoy.

Graphic Novels in High School and Middle School Classrooms: A Disciplinary Literacies Approach

By William Boerman-Cornell, Jung Kim and Michael L. Manderino The ultimate guide for using graphic novels in any middle school or high school classroom, this book considers how the graphic novel format can support critical thinking and help reach disciplinary goals in history, English language arts, science, math, fine arts, and other subjects. Using specific graphic novels as examples, this book considers how to help students read, question, and write about both fiction and non-fiction. Whether teachers are new to graphic novels or have been working with them for years, this book will help improve instruction.

L I N K S

The Comic Book Project – Center for Educational Pathways http://www.comicbookproject.org/

Good Comics for Kids (School Library Journal Blog) http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids

ComicsResearch.org – Academic & Library Resources http://www.comicsresearch.org/academic.html

Making Curriculum Pop http://mcpopmb.ning.com

Eek! Comics in the Classroom! (Education World) http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105.shtml

Maryland Comic Book Initiative http://archives.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/ recognition-partnerships/md-comic-book.html

Expanding Literacies through Graphic Novels (Members Only) http://www1.ncte.org/Library/files/Free/recruitment/ EJ0956Expanding.pdf

No Flying, No Tights (Graphic Novel Review Site) http://www.noflyingnotights.com/

Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels: Page by Page, Panel by Panel http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com

Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom (The CouncilChronicle, Sept. 05) http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/122031

GNLib: Graphic Novels in Libraries https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gn4lib/info

YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens List http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt

More Links DiamondBookShelf.com maintains an ever-growing database of web resources for educators and librarians.

Categories include official Publisher sites, resources for teachers, resources for librarians, graphic novel and comics review sites, resources for kids and more!

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HOW TO ORDER COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS Yo u h av e ma n y op tion s – c h oose t he o ne t hat w o rks bes t f o r yo u!

1. BUY FROM YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP

2. BUY FROM YOUR USUAL WHOLESALER OR BOOK JOBBER

For a variety of reasons, your local comic book shop could be the best possible resource for your purchase of graphic novels. In fact, many local comic shops service both schools and libraries already with the latest comics and graphic novels.

Baker & Taylor, Booksource, Brodart, Follett, Ingram, and other wholesalers all carry a full line of graphic novels.

Most schools and libraries already do business with one or more of these companies, and it’s easy to add in your order through these procurement channels.

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Su pd 3. BUY DIRECT FROM DIAMOND If there are no comic book stores in your area and your usual wholesaler doesn’t have deep stock on a variety of titles, Diamond does sell directly to educators and librarians.

For more information, call Allan Greenberg at 443-318-8001 ext. 8564 or email library@diamondcomics.com or schools@diamondcomics.com

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A GREAT RESOURCE: YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP Quality comic book shops are a valuable resource for libraries and schools seeking graphic novels and graphic novel information. In the past, such partnerships have proven successful for all involved, with increased sales and circulation, as well as the satisfaction that comes with community involvement. As comic book and graphic novel specialists, comic shop retailers have up-to-date knowledge on the most recent and upcoming hits, and a great familiarity with what their customers are reading and enjoying. Many are more than willing to work together on cross-promotional events, reaching out to and expanding the audience of graphic novel fans. So, how do you go about finding and dealing with your local comic shop? Well, it’s easier than you think. By following these easy steps, you’ll be coordinating with your local comic shop in no time!

Find a Store. We’ve already done the work for you! To find your closest comic shop, all you have to do is use the Comic Shop Locator Service. Just log on to http://www. comicshoplocator.com and enter your zip code. It’s as simple as that! Located on the store listings is the School and Library Partners icon above. Stores with this designation have told us they are willing to partner with schools and libraries to aid with selection, programming, purchasing, and more.

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Research and Choose a Store. Once you’ve located a store, the next thing to do is find out more about it. If you used the Comic Shop Locator, many of the stores have posted brief profiles. The best way to find out more information about a store is to visit it in person. That way, you’ll have the opportunity to browse through the store’s collection and get personal advice from the knowledgeable experts on hand. All stores will have their own unique approach – find one that you feel comfortable with.

Introduce Yourself. Going into any new environment can be intimidating, especially when you have preconceived notions.

But there’s nothing to fear from comic shop retailers. Many of them are happy to welcome librarians and teachers into their stores because they understand the mutual benefit working together can achieve. Let them know you’re interested in using graphic novels, and they will be more than happy to help!

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Designed to inform educators and librarians about the best graphic novels for their school or library, stay up to date on the latest industry news, read creator interviews, see exclusive previews and lesson plans, and more!

Subscription comes with a free downloadable graphic novel pdf from a Diamond Book Distributors publisher. www. D iamon d Book S h elf.c om /subs cribe

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BOOKSHELF WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! What did you think of this issue of Diamond BookShelf?

Send your feedback, ideas, and suggestions for future articles to: DIAMOND BOOKSHELF 10150 YORK ROAD HUNT VALLEY, MD 21030

EMAIL: EDITOR@DIAMONDBOOKSHELF.COM

We at Diamond have known for years that comic books and graphic novels are excellent teaching and learning tools… we’re pleased that so many educators are starting to agree! We hope you find this publication and our website a useful resource to convince others that comics can make a difference in helping to promote literacy, motivate readers, and more.

If you find Diamond BookShelf worthwhile, be sure to pass it on and tell your colleagues!

Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of Englishlanguage comic books, graphic novels and comics-related merchandise.

We believe that comics are not only great fun and great art, but also have educational value and are terrific tools for promoting literacy.

The BookShelf magazine and website are two of Diamond’s outreach initiatives to support the use of comics and graphic novels in schools and libraries.

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www.Twitter.com/DiaBookShelf

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