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A Letter To Jo
Come face-to-face with the raging terror of World War II in this firsthand graphic novel adaptation of a Polish-American machine gunner's letter home.
As Leonard fights on the frontlines of World War II, memories of Josephine and home help keep him alive. As Josephine contends with life, family, and work in Cleveland, letters from Leonard sustain her. But official censorship forces him to leave out much of the most significant action he sees.
Finally, with the war coming to an end, Leonard is able to tell his full story. In a quietly beautiful letter to Josephine, Leonard writes of the loneliness he felt, the camaraderie he experienced, and the terrible violence he witnessed.
Now, Josephine and Leonard's grandson Joseph Sieracki has carefully researched the battles Leonard describes and expanded the letter into a moving tale of a young man's fears and bravery far from home. Brought to heart-wrenching life by the paintbrushes of Kelly Williams ( Creepy , Eerie ), A Letter to Jo is at once a tender love story and harrowing battlefield memoir.
As Leonard fights on the frontlines of World War II, memories of Josephine and home help keep him alive. As Josephine contends with life, family, and work in Cleveland, letters from Leonard sustain her. But official censorship forces him to leave out much of the most significant action he sees.
Finally, with the war coming to an end, Leonard is able to tell his full story. In a quietly beautiful letter to Josephine, Leonard writes of the loneliness he felt, the camaraderie he experienced, and the terrible violence he witnessed.
Now, Josephine and Leonard's grandson Joseph Sieracki has carefully researched the battles Leonard describes and expanded the letter into a moving tale of a young man's fears and bravery far from home. Brought to heart-wrenching life by the paintbrushes of Kelly Williams ( Creepy , Eerie ), A Letter to Jo is at once a tender love story and harrowing battlefield memoir.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
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149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 25, 2021
A letter to Jo is the “True story” of a man’s journey through war, to get back to his betrothed in America. The story is based on a letter sent from the soldier to his sweetheart after censorship had been lifted due to the end of the war. Whilst the characters in the graphic novel have largely been invented by the author to represent people that could have been with the soldier, the situations the soldier found himself in are accurate in that the author has researched battles and troop movements in the various areas the letter describes, at the time the letter indicates.
That’s all well and good, but how does it read? And how does it look? The story itself is – O.K. The confines of the letter don’t really allow for extremes or too much free reign on what happened to the soldier, so honestly, it was O.K. but it’s not going to keep you awake at night wanting to turn one more page. I thought the inclusion of the real letter in the back of the book was a nice touch, as were the photographs of the real people the book describes, and the artist's character sketches based on those photos.
The artwork is – good. I think. And it’s not easy to really decide. On the one hand, the battle sequences are rough – lines to depict flying bullets – a wash of colors, sometimes it’s hard to see any detail because that is what the picture is showing, the chaos of battle. So it works, but it also makes it hard to rave about the artwork. It says a lot that the artwork is the main draw here, the story itself lacks some action – somewhat, and were it not for the visuals backing the story up, I’m not sure the story could stand alone.
Nevertheless, it’s still a good combination, and the fact that this is a “true” story deserves some credibility.
Overall, I think this is worth 3 ⭐ ‘s out of 5.
That’s all well and good, but how does it read? And how does it look? The story itself is – O.K. The confines of the letter don’t really allow for extremes or too much free reign on what happened to the soldier, so honestly, it was O.K. but it’s not going to keep you awake at night wanting to turn one more page. I thought the inclusion of the real letter in the back of the book was a nice touch, as were the photographs of the real people the book describes, and the artist's character sketches based on those photos.
The artwork is – good. I think. And it’s not easy to really decide. On the one hand, the battle sequences are rough – lines to depict flying bullets – a wash of colors, sometimes it’s hard to see any detail because that is what the picture is showing, the chaos of battle. So it works, but it also makes it hard to rave about the artwork. It says a lot that the artwork is the main draw here, the story itself lacks some action – somewhat, and were it not for the visuals backing the story up, I’m not sure the story could stand alone.
Nevertheless, it’s still a good combination, and the fact that this is a “true” story deserves some credibility.
Overall, I think this is worth 3 ⭐ ‘s out of 5.
March 23, 2020
I realize every war story doesn't have to look like Joe Kubert...but I was still disappointed with the art.
