This is the unit - the reeadings, your intro, our discussion questions were most helpful. I have to admit to not paying any attention to graphic novels before this -& I haven't looked at manga yet!
We have a good GN/manga collection at the library but one librarian orders and organizes the collection and does most of the RA. We have arranged our GN/managa in the Teen area -- the big series are arranged by series, the other titles arranged by categories -- any adult titles would be interfiled. No use of the Dewey system.
One of the things we've seen with the series -- some series bomb -- the first few titles are checked out and then the rest just sit on the shelves. So, the librarian who orders is being cautious about adding whole series until she sees demand for volumes past the first few . . . .
I have ordered a few adult GN, such as a business title. I'm wondering how the adult will find it and will he/she stop looking if he gets to the GN section and thinks this is "just" a comic book and must not be nonfiction, must not be for me.
In the 3 titles I've read and others I want to try, I am choosing fiction based on fact or nonfiction titles. So appeal factors for me are the storyline, educational/historical value primarily but I do look to see if they've won an award or have a good review - most people won't do that I'm guessing. The other appeals are the Cover and the Artwork - AYA as an example - such beautiful, colorful artwork that you just have to start looking at this GN.
I found it interesting to see that classics are being adapted. And will mainstream authors become interested in writing GN? Haven't checked but I could see Jan Brett's work (especially the artwork) translating well into GN.
I also read in USA Today, 9/2/08 that a graphic-novel based film got a thumbs-up from 3/4 of reviewers and a box office of $134 Million - (I didn't write down the title)
And I was impressed to see that Art Spiegelman, author of Maus, won an early Pulitzer Prize.
So, I could see a way to make GN more appealing to adults but then would we need our own genre collection for adult GN - why would that be a bad idea - even if it's relatively small -- or would there be too many cross-over titles appealing to both adults and teens. Or could we create a sticker to indicate adult appeal - but who will make those judgements?
What creative ways are libraries using?
In the reading I learned that these are more than "just" comics, and can be lengthy and complex in terms of artwork and layouts. And it took me awhile to get used to reding both the text and visuals together and appreciate how they work together to tell the story.
In addition to the websites you suggested, I see that we own or have on order some graphic novel guides such as the 500 Essential Grapic Novels: The Ultimate Guide. And I did find a Boston librarian's blog in which she reviews Graphic Novels on Mondays.
Last thing - I suppose - will this be one genre without audio equivalent or are there some? I see it more likely that people will download GN/mangas.
Copied and Pasted my comments from the discussion forum: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I read Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda by JP Stassen
This GN is based on the Rwandan tragedy (genocide) if tge 1990s. Since it's unclear how many people know the details of this tragedy, the books starts with a historical introduction, which is very helpful. The story is powerful, moving and unforgettable. Many of us may hesitate to read an entire book about genocide so the GN format provides readers with a way to more quickly learn about this historical event.
This GN has a gripping storyline, a "strong" main character and other developed characters. The artwork, in color, is very well done.
As a newbie, I foud myself reading the text only but then slowed myself down to read the text and view the art simultaneouly. Doing so, enhanced my reading experience. The text and art did indeed work well together to make the story more understandable to the reader (as suggested in our assigned reading). An excellent GN for me to start with - the story and main character will remain with me for a long time. An instance where fiction helps us learn about important events. However, I would recommend this for adults or older teens - it's a disturbing story -- I found it hard to get out of my head for many days after reading it - not for tweens or younger teens. Janice Dibble
Graphic Novels Janice Dibble
Like romance graphic novels and mangas bring to mind a stereotype of the reader and what the books contain. Did your opinion change at all with what you read?
