Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel

by Nikki Grimes

This adaptation of the novel-in-verse tells the story of Garvey, a boy who struggles to fit in and find his passion until he discovers the choir. It is a powerful exploration of self-acceptance and the courage to pursue one's own path.

Big Idea

Finding your voice is a courageous act that requires stepping outside of others' expectations.

Discussion Questions

1.Why does Garvey find it difficult to connect with his father?
2.How does poetry help Garvey express things he cannot say out loud?
3.What does the choir represent for Garvey's personal growth?
4.How do the visual elements of this graphic novel enhance the poetic nature of the original story?
5.How can we support friends who are struggling to find where they belong?

Lesson Plan

⏱ 75 minutes📦 Selected poem excerpts, drawing paper, markers, black fine-liners.

Learning Goals

Understand the synthesis of poetry and visual art.
Interpret abstract poetic themes through concrete images.
Practice narrative sequencing.

Activity Steps

1.Select a meaningful stanza from Garvey's journey.
2.Analyze the stanza for key imagery and emotional tone.
3.Storyboard the stanza across 3-4 panels.
4.Draw the panels, focusing on how the artwork reflects the rhythm of the verse.
5.Present the poem and visual storyboard to the class.

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.2

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

The graphic novel version of Garvey's story acts as a masterclass in 'staccato' pacing. By breaking down the poems into visual beats, the book forces the reader to pause at the end of each image, much like the line breaks in a stanza. This format teaches students that brevity in writing can carry immense emotional weight. Writers can use this example to practice the economy of language, learning how to select only the most impactful words when paired with striking imagery.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pacing	Notice how the poetic lines act as a internal clock for the flow of the narrative.
Plot	Understand how the plot evolves through internal realization rather than grand external events.
Prosody	Practice reading the poetry aloud to capture the cadence that the artwork attempts to visualize.
Word	Identify 'power words' that ground the imagery in the reality of Garvey’s struggle.
Voice & Worldview	Examine how the quiet, reflective voice of the protagonist colors the entire narrative worldview.

Pace-Write It!

Take a common daily activity and write a 4-line poem, then sketch a 2-panel layout to accompany it.

Classroom Activities

Poetry in Panels

Students select a stanza from the book and illustrate it, transforming verse into a multi-panel visual story.

Poetry in Panels

Students select a stanza from the book and illustrate it, transforming verse into a multi-panel visual story.

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Discussion questions PWR workshop PDF download