  | Courage to dream : tales of hope in the Holocaust Author: Shusterman, Neal | |
| Price: $20.98 | ||
Summary:
This graphic novel explores one of the greatest atrocities in modern memory, delving into the core of what it means to face the extinction of everything and everyone you hold dear. Five interlocking narratives explore one common story - the tradition of resistance and uplift.
| Illustrator: | Martinez, Andres Vera |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 3.90 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 522791 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (12/01/23)
School Library Journal (11/01/23)
Booklist (10/15/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/10/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/09/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/15/2023 Shusterman has been known for breaking conventions of genres throughout his career, and his latest, a series of short stories on the Holocaust rendered in comics panels, is no exception. Drawing upon characters from traditional Jewish stories, like Moses or the Golem, Shusterman uses their powers to disrupt the Nazi machine and save people from the Holocaust; these superpowers mirror the real-life heroics of Jews who saved others during the war. Each story ends with an author’s note and photos to explain the parallels to history, making it a great resource for lessons on WWII. The last story, in which a young girl meets her family and cousins who would have been born had there been no Holocaust, feels particularly haunting and pressing. The naturalist artwork does a decent job telling the story and relaying the emotions, but it feels rather safe in comparison to the dynamic genre-blending in Shusterman’s writing. Overall, this is an enlightening read on a perennially important topic. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/01/2023 Gr 7 Up—This work of graphic fiction uses an anthology of fantastic tales to explore the horrors of the Holocaust. Shusterman creates stories that engage and educate young readers about Nazi persecution of the Jewish people. He writes in the dedication, "This book is about impossible and wondrous things that never happened, set against a backdrop of impossible, unthinkable things that did." The first story begins with a tale of young children hidden for safety behind a bookshelf, who escape through a portal to a peaceful world. Next is a very Marvel-inspired story of a Golem of Auschwitz, and then a tale of Baba Yaga and mythical creatures forming a resistance force in a deep, dark wood. The fourth is a Moses-inspired story of rescue and daring, followed by a final story about a young American girl and a terrible alternative future. The illustrations are reminiscent of early Marvel comic books. There are plenty of details that will draw the eye, like Baba Yaga's flying cauldron, but plenty of action to move the plot forward. VERDICT A nice addition to any teen graphic fiction collection.—Meaghan Nichols - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