Yes, my opinion changed. I had basically no knowledge of Graphic Novels – hadn’t read about the genre, hadn’t read a graphic novel, hadn’t read any reviews, articles, or attended any workshops. Our library has a graphic novel collection but I hadn’t had any RA exchanges with any of our readers. My impression was that they were like comics, that there was a lot of violence and mostly male teens and some male adults reading Graphic Novels. Regarding nonfiction, I had seen an article on a GN depicting Sept. 11th and a review in Business Week for a business/job hunting title. I certainly hadn't realized a nonfiction title would be called a graphic novel. I hadn't seen any romantic GNs either! The reading assignment helped me understand what a graphic novel is and importance of text and visuals and that the artwork can beautiful and intricate. The GN I read, and 2 other titles I’ve skimmed, increased my understanding, appreciation for the literary form and the artwork and variety of subject matter found in GN. There are more subjects than superheroes—which was my initial (uninformed) opinion. Graphic novels involve more then just text - what are some ways you can make yourself a more confident advisor for the readers of this genre? Think in terms of pictures and text. How much text? What is the art like?
Text and artwork: Although I can think of things to look at as listed below I still think I need to pick up and look thru many more graphic novels before I can feel a more confident advisor based on text and artwork.
To help me figure out a GN, I would look at the text to see the length of the GN itself --number of pages in the GN to maybe judge its complexity; I would look at the text bubbles to see length of the bubbles and whether the bubbles were written as phrases or sentences, to see if the bubles were written to move along the plot or as dialog, to see if the bubble text is descriptive (setting, place)
For the art work: I would look at the cover art, I would look at whether it's in color or black/white in the book, to see how detailed or elaborate it is - line drawings, block prints, or more detailed work -- color, detailed artwork, I would look to see if there were "frames" in which there was only artwork and no text and yet the story progressed; I would look to see if the drawings were more cartoon-like or more "traditional", I would look to see if people and places (setting interior and exterior) added depth to the story. Would readers pick a GN based on an illustrator they'd liked in a previous GN?
One of the hardest things about graphic novels is that the genre is so broad. You have everything from lighthearted, romantic manga to books about the holocaust and the sexual abuse of a child. What are some of the keys you can use in helping a customer?
Keys would be: has the reader read any other titles and what were they are what did he/she like about them? With specific titles I'd look to see if those are part of a series; if a specific title I'd look it up on our webcat, after creating more links and lists, I'd use our web site to help me identify titles, I'd look at some library sites with GN blogs for newer titles or look for web sites with read-alikes if there are some good lists, I might suggest some award winners or titles that were turned into movies (or movies based on a GN)-- for example, the movie Wanted with $134 M box office this year as of Sept. 2nd might be something to suggest. There are some guidebooks out there and I'd consider adding to our collection.
The key I used as a reader was the cover and book cover (insiJanicde or back cover) description of the GN.
Again, I see lots of time needed by me to practice getting used to GN subgenres and recognizing those before confidently recommending other than reviewed or award-winning GNs I know about (but these might not be what the reader wants) And, although I cited series in my above answer, I know at our library some series are very popular throughout but we've had some where first three to four titles are popular and later titles in the series are little-used.
Showing posts with label graphic novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphic novel. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Nonfiction Reader Recommendations
The nonfiction book I read is Touching History: the Untold Story of the Drama that Unfolded in the Skies by Lynn Spencer. (about 9/11)
Since Spencer was interested in the facts and studied the government report,
I would recommend the official report for someone who wanted more details and access to the official government report:
The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on…
by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks. However is it a very lengthy report. One alternative would be the graphic novel version: The 9/11 report: a graphic adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon, which got good reviews.
There are of course many books on 9/11, factual accounts, biographies, memoirs, reporter's accounts, survivor accounts, surviving family member accounts, political accounts from many perspectives. etc.
