The Forgotten Man

Recommended by Garnet, gr. 11, 2018-19 school year

I have never known much about American history in general and figured that reading about such a prominent period of time like The Great Depression in the format of a graphic novel might educate me  in a way that is easy to understand because of the illustrations.

The story follows different conflicts during the Great Depression through a political focus. Because the story switches perspectives often, there isn’t really any obvious main character but these are a few of the people who stand out against the rest. Rex Tugwell is an economist who’s trying to solve the problem of farming poverty. Then there’s Franklin Roosevelt,the President of the United States, who is focused upon getting the country out of the Great Depression. Finally there is the narrator Wendell Willkie who is fighting a power company called the T.V.A.

While I enjoyed The Forgotten Man, the majority of the politics were lost on me due to a lack of knowledge relating to politics. would recommend The Forgotten Man to someone having some prior knowledge of American history and politics during the 1930s.

Flight

Contributed by Nalin, gr. 11, May 2019

The first Flight novel is fascinating and inspiring. Flight is an American comics anthology series edited by Kazu Kibuishi. In total, there are 8 books in the series that is continued by another anthology called Explorer; however, for this review I will only be commenting on the first novel.

The first novel contains 23 stories that showcase the works of young and innovative artists and writers. The creators all have different styles and ways of telling stories but each story has the same theme: flight. I recommend this series to any young and inspiring artists or writers as the creators bring different views and techniques that everyone can appreciate and learn from.

For example, the first story, called “Air and Water,” created by Enrico Casarosa, is about taking flight from the water to the sky. Although the concept sounds simple and bland, the way Casarosa illustrates the story takes the reader on a journey.  You will experience the feelings and thoughts of the character as you read the story and absorb the illustrations. Another interesting story in this novel is called “Paper String,” created by Jen Wang. Instead of using conventional hand-drawn illustration, Wang tells the story using collage.

So much thought, effort, work, and artistry has gone into the stories, which is why I believe that it will inspire artists, writers, and readers.

Zenobia

Contributed by Koshi, gr. 11, May 2019
 
Zenobia is the story of a Syrian refugee escaping the war zone in Syria. Its unique art style is what makes this graphic novel stand out of its competitors. Written by Danish author Morten Dürr and fellow Danish illustrator Lars Horneman, the book won the 2017 Danish National Illustration Award for its breathtaking visuals and its minimal use of words.
 
The story follows Amina, a young girl from a village in Syria in her regular lifestyle. Usually spending her days with her mother and father, life looks  normal for Amina. However, as civil unrest grows in the country and eventually reaches her village. Tanks overrun the land as the sky is conquered by jets. As Amina realizes what’s happening, she heads west towards the sea to avoid this conflict, and thinks of Zenobia, a great warrior her mother told her about. Why you may ask? You’ll have to read to find out!

 

 

Anya's Ghost

 

Contributed by Kate, gr. 11, May 2019

I originally chose this book because I liked the art style, but the story quickly drew me in. The main character Anya is relatable but still has a strong personality of her own. Her struggle to fit in seems to disappear when she falls down a well and meets a new friend --  who may happen to be a ghost --  but despite this fantasy element, the storyline is relatable.

I think everyone, at some point, wishes for help in navigating life, so it’s captivating to see how it goes for Anya. This book is appealing for its art, and its funny, and touching moments.

Illegal

Contributed by Lena-Marie, gr. 11, May 2019

 

Are you looking for a powerful and moving graphic novel? Illegal by Eoin Colfer might be the right choice for you. Accompany Ebo on his dangerous journey from Niger to Europe and experience a refugee’s journey closely. Ebo is a motherless 12 year old boy who is looking for his older brother. Since the graphic novel is based on a true story, the illustrations are very realistic. The topic is very important and it’s a story that must be heard!

 
I recommend this graphic novel to students from grade 10-12. Once you start this graphic novel you won’t be able to put it down. The illustrations are well done and communicate the right message: the truth about the harshness of a refugee’s journey.
 
The story has a short length so you can read it in one sitting. I think that Eoin Colfer managed to create an authentic, emotional, and engaging story about a serious topic.

 

 

The Witch Boy

Contributed by Hannah, gr. 11, May 2019

If you like magic, if you like witches, and if you like seeing someone's journey to discovering who they are, then this is a graphic novel for you. The Witch Boy, by Molly Knox Ostertag, includes all of these elements and more. It is very well-written and thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel and I would suggest it to anybody who loves magic, and is looking for a short read.
 
