18 Books (3 each of 6 titles)

 

These 32-page softcover books are designed for young adult struggling readers and even nonreaders who probably have never successfully managed to read a book. The text uses a clear font which is not immature and is visibly separated from the illustrations providing the chunking of text and extra white space that students reading at this level need. The black and white illustrations are dark, vivid, adult style, and with clear references to computer games, movies, graphic novels, etc, and appear on nearly every page.

 

The text is short and simple but not patronizing. Stories are gritty and full of tension and mystery. The language is terse. The Dark Man is a serious comic hero with his own mythology. Each book is a self-contained story but each story is part of a greater whole. Although each story reveals a little more about the Dark Man, the books can be read in any order: no one story depends on having read any other story first. Stories range from 220 to 420 words with more demanding vocabulary in the 420-word books.

 

Titles include:

 

The Shadow Masters seek the girl to exploit her secret power. Only the Dark Man can protect her and lead her to a safe place where the Old Man waits. (approx. 220 words)

 

The Dark Man is weary. But the Old Man tells him that he cannot rest because the Shadow Masters will never stop until they find the Golden Cup. (approx. 220 words)

 

The Dark Man must find the Dark Glass, which will help him see the Golden Cup. In the high tower of an office building, he sees a flat stone. This is the glass he seeks. (approx. 420 words)

 

The Dark Man follows a girl and watches her freeze time and steal from people. She helps the Old Man against the Shadow Masters. "They cannot control me," she says. (approx. 220 words)

 

Angela is no angel but the Dark Man must protect her. She can look into the dark waters and see the past. The waters will show her where the Golden Cup was last hidden. (approx. 420 words)

 

He hears the hiss of a demon close behind him. He cannot see it in the darkenss. The Dark Man runs past men working with glowing metal, and then he sees something... (approx. 420 words)