If the reader was interested in reading an account of what happened at the World Trade Center Towers, I would recommend:
In 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, New York Times writers Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
from Amazon:
In 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, New York Times writers Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn vividly recreate the 102-minute span between the moment Flight 11 hit the first Twin Tower on the morning of September 11, 2001, and the moment the second tower collapsed, all from the perspective of those inside the buildings--the 12,000 who escaped, and the 2,749 who did not. It's becoming easier, years later, to forget the profound, visceral responses the Trade Center attacks evoked in the days and weeks following September 11. Using hundreds of interviews, countless transcripts of radio and phone communications, and exhaustive research, Dwyer and Flynn bring that flood of responses back--from heartbreak to bewilderment to fury. The randomness of death and survival is heartbreaking. One man, in the second tower, survived because he bolted from his desk the moment he heard the first plane hit; another, who stayed at his desk on the 97th floor, called his wife in his final moments to tell her to cancel a surprise trip he had planned. In many cases, the deaths of those who survived the initial attacks but were killed by the collapse of the towers were tragically avoidable. Building code exemptions, communication breakdowns between firefighters and police, and policies put in place by building management to keep everyone inside the towers in emergencies led, the authors argue, to the deaths of hundreds who might otherwise have survived. September 11 is by now both familiar and nearly mythological. Dwyer and Flynn's accomplishment is recounting that day's events in a style that is stirring, thorough, and refreshingly understated. --Erica C. Barnett
(retrieved from Amazon Mon, 25 Aug 2008
Terror in the Skies by Annie Jacobsen
This book should appeal to the some of the same readers as Spencer's book, although the incident Jacobsen's focuses on appears to be called into question. It may be that readers who are conspiracy theorists would be more likely readers but conspiracy theorists/buffs also read Spencer's books. (Of course I wouldn't label the reader as a conpiracy theorist/buff.)
From Amazon.com:
Product Description
Annie Jacobsen’s harrowing first-hand account of her flight with a group of suspected terrorists forces us to ask: Could 9/11 happen again? On June 29, 2004, Jacobsen, traveling with her family on Northwest Airlines flight 327, witnessed what she believed was a terrorist "dry run." The blogosphere quickly made world news of Jacobsen’s article on her terrifying experience, launching her on a year-long investigation. In Terror in the Skies, Jacobsen tells, for the first time, the full story of the events on Northwest 327 and the investigation that followed. What happened on her flight, she discovered, was not an isolated incident, and if our air security does not improve, 9/11 is likely to happen again.
Jacobsen interviewed dozens of flight attendants, pilots, air marshals, FBI agents, government officials, and ordinary passengers—eventually gaining access to confidential government reports and correspondence. She reveals a Department of Homeland Security, especially its Federal Air Marshal Service, mired in bureaucracy and political correctness. Teams of terrorists consistently "probe" security on airline flights, and front-line law enforcement officers and airline personnel are effectively prevented from doing anything about it.
Jacobsen’s persistence earned her the wrath of the Air Marshal Service’s management, which embarked on an unsuccessful campaign to discredit her. Their willingness to ignore even congressional inquiries and federal legislation, in an attempt to preserve ill-conceived policies and cover their mistakes, is one of Jacobsen’s most disturbing discoveries.
From her search for flight 327’s "Syrian Wayne Newton" to her testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Jacobsen’s scrutiny of our air security makes the case for an overhaul of our security services. Many of the federal agents involved in the events of flight 327 have stood firm: nothing happened. But as Jacobsen shows, we can no longer afford to take nothing happened for an answer.
Fiction Recommendations:
If the reader was interested in post-9/11 and how family members dealt with loss:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer has received some rave reviews:
From www.librarything.com
Oskar Schell is a nine-year old inventor of creative solutions and explanations. Among the best described sets the tone for the book, "In bed that night I invented a special drain that would be underneath every pillow in New York, and would connect to the reservoir. Whenever people cried themselves to sleep, the tears would all go to the same place, and in the morning the weatherman could report if the water level of the Reservoir of Tears had gone up or down, and you could know if New York was in heavy boots. And when something really terrible happened--like a nuclear bomb, or at least a biological weapons attack--an extremely loud siren would go off, telling everyone to get to Central Park to put sandbags around the reservoir." In coming to terms with the loss of his father in 9/11, Oskar also takes on the challenge of searching for the lock that will open with a key he has found in his father's belongings. The quest takes him all over New York, with the innovative narrative complete with images, symbols and changes in the rhythm and cadence that add to the impact of the story. a rich, fabulous read even though it rates an entire box of tissues, and may cause heavy boots for a time.
meppinger | Nov 12, 2008 |
Aviation Fiction: Other readers might not want to dwell on 9/11 but perhaps enjoyed Spencer's book mainly because of the insider knowledge on pilots, commercial aviation and air controllers.
