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Catherine
Catherine's War
At the Sèvres Children’s Home outside Paris, Rachel Cohen has discovered her passion—photography. Although she hasn’t heard from her parents in months, she loves the people at her school, adores capturing what she sees in pictures, and tries not to worry too much about Hitler’s war. But as France buckles under the Nazi regime, danger closes in, and Rachel must change her name and go into hiding.
As Catherine Colin, Rachel Cohen is faced with leaving the Sèvres Home—and the friends she made there—behind. But with her beautiful camera, Catherine possesses an object with the power to remember. For the rest of the war, Catherine bears witness to her own journey, and to the countless heroes whose courage and generosity saved the lives of many, including her own.
Based on the author’s mother’s own experiences as a hidden child in France during World War II.
Includes a map and photographs of the real Catherine and her wartime experiences, as well as an interview with author Julia Billet.
As Catherine Colin, Rachel Cohen is faced with leaving the Sèvres Home—and the friends she made there—behind. But with her beautiful camera, Catherine possesses an object with the power to remember. For the rest of the war, Catherine bears witness to her own journey, and to the countless heroes whose courage and generosity saved the lives of many, including her own.
Based on the author’s mother’s own experiences as a hidden child in France during World War II.
Includes a map and photographs of the real Catherine and her wartime experiences, as well as an interview with author Julia Billet.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2012
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1953 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 488 reviews
July 29, 2021
Such a beautiful story. The backdrop of WW II and the atrocities being committed against those considered "other" make Catherine's story glow in contrast. This made me think of White Bird. Both books show the kindness of strangers in helping young Jewish children remain hidden during the occupation. In addition to the photography angle, I also loved the glimpse of the resistance fighters that we see when Catherine stays with a wife of one of the fighters. There are so many beautiful moments captured by Catherine's Rolleiflex. Readers will learn some photography tips in addition to witnessing the many place Catherine is given shelter. Includes more information about the true story of Penguin and Seagull and answers to questions from kids about WW II. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2020
Nazi resisters in occupied France try to help a Jewish girl stay one step ahead of the round-ups that might send her to the death camps. Rachel Cohen becomes Catherine Colin while coming of age and discovering who she might want to be on the other side of all the danger and stress.
Adapted from the author's novel, which was based on the life of her mother, this graphic novel is pretty engaging despite some occasional awkwardness in execution. The end matter is particularly interesting as it has photos and more information about the mother and real people depicted in the story.
Adapted from the author's novel, which was based on the life of her mother, this graphic novel is pretty engaging despite some occasional awkwardness in execution. The end matter is particularly interesting as it has photos and more information about the mother and real people depicted in the story.
August 20, 2022
4.5⭐
✨ "It's a story that reminds us that even when the wolves are howling death at your door, there are women and men who are still faithful to mankind." — author's note
I get so emotional when reading anything about WWII and this graphic novel was no different. The story focuses on a young Jewish girl who has to keep fleeing multiple homes during the Nazi occupation in France. Being literate, she also teaches the younger kids to read and write as well as look out for them. An avid photographer, she continues to take pictures throughout her journey, turning fleeting moments into forever.
I loved how this book sheds light on the unsung heroes who risked their lives to help Jewish children. Other parts that stuck out for me include a German soldier who helped tip everyone off before the Germans came to round them up, women who were punished after the liberation of Paris for being involved with German soldiers, and sweet little Alice who was an absolute gem.
Some might understandably find this story over-simplistic, but keep in mind that this is a graphic novel adapted from a French novel.
I was teary throughout this entire book. What a beautiful and memorable read!
✨ "It's a story that reminds us that even when the wolves are howling death at your door, there are women and men who are still faithful to mankind." — author's note
I get so emotional when reading anything about WWII and this graphic novel was no different. The story focuses on a young Jewish girl who has to keep fleeing multiple homes during the Nazi occupation in France. Being literate, she also teaches the younger kids to read and write as well as look out for them. An avid photographer, she continues to take pictures throughout her journey, turning fleeting moments into forever.
