Who doesn’t like Buffy the Vampire Slayer??? I mean, I enjoyed watching the series back in high school, then in college and even in my late twenties when I would get up in the middle of the night to nurse my son. Vampires, evil doers, the world possibly ending and all being saved by a cute high school chick and her friends- that’s just fun and engaging for a girl!

I liked this graphic novel version as much as the series on television. The illustrations are so good! I could pick out every character even before I read who they were. I read the onomatopoeia balloons out loud when the vampires would get daggered and vanish and thought those were great effects. This particular graphic novel is part of The High School Years series called Freaks & Geeks. In this one, Buffy, during her first year in a new school, must save her own life from some vampires that are trying to prove themselves by killing the slayer. Just like other books that keep young teenage girls engaged, it has it’s fair share of drama, girls with insecurities and friends who can be dorky but helpful.

Graphic novels are such a great way to capture readers of all ages. I think they can be helpful for engaging reluctant readers as well. I am currently in Florida on a family vacation, and right off the bat my niece who is going into third grade showed me the book she was reading-A Babysitters Club graphic novel! I had no idea there was a graphic novel series for those (I enjoyed the regular series growing up myself). I told her about the two I was currently reading, this one and Roller Girl and we compared. Books are so much fun!!

Click on the image to visit the author’s Amazon page to find more books written by Hicks.

This was one of many books on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2017 list (YALSA).

Hicks, Faith Erin (2016). Buffy: The high school years-freaks & geeks. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books.