One title I'd recommend is The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve. The novel involves a commercial plane crash with loss of life of passengers and crew and investigation of pilot - did he cause the accident and was he a terrorist or why did he cause the crash. Shocking aviation crime should interest the reader as long as reader also interested (perhaps more women than men) in main character's dilemma: the pilot's wife has to face her husband's betrayal - did she know him? and her shock at learning he had another family. So love and betrayal are important part of the novel and I'd talk about this aspect to the reader . . . without revealing the plot and secrets revealed during the novel!
Some mixed reviews for Airframe by Michael Crichton but if reader likes aviation and has read Crichton, this should be a good choice.
LibraryThing review:
After a mysterious airplane accident involving several injuries and even death occurs, Casey Singleton, divorced mother and rising star in the Norton Aircraft company, must head up the investigation of why this happened. In a field that is as complicated as the airframe industry, it can be a nightmare trying to deal with a press that just wants the "video at 11," and Casey is also given the unwelcome task of liaison with the media.
The story is typical Crichton: some technical details, but a relentlessly-paced story with lots of dialog and little character development. The mystery of what happened on Flight 545 and the troubles Casey has with the union over a possible China deal keep you on the edge of your seat. Personally, I would have liked getting to know the characters a little more, which is the main reason I didn't love it. Still, a solid thriller with a pacing that keeps you turning pages late at night. ( )
bell7 | Oct 14, 2008 |
- Perhaps an older, highly regarded author and aviation story:
No Highway
by Nevil Shute
Since Spencer was interested in the facts and studied the government report,
I would recommend the official report for someone who wanted more details and access to the official government report:
The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on…
by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks. However is it a very lengthy report. One alternative would be the graphic novel version: The 9/11 report: a graphic adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon, which got good reviews.
There are of course many books on 9/11, factual accounts, biographies, memoirs, reporter's accounts, survivor accounts, surviving family member accounts, political accounts from many perspectives. etc.
If the reader was interested in reading an account of what happened at the World Trade Center Towers, I would recommend:
In 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, New York Times writers Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
from Amazon:
In 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, New York Times writers Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn vividly recreate the 102-minute span between the moment Flight 11 hit the first Twin Tower on the morning of September 11, 2001, and the moment the second tower collapsed, all from the perspective of those inside the buildings--the 12,000 who escaped, and the 2,749 who did not. It's becoming easier, years later, to forget the profound, visceral responses the Trade Center attacks evoked in the days and weeks following September 11. Using hundreds of interviews, countless transcripts of radio and phone communications, and exhaustive research, Dwyer and Flynn bring that flood of responses back--from heartbreak to bewilderment to fury. The randomness of death and survival is heartbreaking. One man, in the second tower, survived because he bolted from his desk the moment he heard the first plane hit; another, who stayed at his desk on the 97th floor, called his wife in his final moments to tell her to cancel a surprise trip he had planned. In many cases, the deaths of those who survived the initial attacks but were killed by the collapse of the towers were tragically avoidable. Building code exemptions, communication breakdowns between firefighters and police, and policies put in place by building management to keep everyone inside the towers in emergencies led, the authors argue, to the deaths of hundreds who might otherwise have survived. September 11 is by now both familiar and nearly mythological. Dwyer and Flynn's accomplishment is recounting that day's events in a style that is stirring, thorough, and refreshingly understated. --Erica C. Barnett
(retrieved from Amazon Mon, 25 Aug 2008
Terror in the Skies by Annie Jacobsen
This book should appeal to the some of the same readers as Spencer's book, although the incident Jacobsen's focuses on appears to be called into question. It may be that readers who are conspiracy theorists would be more likely readers but conspiracy theorists/buffs also read Spencer's books. (Of course I wouldn't label the reader as a conpiracy theorist/buff.)
