Reflective Opinions about Graphic Novels and Audiobooks
“The Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels During Middle School” by Elisa M., 8th grade
When I first walked into the library during my 6th grade year there were so many books to choose from, especially coming from elementary school, but what caught my attention was the graphic novel section. The animated covers on the front, the designs, and being able to be inside the character you’re reading. Graphic novels are very different from all the other books out there. But is it beneficial to young readers? Many adults think that graphic novels are just silly books and they are not “real” books because they have so many pictures. So let’s see if they are correct.
I’ve read over 75 books during my 6th grade year and 99% of those books were graphic novels. I noticed that my vocabulary widened and my grammar improved. Also, many graphic novels are very relatable and about kids/teenagers. Graphic novels not only make me feel not alone but many other kids too. When you’re around 12-14 years of age it’s very hard to not think your alone and feel that everyone is judging you than, but while reading these books I’ve realized that almost everyone is feeling the same types of emotions that your going through and everyone else is too worried about themselves being judged to worry about you. Now people might say “Well fiction and other books can have the same effect.” Now while fiction books can have the same stories and more vocabulary than graphic novels. It’s not going to give off the same effect, especially for middle schoolers.
For middle schoolers and even elementary kids, they don’t have the attention span of a high school or college student would have. I remember reading a 200 page fiction book in 7th grade and I can’t even remember what it was about and not only did I not remember, It took me so long to read because I kept zoning out or I would read without actually understanding and processing what I read. For many students pictures help keep the reader entertained and give them a better understanding of what they are reading.
For me the biggest thing when it comes to reading is being able to basically pretend that I’m inside the book. I want to know every single detail about my character. Raina Telgemeier, an an American cartoonist, is one of my favorite authors. Her detailing for her characters and being able to bring them to life make me love her so much, the expressions make me laugh and the way I can relate to the book, I could not say that for any other book. To add on to this it is known that graphic novels are more diverse than other books and are very helpful for kids that have disabilities or struggle with reading.
So my goal is to hopefully make adults or anyone who thinks reading graphic novels is not beneficial have a second opinion. Just because its might not be helpful to you doesn’t mean it is not beneficial to others.
“Why Are Graphic Novels So Popular?” by Ellie M., 7th grade
Graphic novels are popular because they have pictures and words in stories that make it easier to understand and more exciting to read. The colorful drawings snatch our attention and help us imagine what’s happening. Since they have fewer words than regular books, they can be a great choice for people who might find long chapters boring or hard to read. Plus, graphic novels tell all kinds of cool stories like superheroes, adventures, fantasy, etc. This makes them interesting for everyone. Because of this combination of art and storytelling, many people love to read graphic novels!
Quotes from middle schoolers on why graphic novels are so popular:
“I think they’re popular because people at my school love to read them!” Thomas M.
“It gives people more of a visual of the a setting.” Amanda M.
“I think they are popular because as you read you can visualize what is happening and see it which can be entertaining” Dyna V.
“Some people like to read and see something visual.” Rafa A.
“Graphic novels are so popular because they make it easier to understand the text with the visual.” Lianna J.
“The art and the action keep you interested, even if you don’t usually like to read.” Palin S.
“I think they are popular because they are easier to read and most people have short attention spans, and they don’t like reading paragraph after paragraph. They prefer reading shorter parts of the story and they look at the pictures and it makes it more interesting.” Margaret M.
“I think that graphic novels are popular because of the pictures. Not a lot of people like to read words on a page and have to picture what they’re seeing themselves; some prefer seeing the story unfold before them without needing to think of their own version.” Raegen B.
“The Effects of Audiobooks and Why They are Real Reading” by Livie S., 6th grade
Have you ever been told “audio books aren’t reading” or “read a REAL book” well audio books are real books, sure you may not be turning a page to see what happens next, but the effects are the same, maybe even better. Many opinions are that audio books are better than printed books, that may be supported, so let’s look at that support through sections.
Comprehension Levels
In a source, Do Audiobooks Count As Reading? A Comprehensive Analysis by Judith Matewa. In this article it states the pros and cons of audiobooks and printed books. Some pros for audiobooks are that they are convenient to listen to while multitasking, great for auditory learners, and can help with the comprehension level of complex books. This is all in support of audiobooks and their high comprehension levels.
Accessibility
Another big advantage of audio books is that they’re easily accessible, you don’t have to put them on hold in a library, and on some apps like Libro.fm which is a company in support of small businesses, and Sora which is an app for students, have books available to listen to at all times. This is important because these books are accessible to all.
All in all, audio books are a great option for students and adults on the go. Even if you like the feeling of turning a page, I suggest you look into an audiobook of that same book and see if you like it better.
Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the formats of graphic novel and audiobooks!
