Month: September 2025

The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood; Adapted & Illustrated by Renee Nault

/ paulkopulos / Leave a comment

Genre: Graphic Novel / Young Adult
Pages: 240 pages
Published Date: March 26, 2019
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Series: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 5

Why Today’s Youth Should Read The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel

The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel is more than just a story—it’s a warning. Set in the Republic of Gilead, it follows Offred, a woman forced into the role of a “Handmaid,” valued only for her ability to have children. Through her eyes, readers experience what it’s like to live in a world ruled by fear, strict control, and the loss of basic freedoms.

This adaptation makes Margaret Atwood’s classic tale easier to follow while keeping its themes powerful and urgent. It explores how power can be abused, how injustice thrives when people remain silent, and how resistance—no matter how small—still matters.

For today’s youth, this book is especially important. Reading The Handmaid’s Tale helps young people imagine what life in an authoritarian society would be like and why protecting freedom and equality is essential. It sparks questions about justice, human rights, and the dangers of letting oppression go unchecked.

I encourage students, teachers, and parents alike to read and discuss this graphic novel. It’s not only a story about Offred’s world—it’s a mirror that challenges us to think about our own.

#TheHandmaid’sTale

Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes

/ paulkopulos / Leave a comment

Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 264 pages
Published Date: December 2, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Series: N/A
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I received an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) from Netgalley and Little Brown for the purpose of a review and to see if I would be able to use it in my classroom.

The graphic novel Ghost Boys offers a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of racial injustice, memory, and the power of storytelling. From its very first pages, the author takes a bold narrative risk by opening with the protagonist’s death. This unusual structure immediately challenges readers to view the story through a different lens—one where grief, injustice, and reflection replace the usual suspense of survival. The result is an intense emotional connection to the protagonist’s life and voice, even after death.

A central strength of the novel lies in its nuanced portrayal of relationships, particularly between the protagonist’s family and the police officer involved in the tragedy. The book doesn’t shy away from difficult questions about forgiveness, accountability, and the societal biases that shape how justice is understood. This complexity encourages readers to wrestle with uncomfortable truths rather than accept simple answers.

One of the most striking creative choices is the inclusion of Emmett Till as a mentor figure. By weaving him into the narrative, the author links the story to a broader history of racial violence and injustice in America. This choice not only contextualizes the protagonist’s experience but also emphasizes how the past continues to resonate in the present. It reminds readers that individual tragedies are part of a larger, ongoing struggle for equality and recognition.

Ultimately, Ghost Boys uses the medium of graphic storytelling to amplify its themes of justice, memory, and social responsibility. The art and words together create a powerful commentary on how stories—whether drawn, spoken, or remembered—can become tools for awareness and change. More than a story about loss, this novel is a call to examine the world around us and consider how we might confront the injustices that remain.

#GhostBoysTheGraphicNovel #NetGalley