August 24, 2020
Joseph Sieracki adapts his grandfather's letter home during World War II into a dark, bloody, moving graphic narrative. It's a brutal look at the traumatizing experience of war...but it's also a bit limited in that it's one man's experiences, so fairly barebones.
Sieracki attempts to flesh the story out with some fictionalized interactions between soldiers. They're fine, but less touching than the actual letter-based narration. The book is also hindered a bit by Kelly Williams' art - it's decent, but it's too Matt Kindt-esque. Sketchy and dark. Not that I want to see the real horrors of war, but the art sometimes felt like it was covering up the grimmest moments.
A Letter to Jo is ultimately a worthwhile, important read, but it needs to be mixed in with a fuller history of the war to be most impactful.
Sieracki attempts to flesh the story out with some fictionalized interactions between soldiers. They're fine, but less touching than the actual letter-based narration. The book is also hindered a bit by Kelly Williams' art - it's decent, but it's too Matt Kindt-esque. Sketchy and dark. Not that I want to see the real horrors of war, but the art sometimes felt like it was covering up the grimmest moments.
A Letter to Jo is ultimately a worthwhile, important read, but it needs to be mixed in with a fuller history of the war to be most impactful.
November 1, 2022
Compared to some historical graphic novels and war stories this felt a little light, it's a personal story that doesn't expand much beyond the individual. The art wasn't my favorite in style but worked reasonably for the story. My ideal historical graphic novels, even when I already know a good deal about the topic I feel like I learn more, and that didn't happen here. But if one isn't intimately familiar with the experience of the Second World War this could be a reasonable introduction.
January 21, 2020
LOVE.
Based on true events and a letter from Leonard to Jo, this graphic novel tells both a love story and a war story. It's a heartbreaking tale of war, loss, and the struggles of a WWII soldier, but also the love of two young people. Kelly's artwork is a wonderful complement to Joseph's words, both of which beautifully bring Leonard and Jo's story alive.
Based on true events and a letter from Leonard to Jo, this graphic novel tells both a love story and a war story. It's a heartbreaking tale of war, loss, and the struggles of a WWII soldier, but also the love of two young people. Kelly's artwork is a wonderful complement to Joseph's words, both of which beautifully bring Leonard and Jo's story alive.
December 30, 2022
This was lovely.
A Letter To Jo is a graphic novelisation of a letter written during World War II from a soldier to his high school sweetheart back home.
Leonard is a machine gunner who has been writing letters to his sweetheart, Josephine, throughout the war, but this letter is one he sent her towards the end of the war where it was allowed to go through uncensored (“loose lips sink ships”).
It tells the tales of what life was really like for him during the war.
Years later, Josephine shows their Grandson this letter and it is this that he uses as the basis of this book, which he fleshed out by researching the battles that his Grandfather had fought in. He begins the story with a foreword that describes his connection to his Grandfather, and then afterward we are gifted the bonus of a poem that Leonard had written, set to artwork, and we also see a copy of the original letter and a typed copy.
Really interesting to read this altogether, and so important so that we don’t forget what our elders went through.
We could learn so much if we stopped with all our modern day nonsense and read what our Grandparents and Great-Grandparents went through to give us the world we are ruining today.
A Letter To Jo is a graphic novelisation of a letter written during World War II from a soldier to his high school sweetheart back home.
Leonard is a machine gunner who has been writing letters to his sweetheart, Josephine, throughout the war, but this letter is one he sent her towards the end of the war where it was allowed to go through uncensored (“loose lips sink ships”).
It tells the tales of what life was really like for him during the war.
Years later, Josephine shows their Grandson this letter and it is this that he uses as the basis of this book, which he fleshed out by researching the battles that his Grandfather had fought in. He begins the story with a foreword that describes his connection to his Grandfather, and then afterward we are gifted the bonus of a poem that Leonard had written, set to artwork, and we also see a copy of the original letter and a typed copy.
Really interesting to read this altogether, and so important so that we don’t forget what our elders went through.
We could learn so much if we stopped with all our modern day nonsense and read what our Grandparents and Great-Grandparents went through to give us the world we are ruining today.
February 12, 2025
There's a lot to like in A LETTER TO JO - a graphic novel based around a real letter written toward the end of World War II by Joseph Sieracki's grandfather Len to his girlfriend/future-wife/future-grandmother-to-Joseph.
