Summary:
This book was about Raskolnikov who lives in St. Petersburg who does not have a job nor an income. Because of his awful experience at the pawnshop with a lady who lends him money at crippling rates, he decides to kill her. Instead of seeing her death as a sin, he envokes the deaths caused by powerful men, leaders such as Napoleon. No one remembers them as murderers, nor the names of the countless that die both on and off the battlefield as a result of their military decisions.
Raskolnikov plays the character who does not see punishment as we see legally see it but he sees it as his conscience. He kills a woman who he thinks profits from other people’s misery and this makes him mad and miserable himself. He seems to be upset with the social system and blames it for his unemployment which adds to his misery. This keeps him bound and prevents him from even grabbing hold to the financial opportunities that may be available to him. Even though Raskolnikov is desparate for finances, his actions portray someone who is mentally ill as he leaves the pawn shop and went to a bar nearby and spend his last dime there. From the social interaction with his friends, family and associates, Dostoevsky shows Raskolnikov there was an obvious fight between self which had a great impact on his physical and mental capabilities.

Personal Reaction:
Crime and Punishment is one of those classics suggested by educators to teens as a novel to be read in school. In my opinion, this book might need a brief or even indepth introduction before placing it in the hands of teenagers to read. I think it would be better if there is actually a unit of study for example, pychological areas of a unit that would prepare them for attacking this novel. It seems to me that each of the characters have at least 3 tones or personalities which caused me to review page after page in order to ensure I am keeping up with the daunting characters. The plot builds tension relating to the main crime and his mental health. I like how the illustrations in this comic come a live on each page. It shows the facial reaction of the characters that really gives readers a true feel of the story. I also was fascinated by the way in which there was a note at the top of each strip to highlight what the scene is about. This would definitely get readers not only intersted in the novel but also they would get a clearer understanding of what the comic is about.

Extensions:
The KWL strategy can be used for this book for high school kids where they are asked to predict what the book will be about then after reading it they can be told to write what they now know about the book and what they have learned. This would definitely help them to use and develop their critical thinking skills and make their own judgments about the book.
Students can also be asked to write about their views about the ways in which punishment was used in the story and discuss alternative measures that could have been taken to resolve issues.
Another activity that can be done with this novel is to ask students to give a summary of it by writing out the characters, the plot and the ending of the book. This will help them to get an unerstanding of the book. ( )

The graphic novel was about a man who felt like he had to plot a murder, and even though he was scared, he went along with doing it. He went to great lengths to cover his tracks and may not have been suspected if it were not for his behavior.The guilt led him to lose his mind and end up confessing.

I was drawn in from the first page. The illustrations set up scene that showed how much despair the man was in. And the small details that were left out kept me wondering what happen next.

This book would be great use in psychology or even philosophy. ( )