Literacy

Starting a graphic novel collection from scratch

Outlined below are some essential research tips for starting a collection of graphic novels. These will be helpful to someone with little or no prior knowledge of the form before they begin buying titles. Additionally, a practical example showing what schools can do with a newly acquired graphic novel collection has been provided.

An image of David Balfour and Alan Breck (Kidnapped)

Websites

The internet is a good starting point for research into graphic novels.

No flying no tights is an excellent website containing articles, tips, and reviews which include guidance on suitability levels for different age groups. Graphic novels are split into genres, which is useful if you are trying to build a balanced collection.
Grovel is a good UK site with lots of news, reviews and articles on graphic novels, featuring classic titles and film tie-ins.
Titan books is the site of the leading publisher of graphic novels, which has the UK rights for many US publications. The site contains news, product information, etc.
Amazon.co.uk provides bestseller and readers’ lists for graphic novels. This site is also useful for checking UK availability of US publications.

Libraries

Check if your local library has a collection of graphic novels. If it does, these will probably be popular or classic titles, giving you a taster of the basics. It is very important to preview the titles you plan to buy, as suitability/content is more of an issue when in graphical form.

Bookshops

Similarly to libraries, bookshops can be used to look at some of the titles you might be buying. Large stores such as Waterstones or Borders should have a good selection of popular and classic titles. Small independents such as Forbidden Planet might be more daunting for the novice, but knowledgeable staff should be able to give advice.

Films

Films that have been adapted from graphic novels or comics in recent years are bound to be extremely popular titles and can be a good starting point for your collection.

Contacts

Have a chat to someone with an interest in graphic novels or comics, including pupils, as they will be able to recommended writers or titles you may not have come across. Getting an enthusiast’s viewpoint can also give you extra confidence when starting a collection.

Using a graphic novel collection

Graphic novels group (James Hamilton Academy)

The Graphic Novels Group began at James Hamilton Academy in January 2005, after a successful bid for a Reading at Home Initiative grant. This money was used to start a collection of graphic novels. Good quality sketch pads and pens were also acquired to allow the group to create as well as read and discuss graphic novels. Building the collection was challenging as the librarian involved, Ross McGregor, had no previous knowledge or experience of the format.

An extract from the Romeo and Juliet graphic novel (Timber Frame Publications)

The initial aims of the project were to:

encourage reading and book use among reluctant readers (mainly S3 boys)
introduce a new fiction format to the library with a universal appeal
encourage home/leisure time reading

Format

The group consisted of 15 boys who were regular (non-reading) library users. The weekly meetings gave these pupils exclusive access to the library and the graphic novels collection. This first stage lasted for 15 weeks, with varying degrees of success. Some pupils were engaged in the reading of books and the creation of characters, while others were not.

In the following year the group consisted of new S3 pupils, again boys. Some were already keen readers and most were comics/graphic novels enthusiasts, giving the group a very different dynamic. All of the members were enthusiastic and took ownership of ‘their’ group. This change was valuable from a literacy development point of view, as the S3/S4 stage is when many boys drop out of the reading habit. Engagement in graphic novels was one way to combat this.

Future development

The current members will be joined by new S3 pupils, which should make for an interesting group atmosphere. The collection has been opened up as part of the general library stock (group members still get first look at new titles). This has been useful for providing pupils from lower level English classes with alternatives to straight fiction.

The next stage of the group's development is to turn the pupils’ wonderful ideas into a real comic - the next Spiderman, perhaps?

'Romeo and Juliet': adaptation: Simon Greaves, publisher: Timber Frame Publications