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mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
I received this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I have been interested in WWII stories since I was a little kid, so of course I had to request this graphic novel when I spotted it on Netgalley. A story about a woman who helps out in the ghetto and then decides to also help with saving kids. Holy wow, yes.
The story starts at the very beginning. We see Irena go to the ghetto, a terrible and horrible place, see her hand out food, talk to people, and then especially talk to the woman of a little boy. She is dying and she wants her son out of this horrible place. The wheels are now turning and we see Irena try to figure out if she should do this or not. Because believe me this is a decision that could impact not only her and the children… but also her work people. Everyone who read WWII stories know that not just the person doing the deeds is captured, it is often also people surrounding them. I loved that the author/illustrator showed the many emotions that went through Irena, see her try to figure out things.
I have to say I was definitely shocked by that event that happened just a bit after Irena made her decision. Poor kid.
I have been interested in WWII stories since I was a little kid, so of course I had to request this graphic novel when I spotted it on Netgalley. A story about a woman who helps out in the ghetto and then decides to also help with saving kids. Holy wow, yes.
The story starts at the very beginning. We see Irena go to the ghetto, a terrible and horrible place, see her hand out food, talk to people, and then especially talk to the woman of a little boy. She is dying and she wants her son out of this horrible place. The wheels are now turning and we see Irena try to figure out if she should do this or not. Because believe me this is a decision that could impact not only her and the children… but also her work people. Everyone who read WWII stories know that not just the person doing the deeds is captured, it is often also people surrounding them. I loved that the author/illustrator showed the many emotions that went through Irena, see her try to figure out things.
I have to say I was definitely shocked by that event that happened just a bit after Irena made her decision. Poor kid.
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
'Irena Book One: Wartime Ghetto' by Jean-David Morvan and Severine Trefouel with art by David Evrard is story based on truth about Irena Sedlerowa, a social worker in the Warsaw Ghetto in the early 1940s.
Irena Sendlerowa was a social worker in one of the worst possible places. She tried to battle disease and hunger. When a dying mother gives Irena her son, Irena is not sure what to do. When the child dies, she knows she must do something. She joins a network of people dedicated to smuggling children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. They use ingenious methods, like giving the children doses of alcohol to keep them quiet and smuggling them out in trucks full of bricks. Irena gives them new names, but keeps track of their old ones to give back to them some day. Because of her actions, she was imprisoned and tortured, but managed to save around 2500 Jewish children.
I really liked this story of someone who decides they can't just sit by, and how that ripples into the kind of numbers that were achieved. The art is really good too, but it's a bit cartoonish looking. It makes it a bit odd to see this character being tortured pretty brutally, but I like the art and the color scheme used.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Irena Sendlerowa was a social worker in one of the worst possible places. She tried to battle disease and hunger. When a dying mother gives Irena her son, Irena is not sure what to do. When the child dies, she knows she must do something. She joins a network of people dedicated to smuggling children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. They use ingenious methods, like giving the children doses of alcohol to keep them quiet and smuggling them out in trucks full of bricks. Irena gives them new names, but keeps track of their old ones to give back to them some day. Because of her actions, she was imprisoned and tortured, but managed to save around 2500 Jewish children.
I really liked this story of someone who decides they can't just sit by, and how that ripples into the kind of numbers that were achieved. The art is really good too, but it's a bit cartoonish looking. It makes it a bit odd to see this character being tortured pretty brutally, but I like the art and the color scheme used.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
pozeraczpapieru's review against another edition
5.0
Czapki z głów dla twórców serii komiksów o Irenie Sendlerowej!
Nie spodziewałabym się, że za pomocą prostych obrazków i niewielkiej ilości tekstu można przekazać tak poruszającą historię i oddać przy tym tak wiele emocji.
Sięgając po ten komiks myślałam, że jest on skierowany raczej do dzieci, aby w prosty sposób przekazać im ten trudny fragment polskiej historii. Po przeczytaniu pierwszego tomu stwierdzam, że zdecydowanie nie jest on przeznaczony dla dzieci, raczej dla młodzieży czy nawet dorosłych.
Jestem zachwycona i niesamowicie wzruszona tym jak autorzy przedstawili wydarzenia z czasów drugiej wojny światowej. Komiks jest bardzo dynamiczny, opiewa o wiele przeskoków czasowych, a mimo to wszystko jest bardzo płynne i spójne. Z pewnością sięgnę po kolejne tomy!
Nie spodziewałabym się, że za pomocą prostych obrazków i niewielkiej ilości tekstu można przekazać tak poruszającą historię i oddać przy tym tak wiele emocji.
Sięgając po ten komiks myślałam, że jest on skierowany raczej do dzieci, aby w prosty sposób przekazać im ten trudny fragment polskiej historii. Po przeczytaniu pierwszego tomu stwierdzam, że zdecydowanie nie jest on przeznaczony dla dzieci, raczej dla młodzieży czy nawet dorosłych.
Jestem zachwycona i niesamowicie wzruszona tym jak autorzy przedstawili wydarzenia z czasów drugiej wojny światowej. Komiks jest bardzo dynamiczny, opiewa o wiele przeskoków czasowych, a mimo to wszystko jest bardzo płynne i spójne. Z pewnością sięgnę po kolejne tomy!
jola_g's review against another edition
4.0
Irena Sendler was a Polish woman who saved 2,500 Jewish children from Warsaw ghetto during the Second World War. How plain this sentence sounds compared to what she actually did.
Jean-David Morvan, a French comics author, read an article about Irena Sendler. It inspired him to write a three volume comic, based on her biography. A team joined him: Séverine Tréfouël, David Evrard and Walter. They all deserve standing ovation. You can see that first they felt the story deep in their hearts and then put it on paper.
