The Hero Academy is a graphic-novel book club for kids ranging in ages kindergarten to high school. Discussion groups (split by age range and reading level) monthly via video conference to discuss the current book. The discussions are facilitated by teachers, educators and experts in the comic book industry.
With grant funding, all books and other materials are provided absolutely FREE to Hero Academy participants.
Students who participate in all six discussions receive a prize pack full of swag, comics and other goodies at the end of the program, as well as a certificate of completion.
The Books
Students receive six critically acclaimed graphic novels chosen for their quality, and their representation of the diversity that makes up our community. Whenever possible the program showcases the diversity of gender, ethnicity and sexual identity that kids see in the world around them. “We felt it was important that every child could see themselves as the hero of the story,” said Hero Academy founder John Marcotte.
The reading lists for the first session were:
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
- Hilda and the Troll
- Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed To Earth
- Narwal: Unicorn of the Sea
- The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin
- Jedi Academy
- Little Robot
3rd Grade – 5th Grade
- Roller Girl
- Superman Smashes the Klan
- Amulet, vol. 1
- Lumberjanes, vol. 1
- New Kid
- El Deafo
6th Grade – 8th Grade
- All’s Faire in Middle School
- March
- The Prince and the Dressmaker
- The Nameless City
- Hey Kiddo
- Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Vol. 1: BFF
High School
- Archie, vol. 1
- Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1 – No Normal
- Hawkeye: My Life As A Weapon
- I Kill Giants
- This One Summer
- They Called Us Enemy