Coteachers Share Graphic and Verse Novels for 8th Grade Readers

By Laura Robinson and Anna Paprocki

We co-teach our eighth grade reading classes, and we focus on motivating readers and keeping the best books in their hands. Students are given choice in their novel selections, assigned or not. We booktalk the newest titles and watch book trailers to inspire our readers.

Thinking to the end of 8th grade, we wanted students reading a variety of narrative forms. Our 8th graders are curious, clever, and chatty creatures, and we thought our students could use a boost in their stamina as we got into the last quarter of junior high, so we created DonorsChoose projects for verse and graphic novels. 

Students love to talk with us about books, hot topics, and technology. Booktalks really inspire these students to read; once we show them a new or cool title, it is often off the shelf for weeks. People talk about middle schoolers being reluctant readers, but we do not see that in our students. They gobble up good books.

Here are 10 titles we received through Robinson’s DonorsChoose projects that were favorites in our co-taught reading classes this year. Some were chosen for their style, and others were chosen because they were just plain cool.  This organization facilitates teacher projects that need funding, and two of our ideas were fully funded this year by generous friends, family, and even complete strangers. Thanks to the generosity of others, our students were lucky enough to have some exciting titles in their hands this school year. 

Our Top Ten Titles

Coraline: The Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by P. Craig Russell

This is the story of a little girl Coraline, who is unhappy in her ordinary life. They live in a house, like a duplex, where her family occupies one half of the home. The other half is occupied by an exact replica of her family, except some strange differences. They have buttons for eyes, and the “new” family never wants Coraline to leave.  She explores this family and side of the house, but ends up getting trapped in a bad case of “the grass is always greener on the other side.”  

Our students loved this book because it’s kind of strange and sinister. The graphic novel adaptation gives them the visuals, but also makes them slow their pace down to really notice details in the images. The “other mother” is freaky looking and teenagers love it.  

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel by Ransom Riggs, illustrated by Cassandra Jean

This adaptation from the original book was a hit with students. It’s strange characters and weird pictures really intrigue students. The main character Jacob finds out his grandfather used to be a part of this strange house of children who all have special, secret powers and are watched over by a black bird. They live a life in hiding, but Jacob’s grandfather escapes to live a normal life, only to have parts of that former life haunt him. Jacob finds the house and the children and finds himself getting sucked into the loop of that world.

This version of the book was a hit with the students because the action kept them interested and turning pages! The graphics added even more visuals and details than its’ original format. They said they liked how it was mysterious and had cool images.

One by Sarah Crossan

This is a verse novel about a pair of twin sisters who are conjoined. They have been homeschooled their whole lives, but junior year, their parents face some financial trouble and they have to go to a regular school now. They face teasing, and whispers, and odd stares as they work their way through the new environment. Tippi and Grace make 2 new friends right away, Jon and Yazmin and they instantly form a bond. Grace develops a crush on Jon and Tippi starts to push the limits of their health by experimenting with alcohol and cigarettes. They experience some health issues, but neither of them discuss it, and it gets to a point where they have to decide whether or not to separate.  

It’s hard to imagine a life joined at the hip with your sister, but this book is written in a way that brings the reader in and makes them feel as if they are right along side Tippi and Grace. The struggles they face are real and heart-wrenching. Students loved the emotions of the characters and the drama that evolves with their family, friendships, and sisterhood.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri, illustrated Randy Duburke

Yummy is a based on a true story of an 11-year-old boy from the southside of Chicago. Robert “Yummy” Sandifer grew up without the family that a child needs. His dad was in jail for selling drugs and his mom was in and out of jail for various reasons. Yummy lived in group homes, foster homes, and with his Granny. At a young age, Yummy started getting involved with the Black Disciples. Yummy’s sad story drew the attention of the entire nation, as youth violence changes his life forever.

The students were very engaged in Yummy’s story because you see both sides of his life: he is torn between being a child and running with the Black Disciples. Robert “Yummy” is just looking for acceptance and a place to belong. Students feel their heart strings tugged by this compelling story of gang life and violence at a young age and they love urban stories.

House Arrest by K.A. Holt

Timothy is put on house arrest and has mandated counseling due to a crime he committed. His parents are split, his 1 year old brother is very ill, and they constantly live on edge, wondering if they can get by. The novel is actually Tim’s journal of thoughts, feelings, and reactions from his life as he goes through his year of house arrest. Students liked the way Tim gave attitude to his counselor and his funny way of responding to adults. It intrigued them how he would not tell his counselor how he felt even though he was feeling so much. Also, they enjoyed how the protagonist went through changes as the story unfolded. It’s an easy read and a good one to catch students.

