“Classroom Connections” aligns Classroom Standards with comics, graphic novels, manga, and picture books that students will want to read. All titles are available in Comics Plus.
History is made every day! We look to the past to understand the world around us, the events that shaped it, and to learn about ourselves and our place within it.
Historical Fiction is one way to immerse yourself in the past, with stories set in historical time periods that blend facts and/or real-life characters with imaginative storytelling and creative embellishments. These stories can recount actual events, creating a fictional backstory as seen by a fictional character, or revolve around real-life individuals sharing plausible motivations and agendas. They can also cross over with any genre, including Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, and Romance.
To tell a good Historical Fiction story, authors must first address the historical period it takes place in, and the setting.
“Settings not only help to clarify a given story’s themes. They can also help us to understand a character’s worldview through how they think about their surroundings.”
“What is a Setting?” Raymond Malewitz (Accessed 3/28/25)
Discussing and analyzing a story’s setting is integral to developing a deeper understanding of literature, so it is essential for readers to grasp the subtleties of the historical time period. The cultural experiences and socio-economic concerns of the time provide important context that helps them analyze how the setting shapes the characters and/or plot, and also identify the central theme of the story. Additionally, comics and manga allow readers to visualize the setting beyond textual descriptions and discuss why the artist decided to use a specific perspective; how it affects the story’s mood; or what aspects of a character or the setting itself are emphasized as a result.
Using our curated list, Blast to the Past, our Engagement specialists, Vickie Blankenship and Stella Bromley, have selected titles that will take your readers on an engaging journey through the past — including the Caliphate al-Andalus in 926 AD, the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, and France during World War II.
Young Readers
Paper Son by Helen Foster James, Virginia Shin-Mui Loh, and Wilson Ong (Cherry Lake)
Standard: Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
This beautifully illustrated picture book is set in 1926 and tells the story of a 12-year-old Chinese boy, Fu Lee, leaving his grandparents and his small village in China to immigrate to the United States for a better life. Before the boy’s parents died, they spent all their money to buy him a “paper son slot,” which would allow him to pretend to be the son of a family already in America. The book explores his many challenges, including memorizing details about his new “paper family” to pass a test at Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco, fearing he might make a mistake and be sent back to China. Amidst these challenges, he misses his grandparents and the only life he has known.
Wilson Ong’s artwork is soft and muted yet expressive, conveying Fu Lee’s emotional journey. The illustrations are notable for their attention to detail, particularly in depicting the clothing and settings from the 1920s.
This book is an excellent choice for students to analyze the illustrations and details in the story to describe characters, settings, and events. They can examine each characters’ appearance, facial expressions, and body language to build empathy and understanding of the emotions and experiences of being a “paper son.” In addition, students can examine the illustrations to discuss the settings in the book, comparing the visual depictions and narrative descriptions of the Chinese village with the images and text of Angel Island and America, building on the concept of how text and illustrations work together to tell a story.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Yosef’s Dream by Ambassador Asher Naim, Sylvia Rouss, and Tamar Blumenfeld (Apples & Honey Press)
Standard: Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
Filled with vivid African landscapes, this picture book shares the story of Ethiopian Jews and their journey to Israel in May 1991 as part of “Operation Solomon.” Reminiscing while watching his brother’s bar mitzvah in Jerusalem at the Western Wall, Yosef reflects on his family’s journey when he was just a boy. Before the journey, Yosef falls into a deep hole and has a dream about a gazelle, a hyena, and an eagle — all of whom are there to help him. Later that day, Yosef learns from a special visitor at school that the Ethiopian Jews will soon be given homes in Israel.
Tamar Blumenfield’s illustrations are colorful and expressive, and Ethiopia and Israel’s nature-filled landscapes encourage readers to compare Yosef’s two homes. The characters display individual personalities and emotions, capturing their experience throughout the story and journey.
Students can be asked to describe characters, such as Yosef’s traits, feelings, and actions, while using the illustrations to understand the settings. Key details of the major events in the story, including falling in the hole, the dream, the special visitor at school, and the airplane journey to Israel, can be revisited through the text and supported by the illustrations.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Middle Grade
Mystery at Manzanar: A WWII Internment Camp Story by Eric Fein and Kurt Hartman (Capstone)
Standard: Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
Mystery at Manzanar offers a unique reading experience, told through a combination of sequential art and traditional text. It follows 15-year-old Tommy Yamamoto and his family as they are interned at the Manzanar camp for Japanese Americans. Tommy, a fan of Sherlock Holmes, is determined to solve a crime in the camp after an elderly internee is attacked and a guard is wrongfully accused. Tommy investigates to find the actual attacker and clear the guard’s name, which leads him to discover unlikely suspects along the way.
The sections of the story told via sequential art helps visually communicate the setting of the internment camp setting and the characters’ experiences, making the historical narrative more accessible and engaging for young readers. Kurt Hartman’s artwork is both realistic and informative, offering a glimpse into life in a California desert internment camp with scenes of the mountains and the barren landscape. At the same time, the realistic images emphasize the brutality of the soldiers and the hardships the internees faced.
As students read and engage with this book, they must analyze the structure and flow of the narrative and interwoven images. Discussing the images’ placement and significance will deepen their understanding of the theme, setting, and plot. As they make these connections, they can follow the mystery while comprehending the historical background. Teachers can guide students in analyzing how the author connects the internment camp experience with the mystery elements, enhancing their historical understanding and literary analysis skills. Additional background information about Manzanar, including a glossary and websites for young readers, is available at the back of the book.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Alice Ray and the Salem Witch Trials by Shannon Knudsen and Ruth Palmer (Lerner)
Standard: Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
Set in the Puritan-established village of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, where four girls accuse two women of witchcraft, Alice Ray, a friend of one of the girls, struggles to believe the accused are evil and capable of the acts they have been charged with. The picture book portrays the fictional character’s dilemma as she decides to speak up and defend the women.
Ruth Palmer’s two-page spreads burst with color and emotion. Characters are depicted in period clothing, and their facial expressions reflect the tension of the time. Palmer’s use of light offers a feeling of optimism for the future, whether seen through windows, flickering candles, or the setting sun.
The “Author’s Note” explains which parts of the story were fictional and which are based on historical events, along with additional information about the conclusion of the Salem witch trials. Students will enjoy the included reader’s theater script, enabling them to analyze how the story can be enhanced with voices, sound effects, and imagery contributing to the setting and tone of the text.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Kate and the City of Fire by Amy Rubinate and Alessia Trunfio (Capstone)
Standard: Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
This graphic novel is set in September 1666 and begins with Kate, a young country girl, getting her first chance to visit London. She will accompany her grandfather and younger sister to sell apples; however, the trip quickly turns tragic when a great fire spreads through the city. Kate’s grandfather is forced to join the fire brigade, and she is left alone to keep her sister and their horse and buggy safe. Students will be inspired to read about her bravery and resourcefulness in a challenging environment.
Alessia Trunfio’s artwork is crucial in conveying the story’s emotional depth and historical context. The illustrations are all in black and white but are dynamic, effectively capturing the chaotic atmosphere of London during the Great Fire of 1666. Trunfio’s illustrations focus on the characters’ facial expressions, communicating their fear, determination, and resilience. This attention to detail connects readers to Kate, the other characters, and their struggles.
This book is an excellent resource for students to understand and analyze how story elements interact. Using visual clues, they can explore how the setting of London in 1666 shapes the plot and different characters’ actions. Students can dive into how Kate changes as the story progresses, from a country girl to one surviving in a city engulfed by fire, forcing her to become bold and courageous.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Teen & YA
Children of the Resistance by Dugomier and Benoît Ers (Europe Comics)
Standard: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
This series is inspired by true stories of children and villagers in France who resisted the Nazi occupation during the early days of World War II, set in a fictional village. Our main character, Francios, is a fiery 13-year-old “disgusted” by his country’s surrender and the villagers’ acceptance of their fate. Determined to fight back, he and his friends devise ways to sabotage the invaders while urging their fellow countrymen to resist the Nazi’s oppressive laws and restrictions.
Benoît Ers’ artwork unveils the intimate relationships in small villages by presenting scenes from multiple perspectives, allowing readers to experience more than the words shared between characters. Each panel accentuates the village setting while revealing insights into the war and the era with specific clothing, cars, and military elements. The palette resembles army camouflage colors, with Francois’ fiery carrot top and the soft pastels providing a sense of hope for the situation.