From Amazon.com:
Product Description
Annie Jacobsen’s harrowing first-hand account of her flight with a group of suspected terrorists forces us to ask: Could 9/11 happen again? On June 29, 2004, Jacobsen, traveling with her family on Northwest Airlines flight 327, witnessed what she believed was a terrorist "dry run." The blogosphere quickly made world news of Jacobsen’s article on her terrifying experience, launching her on a year-long investigation. In Terror in the Skies, Jacobsen tells, for the first time, the full story of the events on Northwest 327 and the investigation that followed. What happened on her flight, she discovered, was not an isolated incident, and if our air security does not improve, 9/11 is likely to happen again.
Jacobsen interviewed dozens of flight attendants, pilots, air marshals, FBI agents, government officials, and ordinary passengers—eventually gaining access to confidential government reports and correspondence. She reveals a Department of Homeland Security, especially its Federal Air Marshal Service, mired in bureaucracy and political correctness. Teams of terrorists consistently "probe" security on airline flights, and front-line law enforcement officers and airline personnel are effectively prevented from doing anything about it.
Jacobsen’s persistence earned her the wrath of the Air Marshal Service’s management, which embarked on an unsuccessful campaign to discredit her. Their willingness to ignore even congressional inquiries and federal legislation, in an attempt to preserve ill-conceived policies and cover their mistakes, is one of Jacobsen’s most disturbing discoveries.
From her search for flight 327’s "Syrian Wayne Newton" to her testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Jacobsen’s scrutiny of our air security makes the case for an overhaul of our security services. Many of the federal agents involved in the events of flight 327 have stood firm: nothing happened. But as Jacobsen shows, we can no longer afford to take nothing happened for an answer.
Fiction Recommendations:
If the reader was interested in post-9/11 and how family members dealt with loss:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer has received some rave reviews:
From www.librarything.com
Oskar Schell is a nine-year old inventor of creative solutions and explanations. Among the best described sets the tone for the book, "In bed that night I invented a special drain that would be underneath every pillow in New York, and would connect to the reservoir. Whenever people cried themselves to sleep, the tears would all go to the same place, and in the morning the weatherman could report if the water level of the Reservoir of Tears had gone up or down, and you could know if New York was in heavy boots. And when something really terrible happened--like a nuclear bomb, or at least a biological weapons attack--an extremely loud siren would go off, telling everyone to get to Central Park to put sandbags around the reservoir." In coming to terms with the loss of his father in 9/11, Oskar also takes on the challenge of searching for the lock that will open with a key he has found in his father's belongings. The quest takes him all over New York, with the innovative narrative complete with images, symbols and changes in the rhythm and cadence that add to the impact of the story. a rich, fabulous read even though it rates an entire box of tissues, and may cause heavy boots for a time.
meppinger | Nov 12, 2008 |
Aviation Fiction: Other readers might not want to dwell on 9/11 but perhaps enjoyed Spencer's book mainly because of the insider knowledge on pilots, commercial aviation and air controllers.
One title I'd recommend is The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve. The novel involves a commercial plane crash with loss of life of passengers and crew and investigation of pilot - did he cause the accident and was he a terrorist or why did he cause the crash. Shocking aviation crime should interest the reader as long as reader also interested (perhaps more women than men) in main character's dilemma: the pilot's wife has to face her husband's betrayal - did she know him? and her shock at learning he had another family. So love and betrayal are important part of the novel and I'd talk about this aspect to the reader . . . without revealing the plot and secrets revealed during the novel!
Some mixed reviews for Airframe by Michael Crichton but if reader likes aviation and has read Crichton, this should be a good choice.
LibraryThing review:
After a mysterious airplane accident involving several injuries and even death occurs, Casey Singleton, divorced mother and rising star in the Norton Aircraft company, must head up the investigation of why this happened. In a field that is as complicated as the airframe industry, it can be a nightmare trying to deal with a press that just wants the "video at 11," and Casey is also given the unwelcome task of liaison with the media.
