Welcome

The Why

Welcome to Beyond Colored Pages. My intention with this blog is to share research, recommendations, and more regarding graphic novels. As a kid, I remember going grocery shopping with my mom and stumbling across an endcap with a couple of random comics. From there, my passion for reading began as I gulped down comics. It didn't matter if it was the humorous Garfield and friends or the members of X-Men fighting for equality and expression; I was hooked.

Now, more than ever, graphic novels are some of the most sought-after reading materials for young adults and teenagers. With this in mind, it has become a passion of mine to share books from my library and to engage with communities on those books.

And while social media provides an excellent platform for these discussions, they are limited. It is my hope that this blog can become a better platform for sharing a variety of novels. For this discussion, graphic novels will be considered any form of storytelling that includes:

• Panels.

• Gutter.

• Word/Speech balloons (thought and speech)

• Narration.

• Sound effects.

• Motion lines.

• Background colors.

It will not include hybrid-graphic novels such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid or The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This is not to disqualify or place a negative connotation on these works; it is simply to outline what I will review and research throughout this blog.

Oh, for Academia's Sake!

As a former public school teacher and current Ph.D. candidate, literacy has always been the focal point of each lesson I taught. One of my favorite lessons included graphic novels, which are usually defined as "a sequence of images, often (but not always) accompanied by text that tells a story or provides the information" (Hansen, 2012). As a lover of this medium, the goal for this group was to provide a platform for others to discuss and find new things to read.

However, many educators will shame or not allow graphic novels within the classroom because they do not view them as academic or see them only as "fun" reading. The unfortunate reality is that so many educators do not want to use graphic novels, nor do they support students reading them in academic settings, that students internalize this stigma. This blog aims to highlight excellent graphic novels from various countries that explore diversity and culture while encompassing brilliant storytelling. One example comes from a study conducted by the University of Oregon that found:

"... comic books average 53.5 rare words per thousand, compared with an average of 30.9 rare words per thousand in children’s books, and also higher than the adult average of 52.7"("Say Yes to Graphic Novels, 2020).

Through this exploration, I am hopeful that more will open their hearts to the beautifully crafted storytelling and see the many uses for its texts.