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. It captures the struggles of a young boy who is supposed to be a shapeshifter but instead wishes to have the magic only girls (witches) are allowed to use. However, there is also a non-magical section of the world and when the main character, Aster, befriends a “normal” human, he tells her all about his magic, his problems at home, and his life. They meet by accident but their friendship blossoms into something heartwarming. There are many strong and likeable characters. It is a story that you never want to put down. The drawings are extremely well done because they clearly express how the characters are feeling. The colors in the book are beautiful and vibrant.
 
When a graphic novel is about magic and monsters, it needs to be bold -- and this is definitely a graphic novel filled with adventure and conflict. I would suggest it to any middle school or high school reader and suggest that readers to enjoy it check out sequels to this graphic novel: The Hidden Witch and The Midwinter Witch.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Contributed by Eli, gr. 12, June 2019

I picked up part 1 of this graphic memoir in the fall and have now finished part 2, and while nonfiction does not usually appeal to me, I am very glad to have read Persepolis. It is an Iranian woman’s account of her first twenty-four years, her childhood having been spent in Iran before she fled to Austria during her country’s war with Iraq. The memoir describes the political climate in Iran from the 1970s to 1990s - which, as someone who previously knew almost nothing about this region, I found to be eye-opening and thought-provoking.

Persepolis contains more text than many graphic novels, but that is balanced out by the simple yet striking black-and-white illustrations. Since the story centers around revolution and war, the subject matter and pictures can be quite graphic: there are detailed descriptions of violence, as well as some swearing and nudity. The author touches upon heavy topics like government oppression, prejudice between nations, and different ways to follow the same religion.

I would particularly recommend Persepolis to people with an interest in nonfiction and recent history, but I also think it is an important memoir overall. The narrator’s age helped me sympathize with her from the start, and I gained an understanding of another country that I might never have had otherwise. Anyone in search of a graphic novel with deep themes and dark humor should give this one a try.

Arab of the Future

Contributed by Maryam, grade 12 -- Jan. 2018

I would definitely recommend this graphic novel  for a couple of reasons. I genuinely found it interesting to learn about somebody who grew up in a different generation than mine (1980s) and in a different country than Canada.

It is very intriguing to see their day-to-day life, what their school life was like, what activities they did, and  how different their culture is.  I also found that being told from a 6 year old child's perspective made these details simple to see and understand. 

The final reason for my recommendation is that I’ve realized the things around me are so sacred. Not everybody has the things Canadians have in life and most times, we take it for granted. This book made me more aware of this imbalanced and I hope that everybody who reads this book realizes it too.

Persepolis

Contributed by Carlos, gr. 12 – Jan. 2018

I highly recommend this graphic novel. It's amazing! I like it because the book is about Iran in the 1980s before and after the Islamic Revolution. 

The book tells the story from the point of view of a young girl of a current Iranian family who experiences  personal changes because of the Revolution. I found the art simple enough to understand the feelings of the characters without getting me dizzy (I don't like too many drawings). I also found the story relevant because it’s about an event that still has an impact upon Iran and upon the world today. Iran is still an Islamic Republic and I have met Iranian friends who left the country  because of the politics there.

The Best We Could Do

 Reviewed by Nadine, gr. 12 -- Jan. 2018

I chose my graphic novel because I thought it would be an easy read and Ms. Burleson, the teacher-librarian, spoke highly of it, selling it very well. It is an illustrated memoir about a young refugee’s journey from Vietnam to her current life in California. She touches on the history of her parents and their tragedies and hardships during the period of French occupation and the Vietnam War. She also narrates the fond memories shared between her and her four siblings and tells the stories about the hardships with complete honesty. 

 

I enjoyed my graphic novel from start to finish. It took me only two hours to read and was aesthetically pleasing with beautiful illustrations and a good balance of text and pictures. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of humor.  It made the serious and heartbreaking stories much more bearable to read about.

I would recommend this book. It was a very quick and easy read while also managing to pack a huge amount of factual information. It’s also a touching and relatable story about family hardships and coming-of-age, told beautifully with illustrations from the author herself.

 

Book Bites: short reviews of 20th century graphic novels

Contributed by Malachi, gr. 12-- Jan. 2018

I would recommend this graphic novel because it provides insight into the lifetime of a nationalist terrorist. It also gives an idea of what it was like to live in Yugoslavia before it broke up as a country in 1991. While I did find the family tree a little confusing, I would still recommend it as an alternative to a history text.

