Exploring Social Justice Through Comics, a guest post by Amy Brownlee

If you work with young people and books, you already know that graphic novels are insanely popular. In response, there has been a huge publishing boom resulting in graphic novels that are not just entertaining, but that also address serious social issues in a way that make readers sit up and take notice.

Last summer, I participated in a National Endowment for the Humanities summer teacher institute on “Using Comics to Teach Social Justice” held at San Diego State University’s Center for Comic Studies. For two weeks, 25 K-12 educators from 16 different states were immersed in lectures, field trips, comic-making workshops, and collaborative lesson planning labs. Our time together culminated in a trip to Comic-Con International, a four-day extravaganza of panel discussions, workshop sessions, celebrity and creator meet-and-greets, exhibits, and more. The whole experience taught us volumes about how to leverage comics and pop culture to get kids reading and learning.

I walked away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for the power of the comic book format to impart complex ideas in a highly accessible way. 

When students read a graphic novel dealing with social justice issues, they build empathy for people and learn to see things from a new point of view. Books like these are powerful tools for educating young people on important social issues by building awareness and encouraging them to ask, “Do I see injustices like this happening around me? What can I do about it?”

Comics and graphic novels are powerful tools for exploring social justice issues because teens and tweens live in a world of images and prefer to receive information visually, not just through text. In addition, comics can effectively convey complex ideas and have a high emotional impact. 

Strategies for bringing awareness to social justice issues in graphic novels

Create a display.  When books are checked out from the display, send readers home with a bookmark listing questions designed to help readers glean deeper understanding of the messages in the book. Using Book, Head, Heart questions developed by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst are simple but effective.

Invite the reader to have an informal conversation with a librarian when they return the book. In our school, we encourage this through use of a Library Loyalty Punch Card. Patrons can earn a punch on the card (kept at the circulation desk) for each book they read. To earn a punch, we ask that they read the book completely and then either briefly discuss the book with a librarian or fill out a brief book review slip. This program has led to wonderful impromptu conversations.

Start a graphic novel book club. Choose a book with a social justice message, get multiple copies, and invite readers to sign up.

If you don’t have access to multiple copies, you could have a social justice book club where patrons are reading different titles but come together to discuss the issues they discover in their books. 

Focus on graphic novels and comics

As a result of the institute, I decided to make graphic novels a focus for my collection development efforts over the next year with heavy emphasis on titles with a social justice bent. I have compiled a list of graphic novels for middle grade and teen audiences that seek to create awareness and invite conversation on a number of issues including women’s rights, racism and oppression, civics and voting, immigration and displaced people, identity and belonging, and neurodivergence, disability, and mental health.

Recommended graphic novels that explore social justice issues:

History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote by Kate Messner (grades 3-7). This highly illustrated narrative nonfiction text has frequent comic art sequences. Social justice issues: women’s rights, civics and voting.

Good Girls Don’t Make History by Elizabeth Kiehner (grades 7-12). Key people and events from the struggle for women’s suffrage are juxtaposed with scenes where contemporary teen girls accompany their mothers to the voting polls and discuss the importance of voting and the struggle it took for women to have that right. Social justice issues: women’s rights, civics and voting.

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (grades 4-8). National Book Award Finalist and Time Book of the Year. A nonfiction account of two young brothers living in a Kenyan refugee camp after being displaced from their home due to war and violence. Social justice issues: immigration and displaced people, neurodivergence and disability.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei (grades 7-12). A moving graphic memoir of an actor, author, and activist, telling the story of his childhood incarceration in a Japanese internment camp with his family during World War II. Social justice issues: racism and oppression, identity and belonging.

New Kid by Jerry Craft (grades 4-8).  Winner of the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Author awards. The story follows seventh grader Jordan Banks when his parents send him to an upscale private school where he is one of the few students of color. Social justice issues: racism and oppression, identity and belonging.

March by John Lewis (grades 8-12).  Winner of National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and many other awards. This memoir of Civil Rights activist John Lewis takes readers behind the scenes of important Civil Rights events. Social justice issues: racism and oppression.

Mexikid by Pedro Martín (grades 5-8).  Newbery Honor and Pura Belpré Author Award. The author shares true and hilarious stories about his family’s road trip to Mexico to bring his grandfather back to live with them in the U.S. It’s a wonderful exploration of culture and family dynamics. Social justice issues: immigration and displaced people, identity and belonging.

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo (grades 5-8). Sue is upset when her mom ruins her summer plans with friends by taking her to visit family in Honduras where she is surprised with a quinceañera party she isn’t sure she wants. Social justice issues: immigration, identity and belonging.

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas (grades 4-7). National Book Award Longlist and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. When Bree moves to a new school and panics because she is forced to take a swimming class but can’t swim and is afraid of the water, she builds new friendships as she learns to overcome negative self-talk. This book explores themes of teamwork, perseverance, bullying, and intergenerational relationships. Social justice issues: racism and oppression, identity and belonging.

Buzzing by Samuel Sattin (grades 6 and up). This story explores the challenges of a 12-year-old boy with OCD. The illustrations depict his obsessive-compulsive thoughts as bees buzzing around him. Social justice issues: neurodivergence, mental health, identity and belonging.

Amy Brownlee is a preK-12 librarian and reading teacher in a small district in rural Kansas. During her 25+ years in education, she has been named Kansas School Librarian of the Year, attended a month-long Fulbright-Hays study trip to Africa with Ethiopia Reads, served on the William Allen White Children’s Book Award selection committee, and earned over $94,000 in grant funding for her school libraries. She is a frequent presenter having given over 40 webinars and in-person workshops. She blogs at BiblioBrownlee.weebly.com and can be found on Instagram and BlueSky @amybrownlee93. 

Filed under: Uncategorized