Middle school students are not reading for pleasure as frequently as they formally have, due to the influx of video games, cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic device. This is not even to mention the common stresses of the average middle school student. Current research on reading motivation finds that as children move from upper elementary grades toward adolescence, motivation to read, particularly during free time, declines. This article is based on the findings and implications of an investigation by Edwards (2008) that measured whether reading graphic novels and comic books, as well as participating in free voluntary reading (FVR) time, impacted the intrinsic motivation, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development of seventh graders. The findings of this study suggested that reading graphic novels and FVR could affect the intrinsic motivation, vocabulary, and comprehension ability of seventh graders. As such, it is suggested that library media specialists and other educators should be open to the promise of graphic novels and FVR. (Contains 1 table.)