Graphic novels have gained popularity in recent years. This is partially thanks to the fact that it’s now actually quite fashionable to be a geek! Of course, the influx in Marvel film releases over the last few years hasn’t caused any harm either. If your child refuses to read, buying a graphic novel could be a good way to entice them. 

What is a graphic novel?

So, what is a graphic novel, you ask? Put simply, it’s a novel in a comic strip format. There are various types of graphic novel. The Marvel films I referenced earlier are all based on graphic novels. A common phrase is that the book is always better than the film, so in theory the graphic novels should be better! Not a Marvel fan? Don’t worry, there are DC graphic novels too, as well as other topics such as Star Wars. I personally was a huge fan of Manga as a teenager. These are Japanese graphic novels that read back to front like in Asia, although they are translated into English! Manga comes in a lot of different genres.

Encouraging reading

Lots of children and teenagers don’t really like reading. However, I think in most cases there is a book for everyone. It’s just finding the right material that someone will enjoy. With a comic strip format, graphic novels are going to be a lot more encouraging than hundreds of pages of words only. Got a fan of Pokemon Go? There’s your way in, as there are Pokemon graphic novels available. Likewise, if your child shows an interest in superheroes then there is a huge variety of books to choose from! You’ll soon have them with a superhero book in each hand talking your ear off over which one is better than the other and why.

Where to buy

I am lucky enough to have a comic book store locally to me. I love hanging out there, thumbing through all the graphic novels and looking at the action figures. However, if you’re not lucky enough to have a similar shop near you, graphic novels are also available online.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post with HMV. As always, all views and opinions are honest and my own.