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

Written in verse, this emotional tale of a teenager named Brendan, who is struggling with his gender identity. The book varies between three different points of view: Brendan, Vanessa (his girlfriend), and Angel, who is a transgender volunteer at a youth center. Students appreciate the raw way Brendan expresses his struggles as he moves through his experience with transgender and transexualism. Clark writes an engaging and tasteful narrative to share the inner struggle of a teenager and his search for identity. This is quite a page-turner for teenage readers!

The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau, adapted by Dallas Middaugh, illustrated by Niklas Asker

Ember is a city built beneath the surface and runs on a limited amount of energy, which seems to be running out. When children turn 12, they chose a job for their future. Lina and Doon both get jobs they don’t want, so they switch. Doon knows the power is starting to fail and thinks he can fix the generator. Lina finds crucial information in her messenger job that could change the future of Ember. Together they work to find a solution to Ember’s power trouble and look for a way out.  Students enjoyed the suspense of this novel because the action really builds. The antagonist is extremely dislikable and makes readers want to stand up and fight. The images in this graphic novel take away the wondering of what this setting is really like, as it’s hard to imagine a life permanently underground.

The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume I by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by P. Craig Russell

A graphic novel adaptation of The Graveyard Book is a visually appealing and engaging experience for students. Part I of this tale begins with Nobody Owens finding a family, a place to belong in a graveyard with the ghosts that inhabit the place. Nobody “Bod” crawled into the graveyard after escaping his family’s and inevitably his own murder.  Students enjoy the story with haunting gothic illustrations and an engaging beginning to Bod’s story that will leave them excited to read Volume II.

Because I Am Furniture  by Thalia Chaltas

A heart-breaking story, written in verse, of a girl, Anke, who is a freshman in high school. Anke’s dad is extremely abusive to her sister and brother; Anke is ignored, treated like “furniture” in her house. Chaltas addresses the sensitive, heavy topics of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and parental infidelity through Anke’s story. It is written in a way that appeals to students and allows the safety of identifying with her struggles. A teenager wanting a parent to love and care in a healthy way, and the emotional burden when a parent is abusive and uncaring. The verse novel format is a powerful  tool for opening up the discussion about a dark world within a family’s secrets and sheds hope as Anke finds her voice and learns to speak up for herself.

Up From the Sea by Leza Lowitz

This is a beautiful story, tying 2 major historical events: the Japanese Tsunami of 2011 and 9/11 Terrorist attacks. Kai lives with his mother and grandparents in Japan, and his dad, an American, has no contact with them anymore. The tsunami hits and Kai gets separated from his family, and the damage from the disaster is more than most can bear. Kai and the other refugee children start playing soccer as a way to soak up time, and an opportunity comes up where tsunami victims can go to New York to meet victims or family members of victims of the 9/11 attacks for the 10 year anniversary of that tragedy. The story weaves together these events and tells a tale of hardship, growth, and overcoming obstacles.

Students love the soccer connection, and the background knowledge on the tsunami given in the book. They were present for that, as opposed to being newborns during 9/11. Kai is relatable and facing some major issues as he learns about his father. He has to face reality and the best way he can do that is by organizing this soccer game and helping to rebuild his town.

Next Time

After going through the units we created for both graphic novels and verse novels, we realized some things we could tweak for next time.  First, for verse novels, it would be best to go through one as a whole class to get the feel for how they are set up and what is different about reading a verse novel.  Once a whole class selection is done, students would then move into another of their own choice and repeat some of the same activities, reactions, and responses independently.  A few of our titles were more involved and took more inferring than others, so taking the time to go through a title together first would be beneficial.

As for graphic novels, there is no good way to read one together as a class, but what we did was talk about what graphic novels do for us that other reading doesn’t. We looked at samples ahead of time, walked through the steps of how to read left to right, top to bottom, and we also discussed the various types of frames a reader can encounter in a graphic novel. We talked about how reading a GN can speed up your overall reading time, but can actually slow down your reading rate because you are slowing down your reading to look at the pictures.  Students often plow through reading, but both GNs and VNs bring a different approach to reading for them, which is a good variation to what they are used to. Overall, they liked both novel studies, even if they didn’t love all of the titles. It was a great change of pace for them.

What are some of your favorite novels in verse and graphic novels? Please share.