Reading about how Len's outlook on war evolved, how there were parts he enjoyed and made him feel successful, before the relentless darkness of it battered down his spirit, was quite affecting. The snippets of the soldiers together that Joseph Sieracki invented all feel a bit perfunctory however. The letter itself isn't long enough to merit a full graphic novel, so the inventions were necessary unless they wanted to publish as more a traditional 32-page comic, but I didn't feel much investment in those sequences - the grandfather standing up to racism in his unit felt a bit t00-good-to-be-true, for example, and took me out of the moment. But Sieracki knew his grandfather, so maybe it rang true to the man he knew?
The art is chaotic and largely effective at conveying the gritty, nastiness of wartime, but the characters are difficult to distinguish. I thought Len had been shot multiple times, and the battle sequences were often difficult to read, robbing the narrative of some emotional impact. Where was Len in this chaos?
Reading about how Len's outlook on war evolved, how there were parts he enjoyed and made him feel successful, before the relentless darkness of it battered down his spirit, was quite affecting. The snippets of the soldiers together that Joseph Sieracki invented all feel a bit perfunctory however. The letter itself isn't long enough to merit a full graphic novel, so the inventions were necessary unless they wanted to publish as more a traditional 32-page comic, but I didn't feel much investment in those sequences - the grandfather standing up to racism in his unit felt a bit t00-good-to-be-true, for example, and took me out of the moment. But Sieracki knew his grandfather, so maybe it rang true to the man he knew?
The art is chaotic and largely effective at conveying the gritty, nastiness of wartime, but the characters are difficult to distinguish. I thought Len had been shot multiple times, and the battle sequences were often difficult to read, robbing the narrative of some emotional impact. Where was Len in this chaos?
March 20, 2020
Scorsese said, “The most personal is the most creative.” This is true in spades for Sieracki’s story. I cannot think of a greater way to honor your family than by bringing their stories to life and sharing them with the world. The art by Kelly Williams is incredible and lends itself perfectly to the story Sieracki sets out to tell.
Unlike many war stories, we are not bogged down with the glorification of fire fights, but instead focus on the fire that keeps soldiers moving — the love that waits for them back home.
Great book, would definitely recommend.
Unlike many war stories, we are not bogged down with the glorification of fire fights, but instead focus on the fire that keeps soldiers moving — the love that waits for them back home.
Great book, would definitely recommend.
August 4, 2022
This is the personal story of the author's grandfather, as he was recruited as an 18-yo to fight in WW2. The story is constructed around a real letter that his grandfather sent his grandmother towards the end of the war.
Obviously this is gruesome and sad and terrible. The letter-perspective works really well, and the gaps were filled in sensibly and sensitivity.
I don't think this would be a good introduction to WW2 literature, but if you're already familiar with the broad strokes, then this is a very nice personal perspective.
Obviously this is gruesome and sad and terrible. The letter-perspective works really well, and the gaps were filled in sensibly and sensitivity.
I don't think this would be a good introduction to WW2 literature, but if you're already familiar with the broad strokes, then this is a very nice personal perspective.
May 26, 2023
In a quietly beautiful letter to Josephine, Leonard writes of the loneliness he felt, the camaraderie he experienced, and the terrible violence he witnessed. Now, Josephine and Leonard's grandson Joseph
Sieracki expands the letter into a moving tale of a young man's fears and bravery far from home.
This is a beautiful story told in graphic novel form. In addition there are original photographs of the people involved, the original letter and some absolutely stunning graphics, with an explanation on how they were created by the illustrator.
It is beautiful complete whole.
Sieracki expands the letter into a moving tale of a young man's fears and bravery far from home.
This is a beautiful story told in graphic novel form. In addition there are original photographs of the people involved, the original letter and some absolutely stunning graphics, with an explanation on how they were created by the illustrator.
It is beautiful complete whole.
March 22, 2021
I read this after watching the HBO's Band of Brothers TV series a few weeks ago. I felt like I got more out of this book having seen Band of Brothers. There were many similarities between the two work. I would recommend the same viewing/reading order for all readers of this book.
The arts inside were much more beautiful than the cover suggested, especially the art for the poetry section at the end of the book.
