Happy face by Stephen Emond – Graphic Novel

Happy Face is a creatively written graphic novel that comes in the style of a “Diary” written by the main character, who is never actually given a name. Throughout the story we learn of his emotional baggage such as his alcoholic parents and the death of his brother. Through these events we see him become emotional de-attached from people, until he learns to confront his problems. Through his confrontation we see him break out his shell and turn his frown upside down, landing him the nickname of “Happyface!” Emond’s creative writing style and catchy book cover makes this an easy book to want to read, and continue reading!

Reading Level: 6.1

Readers: Below are a few websites that could assist in the learning and teaching of this book!

This is a great website that could be used in the classroom to assist the teaching of this book. It gives a quick overview, and summary of the book which could serve as a review for your students and it also provides different peoples opinions of the book. This would definitely help in a discussion that you are having of the book and keep the students focused.

This also is a great website to use in the classroom, as it gets your students interacting with text online and shows them how to create a blog, and how blogs can accomplish different things. This would be a great website to use as an initiation before having your students write their own summary of the book.

Some vocabulary that might need to be pre-taught include Juvenile, alcoholic, alienation, distance (in context), reinvent, judgment, and revealed.

Activities:

Pre-Reading:

Before reading it would be beneficial to talk with your students about different transitions such as moving from one place to another, or moving from middle school and high school. Through this discussion you can talk about what they might worry about and then explain that this is what the character in Happyface is facing.

During Reading:

While independently reading, students can look for the different themes that exist throughout the book and what has happened that is making it difficult for “Happyface” to be happy. Ask you students to look for, and take note of what changes, allowing the main character to finally be happy at the end.

After Reading:

After students have read the book, students can use the notes they took during the during reading activity and come up with three questions. Once these three questions are made, they can swap papers with a partner and answer the new questions that were made. This gives the students the opportunity to make questions, and answer them in the same lesson! 

Emond, S. (2010). Happyface. Boston: Little, Brown And Co..