Scholastic Australia
Imprint: SCHOLASTIC LTD UK
Author:Lantos, Peter
ISBN: 9781761299643
RRP: $23.95
One doesn’t often read a graphic novel that is autobiographical. I think Raymond Briggs’ is the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but this one by Holocaust survivor and British scientist Peter Lantos BEM FMedSci is an example of how powerful this format can be.
While it deals with an episode of history that is both terrifying and confronting, the format and the narrative from a child’s perspective means it is less so for younger readers, while still delivering factual information.
Peter Lantos, a Hungarian Jew, was 5 years old when he and his parents were deported to Bergen-Belsen, where his father subsequently died. Through many adverse and frightening situations, Peter and his mother survived Belsen, and while they were liberated by the US Army, they were, by that time, in Magdeburg which became Soviet occupied territory.
So they needed to escape again and found themselves home in Hungary, albeit missing many in their family. Their eventual recovery back to some kind of normality followed, only to be disrupted again by the Soviets moving into Hungary as well. For Peter, moving to Britain to pursue his medical career was his cue to leave behind the new tyranny in his homeland.
What a story, what a history, what tenacity and resilience this man has shown. And young readers will be just as inspired by the telling of it as I was. The subdued tones of the graphic illustrations by Victoria Stebleva create a calming addition to the unfolding of Peter’s narrative, so that while the readers will be able to absorb and comprehend the enormity of the situation, the shocking horror of it is somewhat sublimated.
This not only makes for excellent reading an understanding of the impact of the Holocaust, that lingers today (and is being repeated around the world) for younger readers but would make for an excellent read-around-your-topic for secondary history students. I give it a 5 ✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️ rating.
May peace prevail in all corners of our troubled world.
Just So Stories 
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