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The School Library Journal recently reviewed Detective Frankenstein by Alaya Johnson and Yuko Ota, book 17 in the Twisted Journeys series. In addition to their review, they offered some history on the interactive genre known as gamebooks. this piqued my interest, so I went searching for more information.
Did you know there are three types of gamebooks: the branching-plot novel, the role-playing game solitaire adventure, and the adventure gamebook? The branching plot novel is usually written in the second person and requires the reader to make choices. Otherwise, it is similar to a typical novel. Twisted Journeys is an example of this kind of gamebook. To learn more, visit gamebooks.org.
Choose Your own Adventure books were first published out of Vermont in 1976, but they weren’t the first gamebook. In the late fifties interactive books were used as learning tools. These books could be used in the absence of a teacher by directed the student to certain pages depending on how they answered multiple choice questions (correct answers would direct the student to the next question, incorrect answers would direct them to review pages).
Here is a small portion of what the School Library Journal had to say about Detective Frankenstein:
“Johnson has provided over a dozen possible outcomes for the story, encouraging kids to re-read the book until they achieve their desired ending. For reluctant readers, the stories’ length and hybrid format may help overcome resistance to the idea of sitting down with a book for fun. Best of all, the stories are just spooky enough to engage the imagination, but not so gory or grim as to be genuinely upsetting. Recommended for readers in grades 2-5.”
Read the full review on Good Comics for Kids.
With the May premiere of Thor fast approaching, comic lovers are looking for good reading material. The School Library Journal compiled this handy list of titles staring this god of thunder.
Graphic Universe’s own Thor & Loki made the list. Here is what they had to say:
“Gr 3-8-Readers will appreciate the comic book–style illustrations and they’ll get more than their share of chuckles as they learn how brother gods Thor and Loki deal with adversity. Loki relies on wit and cunning while Thor uses strength and fear—both methods have their positives and negatives. A brief glossary, reading list, and index are included.”
If you’re like me, you might be a little hazy on your Thor facts. Here is some information that will raise your Thor IQ.
A 16th century depiction of Norse gods by Olaus Magnus (Thor is in the middle)
Thor is the Nose god of thunder, but did you know he’s also associated with oak trees, fertility and healing?
Thor’s hammer is called Mjöllnir, which means “crusher.” During the viking age it was popular to wear Mjöllnir pendants, in defiance of Christianization.
Did you know Thursday is named after Thor? In English, all the days of the week are named after gods.
So I wish you a happy Woden’s (better known as Odin) Day, and hope you have a happy Thor’s Day tomorrow!
In his essay for the SANE Journal, titled “This is Not Your Forefather’s Thor: Using Comics to Make Mythology Meaningful”, Nick Kremer wrestles with big questions. Why do we read mythology? Are the myths of archaic societies relevant to the students of today? How can we help students engage in these type of stories?
"Thor's battle with the Ettins" by Mårten Eskil Winge
To answer the latter question, Kremer turned to comics. Super hero comics in particular are analogous to mythology. Kremer writes:
“…Superman, or Spider-Man, or any of the other colorful cast of characters in American comic book history have transcended recorded literature: they are not owned by any one author, their stories not confined to any one publication. They are constantly re-told and re-imagined, year after year, generation after generation, a living manifestation of the culture that gives them value. They have become genuine mythology, once again trumping the confines of a skeptical modernity that suggests the impossibility of that achievement in such an era.”
Kremer also found that comics adaptations of myths, including our own Graphic Myths and Legends, were valuable learning tools.
“Jeff Limke and Graphic Universe offer a large and diverse line of myths-in-comics, and there are many critically-acclaimed stand-alone adaptations such as Garreth Hind’s Beowulf, George O’Connor’s Zeus: King of the Gods, or Erik Evensen’s Gods of Asgard. Students who used these adaptations seemed to have an easier time understanding the message of the myth, because they were afforded the additional language of visual media as a means to translate.”
Read Kremer’s complete essay to learn how he is helping young readers to appreciate old stories.
