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"On May 10, 1940, the Nazi Army invaded Belgium, setting into motion the refugee story of Cary Fagan's father, Maurice. Maurice was only 12 at the time, and he and his family had no idea they would never again return to Brussels, the city of his birth. Instead, they would travel through France, Spain, and Portugal, running from war. Every time they thought they might be safe, Maurice would try to restart his studies--he was determined to become a lawyer, convinced it was the law could make us all equals. But every time, his schooling was interrupted, and the family would have to escape again. Eventually, they found passage on the Serpa Pinto: the Destiny Ship. They travelled all the way to Jamaica and ended up in a refugee camp, worlds away from anything they knew. But this is a story of resourcefulness and resilience! Determined to get an education, Maurice went around finding teachers among the refugees and with their help--plus his trusty Chambers's English Dictionary--Maurice eventually worked his way into a local boys' school, where he was finally able to sit for his exams and earn his diploma. The story ends with Maurice boarding a plane, heading for the University of Toronto--it's the final leg of a long journey and at last, he thinks, "my new life really was starting." Quebec illustrator Enzo Lord Mariano brings the story to life in graphic novel format--showing us the family's fear and desperation, but also teasing out the moments of lightness and humour, of which there are many, including a scene in which Maurice's father thinks there is a scorpion in his new trousers, only to drop his pants and find a tailor's pin! The book ends with an Author's Note about Cary's father's journey, and how--unlike much of his family who perished in the Holocaust--Maurice ended up graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. "All his life, he kept his Chambers's Dictionary. It rests here on the desk beside me as I write, a treasured possession." This relatable story about one refugee family's courage and resilience in the face of violence and racism still resonates today."--… (more)
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Maurice's family is fleeing from Belgium during World War 2. This story is their journey about how they escaped and how they settled in Jamaica. Maurice wants to be a lawyer and is working really hard to try to not
The tale is tough to read as an adult, but I think it's a good introduction to history for younger readers. If you're teaching about the war, this could be used as an educational source. This is a graphic novel, but I could see this being used for middle schoolers and high schoolers to see a different version of the events from someone else's eyes instead of just their textbooks.
The back of the book has a picture of Maurice's family (the author's Father is Maurice) and has some wonderful pictures and documents to put a face to this story. It's really cool to read and really sad at the same time.
The illustrations and their dull colours give some really interesting effects to the story. This book is not meant to be the happiest book (it's based during war time), so the dull colours in certain pictures really hit home with the tone. It's nice to see colour theory being used in this story, even if it's for sad effects.
Overall, I think this is a very powerful and moving story! If you like non-fiction, historical books or graphic novels, this is a unique read!
Five out of five stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and OwlKids for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.