The theme of war and its effects on a country’s people can be analyzed as the invasion and continued advancement of German forces impact the characters and their village. The details in the images provide clues to the development of the plot and changes in the setting that require our characters to adapt and acclimate to the occupation. Additional reading about the French Resistance is included as Bonus Material, featuring historical photos, propaganda posters, and images that inspired the artist.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards by Jim Ottaviani and Big Time Attic (G.T. Labs)
Standard: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
Set in the American West during the 1800s, Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards tells the story of two rival paleontologists, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, competing for fossil discoveries, and their intense rivalry leads to unethical practices. It introduces readers to Charles Knight, an artist who was instrumental in bringing knowledge about dinosaurs to life for the public through his drawings, and includes appearances from historical figures like P.T. Barnum, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Ulysses S. Grant.
Big Time Attic uses a sepia-tone color palette, which gives the book an antique look and feel that fits well with its Old West setting. The artwork is detailed and so well done that readers can quickly identify the famous historical figures without assistance from the narrative.
Students can use this title to analyze how choices made by the creators impacted the story’s development, like digging deeper into why the character of artist Charles Knight was included, or how the placement of the illustrations matched and lifted the narrative text to support the plot and setting. Discussing how the setting contributes to the book’s theme of exploration, rivalry, and scientific discovery will provide readers insight into the politics and fervor of the “Bone Wars.” The book concludes with a unique section titled ‘Fact Or Fiction,’ clarifying the book’s genre as historical fiction, noting its factual and fictional elements with specific examples.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
The Library Mule of Córdoba by Wilfrid Lupano and Leonard Chemineau (Ablaze)
Standard: Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.
Set in 976 AD, in Córdoba — the “capital of learning” in the Caliphate al-Andalus, of southern Spain — an immense library was built under the rule of Abd-al Rahman III and his successor, Al-Hakam II. Unfortunately, Al-Hakam II’s untimely death places his 11-year-old son on the throne. To allegedly protect the young ruler, the Vizier confines the boy and seizes power for himself. In addition to upsetting peace in the Caliphate, the Vizier plans to destroy the library’s renowned collection of rare manuscripts, translated lost books, and unique volumes.
The adventure begins as Tarid, the loyal head librarian and Lubna, the enslaved copyist dedicated to preserving knowledge, cross paths with Marwan, the thief and former apprentice, and the titular mule. Together, they gather all the books they can from the library and escape the city to safeguard the priceless treasures. Along the way, they are pursued by the Vizier and his soldiers, Vikings looking for slaves, and starving peasants who see an opportunity.
Leonard Chemineau’s pages are full of action and emotion, with a color palette that shifts based on the perspective of the story. Flashbacks are presented in a blue monochrome as you learn about the past of each of the characters, and some panels are left wordless, inviting the reader to interpret the scene.
Students and teachers will find The Library Mule of Córdoba a rewarding text to analyze, as it tasks them with deciphering how its core themes connect with and impact one another. It provides a rich context for examining character motives, understanding the historical setting, and appreciating the significance of the characters’ mission.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Emma Vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori (Yen Press)
Standard: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
This manga is set in the Industrial Revolution of late 19th-century England, in the midst of new inventions, changing lifestyles, and shifting societal expectations. We meet Emma, a beautiful house servant to Kelly, a former governess to William, the heir to a wealthy, up-and-coming merchant family. Surrounded by numerous suitors and Kelly’s declining health, Emma’s life is on the cusp of change as well.
The detailed depiction of 19th-century London — its buildings, carriages, and homes — immerse the reader in the era’s complexities influenced by a rapidly changing world. Kaoru Mori’s artwork emphasizes the characters’ emotions and nonverbal clues of their personalities: shy, demure Emma; the less polished William; and the strict governess, Kelly. Mori shares her fascination with and love for England in the afterword.
In Emma, readers can analyze the mangaka’s choices regarding the sequence of events, the inclusion of minor characters, and the narrative that highlights the changes in the era. These choices enhance the characters’ development and relationships, building on the readers’ understanding of the story’s setting. Read all ten volumes to experience the romantic and tumultuous changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution as the characters navigate their evolving setting.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Vickie Blankenship and Stella Bromley are Engagement Specialists for LibraryPass, as well as K-12 school librarians and educators with extensive experience in librarianship at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Both bring expertise in professional development and educator training, working with school districts nationwide. They have presented locally, regionally, and nationally on best practices for collection development, library programming, and classroom pedagogy. Active members of their state library associations, they are dedicated to fostering a love of reading in students and educators alike. They share a passion for connecting readers with the “just-right” book and believe that reading takes many forms, whether it’s traditional print books, comics, graphic novels, or manga; as long as readers are engaged with a book, their love for reading will grow.
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