By Alex De Luca and Victoria Carmina Abrielle Terzian
What happens when a teenager, a ninety-year-old, and a ghost are the only ones standing between their town and its dark past?
Alex De Luca, joined by illustrators Victoria Carmina and Abrielle Terzian, presents Enigmatown, a standalone graphic novel published by Red 5 Comics. Geared toward middle grade and early young adult audiences, the book weaves a paranormal mystery around three distinct protagonists: fifteen-year-old Luzmarie “Luzy,” ninety-year-old Frankie, and Joey, a ghost. Drawn together by unsettling events at a local mansion, this trio must investigate the town’s eerie history. As they dig deeper, they uncover secrets that have haunted their community for generations, forcing them to rely on their shared courage to resolve the mystery.
For educators supporting students with reading difficulties or those learning English, this book offers a practical solution. The graphic novel format inherently supports comprehension by aligning mature themes—like intergenerational trauma—with clear visual storytelling. This setup allows older students to engage with age-appropriate content without the frustration of dense prose. The text relies on simple and compound sentences, avoiding complex idiomatic language that is often a barrier to non-native speakers. For instance, direct dialogue lines help ground the reader, while the full-color panels provide immediate context clues for potentially difficult vocabulary like “mansion” or “haunt.” The artwork allows visual learners to track emotional shifts and plot progression without relying solely on the text. Selected for Free Comic Book Day promotions, this title serves as an effective tool for building reading stamina, offering a reading experience that respects the student’s cognitive age while accommodating their literacy needs.