The arts inside were much more beautiful than the cover suggested, especially the art for the poetry section at the end of the book.
April 1, 2021
Not bad. It's a nice memoire of a Soldier's romance with the girl back home. It's well written and the art works. I did not think it was spectacular.
It was a little too much fairy tale to me. It made me think about my own times at war and waiting for the girl back home. I avoided temptation and pined away for her, but when came home she wasn't the same, and neither was I. There are people and experiences worth waiting for, but I think the young are often too clueless to know what those are and end up making the wrong choices.
It was a little too much fairy tale to me. It made me think about my own times at war and waiting for the girl back home. I avoided temptation and pined away for her, but when came home she wasn't the same, and neither was I. There are people and experiences worth waiting for, but I think the young are often too clueless to know what those are and end up making the wrong choices.
May 26, 2023
Absolutely brilliant.
I love this personalised tale from WW2. The artwork is stunning, the narrative engaging and the final sequence a true happy ending. Yes it's very short but that's no real critique in my opinion and this is a very personalised story so don't worry about the wider context of the war. The bonus content at the end is also a delight.
Best graphic novel I've read in quite some time.
I love this personalised tale from WW2. The artwork is stunning, the narrative engaging and the final sequence a true happy ending. Yes it's very short but that's no real critique in my opinion and this is a very personalised story so don't worry about the wider context of the war. The bonus content at the end is also a delight.
Best graphic novel I've read in quite some time.
December 12, 2020
This is an actual historical account made into a book. Sieracki takes some liberties with his grandfather's story in order to flesh out the story. He perhaps idealizes his grandfather as more woke than he likely was, but whatever—it doesn't detract from the story.
The art work really captures the chaos of battle. It borders on cartoony at times.
The art work really captures the chaos of battle. It borders on cartoony at times.
February 17, 2023
The artwork in this is stunning. It is grim and violent due to the nature of war, but it is also beautifully done. I was very impressed with all the pictures. The story itself is fascinating and meaningful. It's very sad, but I appreciate learning more from this account of true events. It was a moving story.
December 22, 2023
Spurred on by a letter written by his grandfather, the author completes his debut graphic novel denoting the struggles of war and the everlasting love of his grandparents' relationship. It provides a short biography to open plus the first page of the original handwritten letter, a typed full version with photographs and sketches at the end.
February 6, 2020
Great WW2 graphic novel which expertly uses a letter between the author’s grandparents to frame the story and give it a great human foundation
Amazingly illustrated by Kelly Williams whose work I am a huge fan of. I fell like this is his best work to date!
Amazingly illustrated by Kelly Williams whose work I am a huge fan of. I fell like this is his best work to date!
April 12, 2022
Darkness spread over us like ink,
Nothing to do but watch and think.
How long the night shall be,
Gets so dark you can hardly see.
Just sit and listen to noises of the night,
And try to control your thoughts and fright.
Nothing to do but watch and think.
How long the night shall be,
Gets so dark you can hardly see.
Just sit and listen to noises of the night,
And try to control your thoughts and fright.
January 18, 2020
A Letter to Jo
by Joseph Sieracki, Kelly Williams (Illustrations)
was the most inspiring graphic novel that I have ever read.
I would highly recommend !!!
by Joseph Sieracki, Kelly Williams (Illustrations)
was the most inspiring graphic novel that I have ever read.
I would highly recommend !!!
March 24, 2020
I didn’t love and I didn’t hate this graphic novel. The art was amazing, and the concept for the story was cool, but the story itself was flat.
March 27, 2020
Loved this book. I really recommend it
September 13, 2020
The precursor to a lifetime of pain.
October 19, 2020
A short retelling of one man's heroic fight during World War II. Based on a true story.
November 14, 2020
The story feels like it should have been longer and the characters are a little flat, though overall it's still a good read. The art is very good.
December 22, 2020
Cool art.
January 12, 2021
Very moving & well illustrated. Excellent graphic novel & one for the WW2 fan to read.
April 5, 2021
Letters from a World War II soldier in Europe to his fiancée at home. Mediocre art. I've read much better war comics, most notably Vietnam Journal by Don Lomax.
February 8, 2023
Felt a little light to be entirely immersive. The story is still touching though and is clearly close to the writer's heart. He handles the subject matter with care.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews