Miles Hyman

I'm obsessed with this graphic novel adaptation of Shirley Jackson's haunting short story, "The Lottery." The story begins with everyone in the village gathering for the annual Lottery. As the they run through a roll call of village families to ensure everyone has been able to attend, the villagers make small talk with their neighbors, the sounds of friendly chat filling the air. But the day is soon about to turn, and not everyone is happy once the Lottery begins.

This graphic novel is so powerful because of the amount of text it utilizes throughout. The story begins slowly with dozens of pages containing barely a few words of text as everyone prepares for the even. As they begin to gather, though, the dialogue increases, filling the pages with pleasant conversation and atmosphere. This pleasant facade continues through the story's dark end, juxtaposing the danger of tradition that the story tells with the bliss of ignorance that the pictures portray. This is an excellent read for anyone middle school or older!… (more)