Survivors of the Holocaust presents the stories of six children who survived the Holocaust. Reading this graphic novel, you will meet Heinz, Trude, Ruth, Martin, Suzanne, and Arek. Each shares their memories of being a Jewish child during the Holocaust and what they did to survive this terrible time in our world’s history.
Vera begs her mother to send her to summer sleepover camp. When her mother finally makes it happen, Vera discovers that Russian camp isn’t everything she thought it would be. The older girls aren’t very nice. She wants to go home but she can’t. She’s going to have to make the most of it until the summer is over.
Prince Sebastian has a secret life. By day he is Prince Sebastian, heir to the throne of Brussels. At night, he lives a secret life as Lady Crystallia, a Paris fashion icon! Sebastian hires Frances to be his dressmaker and keep his secret. Their friendship develops, and Frances’s skill as a designer is noticed by the fashion world. How long will Frances be willing to put her dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer on hold to protect Sebastian’s secret?
Hendrix’s biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is visually stunning. Hendrix mixes his artistic talents with the narrative of Bonhoeffer’s life and the timeline of events in Germany as Hitler gains power. Bonhoeffer was a religious young German who studied theology and believed that we are judged on how we treat “others”. During Hitler’s rise to power, Bonhoeffer struggles with the love for his country and the evil deeds of the Nazis. Bonhoeffer seeks many ways to help the Jews and his country escape the grip of the Nazis but he is faced with many obstacles. Finally, he becomes a Nazi spy for the Abwehr Circle. The Abwehr Circle has a different agenda than spying on the enemy allied powers. This group of men plans to assassinate Adolf Hitler, but to do so they must stay one step ahead of the SS and Hilter’s paranoia.
Cece Bell’s graphic novel/autobiography tells of her experience of learning to function in the hearing world after meningitis leaves her hearing impaired. She shares her challenges and disappointments as well as her victories. Cece creates an alter ego “El Deafo.” El Deafo is a superhero, and as El Deafo Cece imagines herself conquering some of the obstacles that are presented to her. El Deafo is humorous and inspiring.
This graphic novel portrays the beginnings of Congressman John Lewis’s involvement in the civil rights movement. Congressman Lewis becomes a key figure in organizing and leading peaceful demonstrations from the desegregation of schools to lunch counter sit-ins, March Book One shares his story. (This is the first book of a trilogy.)
Catrina’s family is moving from sunny Southern California to Bahia de la Luna because it will be a better place for her little sister Maya to live. Maya has Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Maya is obsessed with ghosts, and on their first day in Bahia de la Luna, the girls run into Carlos, who gives local ghost tours. He tells the girls all about the ghosts in the community and later about the big Dia de Los Muertos celebration in November. Cat wants nothing to do with the ghosts or Carlos. Cat gets a little freaked out when it comes to ghosts and anything scary. It’s hard enough to move away from your best friends and get used to a new house, new town, and new school. It’s hard enough to make new friends, but it is too much for Cat to have to deal with a town full of spirits and a little sister who seeks them out.
Astrid and Nicole have been best friends forever, but their friendship hits a bumpy road during the summer before middle school. After Astrid’s mom takes the girls to watch Portland’s roller derby team, the Rose City Rollers, play the Oregon City Rollergirls, Astrid decides she wants to sign up for Roller Derby Summer Camp with Nicole. Astrid dreams of becoming a Rose City Roller, while Nicole has no interest what so ever in roller derby. Nicole plans to attend summer dance camp. Astrid feels abandoned by Nicole and her feelings become even more conflicted when she finds out that her enemy, mean girl Rachel, will be spending more time with Nicole at dance camp. Astrid deceives her mom who believes that Nicole and Astrid will be attending Roller Derby Summer Camp together, and Nicole’s mom will be picking up the girls after camp. But Astrid attends roller derby camp on her own and walks home every day by herself. Astrid finds out that Roller Derby Summer Camp is a lot of hard work especially if you don’t know how to skate. Astrid discovers deceiving her mom is equally as hard.
Sunshine Lewin, or Sunny as she is known to her family, is sent to spend the summer in Florida with her grandfather. Sunny’s vision of trips to Disney World and hanging out with other kids at the pool changes quickly when she discovers that her grandfather lives in a retirement community. There aren’t many kids around and the “big plans” her grandfather has for her each day include trips to the bank and the grocery store. Sunny is facing a summer of complete boredom. Through flashbacks, we learn that Sunny has been sent to her grandfather’s while her parents deal with a family issue. As the title suggests, Sunny does her best to keep her sunny side up and enjoy her exile in Florida.
Yang weaves three seemingly different tales of the Monkey King, of middle school student Jin Wang, and of Danny and his cousin Chin-Kee. The first storyline follows the Monkey King on his search for respect from the other gods. Jin Wang’s story follows the middleschooler’s struggle to fit in in a mostly white school. Danny’s story follows his continued embarrassment at the hands of his cousin Chin-Kee (portrayed as a harsh stereotype) who visits him yearly from China. All tales are told with humor; the art work will keep you visually engaged, and the ending is too good to miss.