Graphic Novels:
Books that include many comic-like graphics, along with the text, to help convey the story
The Boxcar Children, A Graphic Novel #1
By: Shannon Eric Denton
Graphic Novel
Summary: They have very little money but manage to buy bread from a store. The owner allows the four kids to sleep there at night if they work for him at his shop. However, the owner says he is going to have to report the youngest child, Benny, to a safe home. Scarred they are going to lose him, the four kids take off, looking for a new place to sleep. They come across an empty boxcar and decide it is a good place to live. Also, they find a dog that becomes their watchdog to protect them. To make money for food, Henry meets Dr. Moore, who employs him to run errands. Mrs. Moore, Dr. Moore’s mom, hires Henry to garden her vegetables. Dr. Moore read the newspaper one morning, where there was an article about a grandfather offering money, for his four lost grandchildren. Dr. Moore does not realize Henry is one of the grandchildren until Violet gets sick and they have to take her to Dr. Moore. The doctor recollects the article and calls their grandfather, Henry Alden. Then, we realize that the kids’ parents died and their grandfather was going to have custody of them. They thought he was mean so they ran away.
Interest Level: 3rd – 5th Grade
Reading Level/Grade Level: 3.2 (3rd Grade 2 Months)
By: Shannon Eric Denton
Graphic Novel
Summary: They have very little money but manage to buy bread from a store. The owner allows the four kids to sleep there at night if they work for him at his shop. However, the owner says he is going to have to report the youngest child, Benny, to a safe home. Scarred they are going to lose him, the four kids take off, looking for a new place to sleep. They come across an empty boxcar and decide it is a good place to live. Also, they find a dog that becomes their watchdog to protect them. To make money for food, Henry meets Dr. Moore, who employs him to run errands. Mrs. Moore, Dr. Moore’s mom, hires Henry to garden her vegetables. Dr. Moore read the newspaper one morning, where there was an article about a grandfather offering money, for his four lost grandchildren. Dr. Moore does not realize Henry is one of the grandchildren until Violet gets sick and they have to take her to Dr. Moore. The doctor recollects the article and calls their grandfather, Henry Alden. Then, we realize that the kids’ parents died and their grandfather was going to have custody of them. They thought he was mean so they ran away.
Interest Level: 3rd – 5th Grade
Reading Level/Grade Level: 3.2 (3rd Grade 2 Months)
Zita the Spacegirl
By: Ben Hatke
Graphic Novel
Summary: Zita and her friend Joseph find huge hole in the ground and in it a remote with a red light. Zita daringly hits the button, only to see Joseph get pulled in by an alien! She has to save him so she goes in after him! Now they are both on another planet controlled by crazy aliens but they cannot find each other. With the help of some aliens, Zita searches and finds Joseph tied up by the Scriptorians who rule the planet. They are trying to prevent an asteroid from destroying them and think by sacrificing Joseph the asteroid will not hit their planet. Luckily, they are able to stop the asteroid with the remote, but now the remote is broken and Zita and Joseph cannot go home. Fortunately, Piper is able to rewire the remote to work but only Joseph was able to make it home. But, Zita will just take Piper’s ship home!
Interest Level: 4th – 7th Grade
Reading Level/Grade Level: 2.5 (2nd Grade 5 Months)
By: Ben Hatke
Graphic Novel
Summary: Zita and her friend Joseph find huge hole in the ground and in it a remote with a red light. Zita daringly hits the button, only to see Joseph get pulled in by an alien! She has to save him so she goes in after him! Now they are both on another planet controlled by crazy aliens but they cannot find each other. With the help of some aliens, Zita searches and finds Joseph tied up by the Scriptorians who rule the planet. They are trying to prevent an asteroid from destroying them and think by sacrificing Joseph the asteroid will not hit their planet. Luckily, they are able to stop the asteroid with the remote, but now the remote is broken and Zita and Joseph cannot go home. Fortunately, Piper is able to rewire the remote to work but only Joseph was able to make it home. But, Zita will just take Piper’s ship home!
Interest Level: 4th – 7th Grade
Reading Level/Grade Level: 2.5 (2nd Grade 5 Months)