I have been meaning to write this review for over a month. It is hard to express my thoughts on this book because it is both a brilliant creation and one of the hardest things I've chosen to read.
It is probably best to let the blurb speak for itself when detailing this book:
National Book Award-winner Neal Schusterman and acclaimed artist Andres Vera Martinez present a multidimensional exploration of the Holocaust, delivered through surreal visions and a textured canvas of heroism and hope.
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey into impossible and wondrous things that never happened, set against a backdrop of impossible, unthinkable things that did.
Brilliant storytelling plunges readers into one of the darkest periods in human history - the Holocaust. With carefully entwined narratives and bold visuals, this book explores some of the greatest atrocities in modern memory and some of the greatest heroes of legend and history.
These stories cast strange light from unexpected angles. They are both tragic and triumphant - tragic because some of them are wistful, full of wishful thinking and dreams of a miraculous escape when no escape was possible, and triumphant because each of these stories point to very real moments of human compassion and bravery in the face of despair. This gripping graphic novel tapestry is woven from Jewish folklore and cultural history. Five interlocking narratives explore one common story - the tradition of resistance and uplift.
Below is just one stunning example of the illustrative work of Andres Vera Martinez (which was shared on the Amazon US website). I would love to show you more examples of his work in this book but I am unsure of what I can share and don't want to get into trouble. Plus, it really would be better to view it in person than through my blog. Each and every short story included in this book is beautifully illustrated and captures both the horror and the hope within these situations.
I am currently teaching my Year 6 class about World War 2 as our history topic this term, up until Christmas, and they have been so invested in the events and the stories they have heard. They may be a little too young when it comes to the target age of this book but there are some that would be ready to read these stories, having heard about the holocaust in lessons.
Each short story is followed by information that links to the created narrative. For example, the first story is about hiding Jewish children and the factual pages that follow show people who helped to hide Jewish people, such as the incredible Johanna Eck, and people who were hidden, such as Anne Frank. These pages help to make the stories real and recognise that true links.
I think this is the most important book I've read this year. The title says in perfectly in my opinion, with 'tales of hope' at the forefront of these horrific events. Nothing can change what happened, as much as we wish we could, but stories like this are important when it comes to keeping these events in people's minds and remembering long after it happened, especially in our current times.
This book was kindly gifted to me by Scholastic, so I must say a big thank you to them. I would also like to note that this book review includes my own, true opinions and thoughts and are not influenced by the gifting of the book. If you would like to buy the book, you can find it here.
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