When you write a book about a person like Irena Sendler, it is probably easy to fall into the trap of hagiography and present her as totally speckless and celestial. Fortunately, Sendler depicted by French authors, is very human, wearing her funny hat, fighting with doubts. Saving Jews was regarded a serious crime by the Nazi and being detected would have been equal to death sentence. Not only for Irena Sendler, but also for people who helped her, so you can imagine how difficult her decisions were.
It takes a lot of sensitivity and tact to explore a traumatic subject with warmth and a bit of delicate humour. This book has it all. Chubby Irena sometimes made me think of Moominmamma. There is a little adorable hero not mentioned even once either in speech bubbles or in narrator’s comments: a little white dog. He makes the story even more touching.
Unfortunately, I can’t applaud the Polish editor, Timof i cisi wspólnicy. The translation sounds weird at times and, to my dismay, there is a typo on the back cover. Unfortunately, the note about ‘Irena’ on their website is a mess too. I hope the second and third volume, which I look forward to, will be edited with more respect for readers.
‘Irena’ is recommended for children but I would be cautious. The torture scene still haunts me. I think the minimum age is 14-16, depending on emotional maturity.
It seems that the words ‘ghetto’ and ‘comic’ are like antonyms but Jean-David Morvan, Séverine Tréfouël, David Evrard and Walter proved that a graphic novel can tackle even the most emotionally wrenching topics. I think nothing requires as much tact and subtlety as describing death of a child and the way it’s shown in ‘Irena’ truly moved me.
Jean-David Morvan, a French comics author, read an article about Irena Sendler. It inspired him to write a three volume comic, based on her biography. A team joined him: Séverine Tréfouël, David Evrard and Walter. They all deserve standing ovation. You can see that first they felt the story deep in their hearts and then put it on paper.
When you write a book about a person like Irena Sendler, it is probably easy to fall into the trap of hagiography and present her as totally speckless and celestial. Fortunately, Sendler depicted by French authors, is very human, wearing her funny hat, fighting with doubts. Saving Jews was regarded a serious crime by the Nazi and being detected would have been equal to death sentence. Not only for Irena Sendler, but also for people who helped her, so you can imagine how difficult her decisions were.
It takes a lot of sensitivity and tact to explore a traumatic subject with warmth and a bit of delicate humour. This book has it all. Chubby Irena sometimes made me think of Moominmamma. There is a little adorable hero not mentioned even once either in speech bubbles or in narrator’s comments: a little white dog. He makes the story even more touching.
Unfortunately, I can’t applaud the Polish editor, Timof i cisi wspólnicy. The translation sounds weird at times and, to my dismay, there is a typo on the back cover. Unfortunately, the note about ‘Irena’ on their website is a mess too. I hope the second and third volume, which I look forward to, will be edited with more respect for readers.
‘Irena’ is recommended for children but I would be cautious. The torture scene still haunts me. I think the minimum age is 14-16, depending on emotional maturity.
It seems that the words ‘ghetto’ and ‘comic’ are like antonyms but Jean-David Morvan, Séverine Tréfouël, David Evrard and Walter proved that a graphic novel can tackle even the most emotionally wrenching topics. I think nothing requires as much tact and subtlety as describing death of a child and the way it’s shown in ‘Irena’ truly moved me.
bet27's review against another edition
3.0
I recently discovered Irena's story through several nonfiction books and was intrigued to see a children's graphic version. While the graphic story is diluted for kids, I was surprised by how many facts the author does share. Not my preferred style of illustration, but it will appeal to children and I appreciated that, while remaining G-rated, they don't shy away from showing the hardships of the ghetto. Definitely a decent intro to Irena's story for kids, but know it's well worth reading more substantial books about her, as well.
themartinmama's review against another edition
5.0
Started reading with my middle child and it wasn't long before I was quietly sobbing away. I don't often turn to graphic novels and forget how art can often say things words cannot. Immediately put the next two on hold.
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
5.0
Irena is the story of a Polish social worker in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. After witnessing the abuse children in the ghetto faced Irena decided to do something about it, she started sneaking children out. In the end it is estimated she saved 2,500 children.
I didn't know Irena's story before hand, but I'm glad I do now. This is a good book for those who love WW II books but are looking for a story they might not have heard before. The art was well drawn and added to the depth of the story.
I didn't know Irena's story before hand, but I'm glad I do now. This is a good book for those who love WW II books but are looking for a story they might not have heard before. The art was well drawn and added to the depth of the story.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
There is a startling line spoken by one of the women in the warsaw ghetto, that resonates with what is going on in the States, currently, with our insane president.
We have to make sure what happened, during the holocaust, never happens again. But we have to be aware at how easy it was to boil the frog, changing things bit by bit, until the jews found themselves regulated to living in an enclosed ghetto.
This is the story of one of the people who tried to change things, by saving the children from the ghetto, one by one.
There was a real Irene, and this story is based on her life.
This is a very accessible story of her life. There is violence, but it happens just out of view. When a young boy is shot, you don't see him die, so much as see his ghost greeting all those who have left him.
This is only the first book of her story. I look forward to reading the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
A yearago, I would never have considered the way we are living as "normal" But everyone seems to accept it now.
We have to make sure what happened, during the holocaust, never happens again. But we have to be aware at how easy it was to boil the frog, changing things bit by bit, until the jews found themselves regulated to living in an enclosed ghetto.
This is the story of one of the people who tried to change things, by saving the children from the ghetto, one by one.
There was a real Irene, and this story is based on her life.
This is a very accessible story of her life. There is violence, but it happens just out of view. When a young boy is shot, you don't see him die, so much as see his ghost greeting all those who have left him.
This is only the first book of her story. I look forward to reading the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.