Rebecca Maldonado is a recent graduate of University of Oklahoma with her doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum. This year she will be teaching ninth grade English at Parkside High School in Salisbury, MD. Her scholarship and research focuses on arts integration, graphic novels, text selection, and developing and exercising teacher’s critical consciousness, along with the use of critical dialogue to develop social awareness in education and the community. She is also the editor of Arts Integration and Young Adult Literature: Enhancing Academic Skills and Student Voice. Jason DeHart is an Assistant Professor of Reading Education at Appalachian State University and a long-time comics reader. DeHart's research interests include multimodal literacy, including film and graphic novels, and literacy instruction with adolescents. His work has recently appeared in SIGNAL Journal, English Journal, and The Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.
"This short edited collection by Maldonado and DeHart focuses on the legitimacy of graphic novels as an established and effective form of literature particularly useful in the development of literacy and fluency. Contributions include a brief but thorough history of graphic novels; the integration of critical literacy and visual literacy; and the essential place of graphic novels for K-12 literacy education in the classroom and multiple cultures. In addition to providing information and arguments to support the integration of graphic novels, the five chapters in part 3 include practical applications and instructional ideas for educators. These selections focus on specific and well-known YA graphic novels, including Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, George Takei's They Called Us Enemy, and Robin Ha's Almost American Girl, among popular titles. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals. -- ""Choice Reviews"""