Reading this graphic novel was definitely a new concept for me. I do not think I have ever really read one before, and I actually enjoyed it. Compared to the other novels we have read in this class, it was an extremely fast read that I did not have to stop and think about or worrying about what was going on. Smile in particular was very east to follow along with and being a visual learner, I really enjoyed the pictures to look at while I was reading so I did not have to imagine things myself. I feel like graphic novels are like “big kid” picture books, and I really like the concept. As a child I was not a fast reader which made me not enjoy reading because it was such a task for me, but if I were to be given something like this novel, I think I would have had an enjoyable time. Also, the message and the fact that it was super relatable made me enjoy it a lot as well, and I could see myself if I was younger to continue with reading this series. As for teaching something like this novel, and graphic novels/drama/comics in general to my future students, I think it would be fun and still be educational. You could definitely combine this literature subject with an art lesson and have the students add on to the story for what happens next, or have them make up what they think happens between the gaps in the story. This would also combine creative writing into the mix and you would hit not just two, but a couple birds with one stone. All in all, having read this graphic novel definitely changed my perspective on comics and such and I would read more. I have learned that it IS reading, no matter how simple the text is or how many pictures are in the novel.

A) The verse book I have chosen to read is Monster. My initial thoughts are that there are a ton of characters that I can not seem to keep track of, and the layout of it is sometimes hard to follow, which keeps me from being able to easily read this novel. The fact that it is laid out in a movie script kind of way makes it cool to be able to really invision the scene but at the same time I feel as if I have no real connection with any of the characters, even the main character Steve. The script has no emotion or tone of voice to it so the reader must create it on their own. Then, from the script part, to the narrations where it says, “Close up on this person,” or, “Moving shot of blah blah blah,” it is so distracting to me, so I have tried to skim over those parts and focus mainly on what people are saying. Then again, after that it may transition into Steve’s journaling or a flashback to Steve’s past before being locked up in jail, which I do enjoy, but I still do not feel connected to him. I also think I feel a little disconnected to him and the book itself because I just read Wonder for our last book club, and I was so invested in the book and the main character Auggie, and Monster is just so totally different. In addition, as compared to the other books in this book club, I do not see how this is poetry; I never thought of script as poetry. With that said, I am still focusing on getting more into this book even though I am more than halfway through, and I want to find out what happens and I am pushing through to complete it whether I do end up enjoying it or not. It is something different than I have ever read before, and because of that, I am interested. In addition, I am not sure if or how I would teach this book in my future classroom, but I definitely would like to incorporate poetry. I do not remember learning about or creating poetry during my elementary school years, but I did during high school. In my freshman year English class, we created our own poetry books with poems we liked, and then some of our own too and got to decorate it however we wanted. I remember thinking it was hard but it was not as bad as I thought because we had inspiration from other poems we were reading, and were allowed to follow the same format. In my later high school years I remember learning a lot about Shakespeare and had to act out parts and all of that jazz and I remember hating it and never being able to follow along because we had to interpret so much. Interpreting was the hardest thing for me and that turned me off from pursuing reading or creating any more. Sometimes I do not think that we have to interpret every little thing and instead should read for the purpose of enjoyment, and that is what I have found from out class, which I want to make important for my future students.

B) Cento: Movie Fantasies

You didn’t say before that we had to tell why.

I thought you’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.

I just want to do the right thing, you know like a good citizen.

I just desperately wish this was only a movie.

My series book of choice is The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I am thoroughly enjoying reading it. I remember getting these books when I was younger because they were the “in” books at the time but I do not totally remember sitting down and reading them, because like stated before, I was never truly a “reader.” I think the way it is written and the layout of the book is so inviting and fun for kids of all ages but definitely at an elementary age. Like talked about in class, I think that second graders can easily read this series and enjoy it, but it is about middle school life. Greg is the main character, and he is speaking in first person throughout the novel since it is his diary. He talk about the trials and tribulations of middle school life, being a teenager, and being a middle child. Everything is played out as if he has the roughest life, but in the funniest way. He deals with bullies, talking to girls, best friends turned popular, and nagging parents… and everyone can relate to that awkward middle school life because we had to go through that crap too! A theme that does stand out to make teenage years seem dreadful is the fact that Greg is always getting into trouble at home, and his parents are always making him do things he doesn’t want to. He plays the part of being a tree in The Wizard of Oz at one point, and then is trying to become a body builder at a different point. He is truly trying to find himself throughout this series and illustrates that not only through his diary entries, but in the pictures or comics he adds also. I like the idea of adding in little sketches into the books, because for me, as a visual learner, it keeps my interest and I want to not only read what happens next, but see what happens next. This aspect definitely would stand out to me, and still does obviously, if I was an elementary school student right now. I also think it is cool how popular this series has become and how it has turned into a movie and the series is still continuing. I even found that the book has it’s own website (check it out yo!) http://www.wimpykid.com and you can even follow the author John Kinney on Twitter @wimpykid so that students and fans can interact with him. I also found this really badass lesson plan/guide for your students to create their own diary and it’s super cute http://www.wimpykid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WimpyKid-SeriesTeachingGuide.pdf! It also corrected my idea of the age group I thought this series would be appropriate for, and it said age 8-12 (grades 3-7). Overall, as a “nonreader” I am really impressed with this series, and definitely would recommend it to my future students and maybe even use it in my lesson planning.