The story is typical Crichton: some technical details, but a relentlessly-paced story with lots of dialog and little character development. The mystery of what happened on Flight 545 and the troubles Casey has with the union over a possible China deal keep you on the edge of your seat. Personally, I would have liked getting to know the characters a little more, which is the main reason I didn't love it. Still, a solid thriller with a pacing that keeps you turning pages late at night. ( )
bell7 | Oct 14, 2008 |
- Perhaps an older, highly regarded author and aviation story:
No Highway
by Nevil Shute
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Graphic Novels Reader Recommendations
Read Deogratias A Tale of Rwanda a graphic novel
Reader Recommendations - for this unit I'm separating graphic novel and "regular" book recommendations. I admit to being a little confused by applying "graphic novel" to fiction and nonfiction but that is the label I'm finding in various places!
GRAPHIC NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If the reader wanted a graphic novel also about Africa,Irecommend the award-winning Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. The book is about Africa and involves a teenage girl and her friends and family. There isn't the horror as found in the GN about Rwanda. Indeed the author of Aya, when interviewed said she intentionally wanted to show an Africa without famine or war.
The book is lighter in storyline, is humorous and described as a fun read, and has light, vibrant, colorful illustrations. As to location and time, this takes place in the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. There's a second book about Aya if the reader enjoys this. I enjoyed Aya very much and did read it as a contrast to the harrowing tale of Rwanda.
If the reader was interested in other graphic novels that dealt with historic events and would be educational but didn't need to deal with Africa or the 1990's: I would recommend:
The Pulitizer Prize winning classic graphic novel, Maus, about the Holocaust.
Another GN I would recommend is Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, which is about an Iranian girl from 10-14 yrs (so you'd have the youth interest if a teen wanted another GN or an adult was interested in stories with teens/tweens) who is there during the Iranian revolution in the 1970s and whose family escapes Iran during the Iraq/Iran War.
"Regular" book recommendations:
I'd recommend Over a Thousand Hills by Hanna Jansen. For someone interested in more on the Rwanda genocide and focus on a child (8 during genocide so younger than teen) and suitable for Grade 9-up per SLJ. Jansen's book is a ficionalized biography of an 8 year girl who was the only member of her family to survive.
Although not a graphic novel, this would be of interest to readers, particularly teens, since a child is the focus. It also has the same setting Rwanda and the storyline - the genocide in Rwanda.
Review from Teen Ink website: Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen
This inspirational book is based on the true story of Jeanne, who is caught in a war of ethnicities in Rwanda. The trials Jeanne endured are shocking; she was only eight when the atrocities occurred. Jeanne experiences the deaths of her mother and brother, which are forever engrained in her memory.
The root of the Rwandan genocide is ethnic violence between the Tutsis and Hutus. The Tutsis were hunted down and betrayed by their neighbors and friends, the Hutus. And so Jeanne learns whom she can and cannot trust.
Through many trials of doubt Jeanne becomes wise for her age. The story is told by Jeanne’s adoptive mother, who graciously becomes her guardian. This book showcases the will of a girl to survive and overcome the past to create a positive future.
This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.
NONFICTION Books for adults
A 2008 book by foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer, A Thousand Hills:Rwanda's Rebirth anf the Man Who Dreamed It, would update the reader on what's currently happening in Rwanda if that's what the reader asked me for. Kinzer describes progress and the country's President, Paul Kagame. A PW reviewer expresses some caution -- that Kinzer may be too optimistic about the country's rebirth and Kagame.
Recommendation: Nonfiction Book
And not to be too confusing with another Thousand Hills title!!!!!!
An older book but well worth reading:
Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Carr, Rosamund Halsey (Author), with Halsey, Ann Howard
Carr describes her life as a young bride who ends up in Africa and stays even after her divorce. Her love of Africa and the people is warmly portrayed. She knew Tutsis and Hutus and both ethnic groups worked on her African "farm." It was shocking to her and is to the reader to see the rapid descent into violence and how Tutsis and Hutus who worked together amd were neighbors quickly turned into enemies and engaged in shocking violence. Obviously, this is a book I read and could describe it to the reader -- if the reader wants to read about Africa, know more about the history of Rwanda, read an eyewitness account of the violence, this would be an excellent book. It's also an account by an adult and by an outsider--non-African who grew to love Africa if these would be appeals for the reader.
