Michele Blanken's Page

A visit to the local comic book store was illuminating. The sales person said that Manga novels are quite popular with young adults. Manga are from Japan and the characters are in the Japanese style. The books are also read from back to front and clockwise. This is quite confusing for those of us who are ingrained in the Western way of reading, but children are so much more adaptable. I have a funny story about Manga novels. My daughter wanted to get her friend a "How to Draw Manga Characters"… Continue

I hadn't thought much about GLBT literature until our discussion in class on June 28. However, I have noticed an increase in characters who are gay in young adult novels that I have read. Interestingly, the characters who are gay in the books I've read are supporting characters and not main characters. I say that it is interesting because in the article we read as a class, "Saying No to Stereotypes", it calls for more GLBT literature. Specifically it calls for more non-white faces, bisexuality,… Continue