Graphic Novels Are Not For Nerds

For whatever reason, graphic novels have a terrible reputation.  People think that reading one will turn you into a glasses wearing, asthmatic nerd that plays World of Warcraft on the weekends. (Not that there's anything wrong with that. I happened to marry a glasses wearing asthmatic nerd that plays World of Warcraft on the weekends, but that's a blog post for a different day.)

To bolster my argument I'm going to highly recommend the readers of this blog pick up Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History and  Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Two graphic novels that contain more than dragons, wizards, and magic. You'll end up loaning them to friends and never getting them back. I think I've purchased five or six copies of these books over the years.

Recently I picked up, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword and really really enjoyed it. Yes, there may be a troll and some magic involved in this book, but it's also a great coming of age story. The only issue is, I think the fact that this book is marketed towards the Orthodox Jewish community may be it's downfall. It's a great read, but it may be ignored or languish in the religious section of bookstores. That is serious  a shame. Independent authors who write things like this should be praised. Mirka is a strong character that can help any girl though that rough period between 11 and 16.

The last graphic novel I'm going to beg you to read is Bone. Yes, this does include magic, dragons, a love story, and is epic in scope. However, the backbone of Bone is the story of a family. People may pass this up because it's too comic book like, but that's a huge mistake. Bone's central theme will make you smile, it's story will make you gasp, cheer, and cry. Read it. Enjoy. (Side note: Due to Bone's massive weight and length it's almost impossible to take into public and read on a park bench. Just a warning.)