Contributed by Melissa, gr. 12 -- Jan. 2018

 I really liked this book although I had never before read a graphic novel.  I would have liked to know more about  people’s feelings during and after the attack, but there were a lot of details about the events of 9/11 itself.  Recommended.

 

Contributed by Milton, gr. 12 -- Jan. 2018

I would recommend this book for three readers:  those who if  enjoy high-contract drawings, art without a lot of detail, those who enjoy a book that tells a story without a political bias, and those who are interested in learning more about North Korea.

Contributed by Manon, gr. 12 -- Jan. 2018

I recommend War Brothers  to readers who want to learn more about the atrocities child soldiers face in the world; this book does a great job of portraying a child in this situation. Colorful illustrations portray the atmosphere of a certain event accurately. However, if you are a sensitive person, I would not recommend it because certain details are shocking and having them illustrated makes them even more disturbing.

Contributed by Max, gr. 12 – Jan. 2018

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, entertaining, emotional read. The book isn’t too long so you won’t get bored waiting for the end. It tells you about the experience of World War II from a real soldier’s point of view, which helps to create a personal connection and an enjoyable reading experience.

 

 

Graphic novels about the Holocaust -- reviewed by History 12 students, class of 2018

Reviewed by Cosmo


I would recommend this GN  (graphic novel) to other students. First, it uses significant and vivid graphics to illustrate the story, especially the expression and description of characters which are dramatic and a bit abstract. Second, this book tells story in a special way; there are two storylines going on at the same time. One is from when Holocaust is happening;  the other is from 1993, when the last two survivors are avoiding discovery by the Germans. I found the storytelling to be fresh and interesting,  and the illustrations made the historical events appear even more tragic. Last, this GN is based on real historical events, showing the cruel and murderous side of people but also examples of humanity and kindness.


Reviewed by Carolina


I would and would not recommend the graphic novel (GN) Auschwitz to other students. I would recommend it because it shows what happened inside the concentration camps, with details, making the history easy to understand. For example, it showed some of the horrible things used by the Nazi army to exterminate people, as the gas chambers, as well as how badly Jewish prisoners were treated, and how they felt. On the other hand,  is very pessimist book with disturbing details.

 Reviewed by Isabel


 I definitely recommend Anne Frank:  The Authorized Graphic Biography.  I was able to relate to the situation of Anne Frank because there many parts taken from her diary.  These details made it easy to understand  her inner feelings and emotions.  Second, the illustrations by Ernie Colón are very beautiful, colorful, and detailed.  I could picture the horrible things very well, especially the pictures of the dead people and how they were dying in the concentration camps.  There is not much text, but you will learn the story through the pictures.

      

Deogratias: two reviews from History 12 students, class of 2018

Contributed by Kate

I would absolutely recommend Deogratias to other students, especially to those who want a more in-depth understanding of the Rwandan genocide. The characters in the graphic novel are intriguingly lifelike, and the story is captivating. Nothing in the novel sugarcoats the event. Some of the text and illustrations are jarring, but I appreciated the realism. Deogratias is a book that makes readers face their morality, and calls them to action. It is a tragic story that could leave a positive impact in the form of increased global awareness.

 Contributed by Helen

I would recommend this book because it It doesn't really delve into the politics, but instead gives a personal perspective around everyday experiences such as the effects of anti-Tutsi propaganda.  This book also made me think about the aftermath of the genocide and the effects it had upon on individual people. I think that this book gives readers insight to the power imbalance between Rwandans and white people, for example, that working for a white person is more profitable than being a university professor of color.  

Maus -- three reviews from History 12 students, class of 2018

Contributed by Dino

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the Holocaust.
It takes a unique look on the situation being told from the first person point of view.  It also shows how one Holocaust survivor's life changed from before the war, to during it, to the aftermath of being free and starting over in America. Finally, the illustrations help to show what the survivor was feeling throughout moments of his life. This book gave me a window into the life of a Holocaust Survivor.

Contributed by Justin

I would recommend reading Maus for the artwork, even if you are not really into the subject matter. I also enjoyed how the story was told through the perspective of a Holocaust survivor and the author, who was trying to investigate the survivor's story. Learning the history was  another plus; by the end I was given some insight into  issues of which I was unaware.

Reviewed by Brody 

I would recommend this graphic novel because it explains the experiences of Jews during WW2 from a very unique perspective, and with a personalized creative flare. The visuals are simple but they provide extra emotion and depth when needed.  I would caution readers who are sensitive about this subject;  the content could potentially come across as indiscreet or insensitive.