Write your own graphic novel

Following along the lines of other titles in the Write Your Own series, Rosinsky offers a mix of encouragement and general advice for young writers while laying out a systematic course of work. Though most of what she suggests can be found in any good writing manual, she does briefly discuss such genre-specific topics as using storyboards, keeping text extra-pithy, and working together with an illustrator. The pages are laced with references to familiar graphic novels from the Babymouse series to Persepolis (2003)and illustrated with both published examples of artwork and photos of teen and preteen writers at work. This guide may get some would-be authors started—though because of its special focus on written narrative, it would be best paired with a more illustration-oriented guide, such as Christopher Hart’s Manga Mania (2000). Grades 4-8. --John Peters