Reader Recommendations - for this unit I'm separating graphic novel and "regular" book recommendations. I admit to being a little confused by applying "graphic novel" to fiction and nonfiction but that is the label I'm finding in various places!
GRAPHIC NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If the reader wanted a graphic novel also about Africa,Irecommend the award-winning Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. The book is about Africa and involves a teenage girl and her friends and family. There isn't the horror as found in the GN about Rwanda. Indeed the author of Aya, when interviewed said she intentionally wanted to show an Africa without famine or war.
The book is lighter in storyline, is humorous and described as a fun read, and has light, vibrant, colorful illustrations. As to location and time, this takes place in the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. There's a second book about Aya if the reader enjoys this. I enjoyed Aya very much and did read it as a contrast to the harrowing tale of Rwanda.
If the reader was interested in other graphic novels that dealt with historic events and would be educational but didn't need to deal with Africa or the 1990's: I would recommend:
The Pulitizer Prize winning classic graphic novel, Maus, about the Holocaust.
Another GN I would recommend is Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, which is about an Iranian girl from 10-14 yrs (so you'd have the youth interest if a teen wanted another GN or an adult was interested in stories with teens/tweens) who is there during the Iranian revolution in the 1970s and whose family escapes Iran during the Iraq/Iran War.
"Regular" book recommendations:
I'd recommend Over a Thousand Hills by Hanna Jansen. For someone interested in more on the Rwanda genocide and focus on a child (8 during genocide so younger than teen) and suitable for Grade 9-up per SLJ. Jansen's book is a ficionalized biography of an 8 year girl who was the only member of her family to survive.
Although not a graphic novel, this would be of interest to readers, particularly teens, since a child is the focus. It also has the same setting Rwanda and the storyline - the genocide in Rwanda.
Review from Teen Ink website: Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen
This inspirational book is based on the true story of Jeanne, who is caught in a war of ethnicities in Rwanda. The trials Jeanne endured are shocking; she was only eight when the atrocities occurred. Jeanne experiences the deaths of her mother and brother, which are forever engrained in her memory.
The root of the Rwandan genocide is ethnic violence between the Tutsis and Hutus. The Tutsis were hunted down and betrayed by their neighbors and friends, the Hutus. And so Jeanne learns whom she can and cannot trust.
Through many trials of doubt Jeanne becomes wise for her age. The story is told by Jeanne’s adoptive mother, who graciously becomes her guardian. This book showcases the will of a girl to survive and overcome the past to create a positive future.
This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.
NONFICTION Books for adults
A 2008 book by foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer, A Thousand Hills:Rwanda's Rebirth anf the Man Who Dreamed It, would update the reader on what's currently happening in Rwanda if that's what the reader asked me for. Kinzer describes progress and the country's President, Paul Kagame. A PW reviewer expresses some caution -- that Kinzer may be too optimistic about the country's rebirth and Kagame.
Recommendation: Nonfiction Book
And not to be too confusing with another Thousand Hills title!!!!!!
An older book but well worth reading:
Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Carr, Rosamund Halsey (Author), with Halsey, Ann Howard
Carr describes her life as a young bride who ends up in Africa and stays even after her divorce. Her love of Africa and the people is warmly portrayed. She knew Tutsis and Hutus and both ethnic groups worked on her African "farm." It was shocking to her and is to the reader to see the rapid descent into violence and how Tutsis and Hutus who worked together amd were neighbors quickly turned into enemies and engaged in shocking violence. Obviously, this is a book I read and could describe it to the reader -- if the reader wants to read about Africa, know more about the history of Rwanda, read an eyewitness account of the violence, this would be an excellent book. It's also an account by an adult and by an outsider--non-African who grew to love Africa if these would be appeals for the reader.
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