When you are bored, you could read an advanced book or a children’s book. But when you want something between those options, you look for graphic novels.
At Mannheim Middle School, Ms. Jost is the person who can help you find the perfect graphic novel. She knows all the twists and turns and great wonders of the library. The MMS Newsroom asked her about her favorite graphic novels.
What is your favorite graphic novel and why?
Oh, that’s a tough one! One of my recent favorites is Ghost Book by Remi Lai. It’s about a girl who can see ghosts, but no one believes her! Then, she meets a boy who she finds out is stuck between the land of the living and the land of the dead. They become really good friends, because she doesn’t have a lot of friends in the real world. Then, she tries to get him to come back to the land of the living, but they find out that she has to die in order for him to come back. The visuals are just wonderful.
Where is The Ghost Book located in the MMS library?
All of our graphic novels are housed in the library in the front, right by the circulation desk.
What do you look for in a graphic novel and why?
I look for a really engaging, compelling story with visuals that add to the story. Graphic novels show a different emotion or insider information that you might not get from just a chapter book. This makes a lot of stories more accessible to reluctant readers, or people who are not into a whole chapter book, or people who are more visual learners. They’re kind of a bridge.
What is the most popular graphic novel at MMS?
Raina Talgameyer books, so the books Smile, Drama, and Guts. We cannot keep those books on the shelves. Students love them! I would say the other most popular graphic novels are the I Survived graphic novels. They are always checked out as well.
Are there any questions you would like to ask?
I guess my questions for the student body would be, “What’s your ideal graphic novel like,” and “What do you look for in a graphic novel?”
I am looking for graphic novels like “The Okay Witch” by Emma Steinkellner. “The Okay Witch” is a mystery.
A good mystery. I love a good mystery, as well with the red herrings and trying to figure out who did it. You know all the characters are working together. It’s a good choice.
Anything you’d like to add?
We also have a Literacy Closet at MMS. If a book is not on the shelves in the library, come talk to me. We can go see if we have it in the lit closet.
