The Search, by Eric Heuvel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, 64 pages, $17.99, Ages 10-14, grades 5-6)
A Graphic Novel for Everyone
You are never too old to read a graphic novel and this is a great one to start with. Although it is a novel, it is historically accurate in relating what life was like during World War II for two young girls (one being Jewish), and a boy named Bob.
The story opens in current times when Esther, now living in the US, visits her son in The Netherlands. Her grandson meets Esther’s childhood friend Helene’s grandson and together they hear about Esther being hidden on a farm during the Second World War.
The story is a bit complex, with three generations of friends plus going back and forth in time to different countries on different continents, but the first two pages show all the people involved and is a godsend for adult readers who know the history. Younger readers, of course, will have no problem keeping people straight but may not be as familiar with the historical events. And The Search stars both young boys and young girls.
Of course, there is also a mystery involved: after all the title is The Search. Where is Bob - Esther and Helene’s childhood friend? Did he survive the war? Can the grandsons find him by using the internet?
A companion book to The Search is A Family Secret, also a graphic novel. Read more about the family secret in the next book review.
Caveat: This book was purchased for review.
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