I loved how this book sheds light on the unsung heroes who risked their lives to help Jewish children. Other parts that stuck out for me include a German soldier who helped tip everyone off before the Germans came to round them up, women who were punished after the liberation of Paris for being involved with German soldiers, and sweet little Alice who was an absolute gem.
Some might understandably find this story over-simplistic, but keep in mind that this is a graphic novel adapted from a French novel.
I was teary throughout this entire book. What a beautiful and memorable read!
February 21, 2025
Būt un palikt cilvēkam jebkādos apstākļos - tas varētu būt viens no grūtākajiem izaicinājumiem, kāds var tikt piespēlēts. Taču vieglāk to panest kļūst tad, ja fotokameras objektīvu pavēršam ne tikai uz citiem, bet arī paši uz sevi.
September 1, 2021
La grande (e terribile) Storia in un libro a fumetti non solo per ragazzi
Pubblicato in Francia nel 2017 e tradotto in Italia l’anno successivo per Mondadori, La guerra di Catherine è un libro per ragazzi che offre una lettura molto interessante e di gran pregio anche agli adulti. Le autrici, le francesi Julia Billet (1962) e Claire Fauvel (1988), rispettivamente scrittrice e illustratrice dell’opera, hanno firmato un romanzo a fumetti (o graphic novel, come si usa dire oggi)...
La mia recensione sulla rivista letteraria "L'Ottavo": https://www.lottavo.it/2021/09/12932/
Pubblicato in Francia nel 2017 e tradotto in Italia l’anno successivo per Mondadori, La guerra di Catherine è un libro per ragazzi che offre una lettura molto interessante e di gran pregio anche agli adulti. Le autrici, le francesi Julia Billet (1962) e Claire Fauvel (1988), rispettivamente scrittrice e illustratrice dell’opera, hanno firmato un romanzo a fumetti (o graphic novel, come si usa dire oggi)...
La mia recensione sulla rivista letteraria "L'Ottavo": https://www.lottavo.it/2021/09/12932/
December 26, 2018
Reseña completa: http://elcaosliterario.blogspot.com/2...
Pese a no gustarme las historias ambientadas en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el enfoque de la autora y la visión poco habitual del conflicto logró convencerme. Ha sido una lectura muy entretenida.
La protagonista crece y gana confianza en sí misma a lo largo de esta historia. Con su cámara de fotos captura aquellos momentos clave de su lucha por la supervivencia de la mano de aquellas personas que conoce y la ayudan. A través de sus ojos descubrimos un testimonio de aquellos años marcados por las privaciones, la soledad y el temor.
Los temas de esta novela son bastante duros pero está enfocada desde una perspectiva positiva: esperanza, generosidad y solidaridad entre otros muchos valores son la clave de esta obra.
Los dibujos son sencillos y bastante amables pese a tratar este tema tan duro, muy acordes con el mensaje de superación que intenta transmitirse con esta novela.
En resumen: una novela gráfica inspirada en una historia real que transmite un mensaje de esperanza, solidaridad y coraje que resulta muy efectivo.
Pese a no gustarme las historias ambientadas en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el enfoque de la autora y la visión poco habitual del conflicto logró convencerme. Ha sido una lectura muy entretenida.
La protagonista crece y gana confianza en sí misma a lo largo de esta historia. Con su cámara de fotos captura aquellos momentos clave de su lucha por la supervivencia de la mano de aquellas personas que conoce y la ayudan. A través de sus ojos descubrimos un testimonio de aquellos años marcados por las privaciones, la soledad y el temor.
Los temas de esta novela son bastante duros pero está enfocada desde una perspectiva positiva: esperanza, generosidad y solidaridad entre otros muchos valores son la clave de esta obra.
Los dibujos son sencillos y bastante amables pese a tratar este tema tan duro, muy acordes con el mensaje de superación que intenta transmitirse con esta novela.
En resumen: una novela gráfica inspirada en una historia real que transmite un mensaje de esperanza, solidaridad y coraje que resulta muy efectivo.
May 17, 2021
Quick unedited thoughts
The story is informative and the art is stunning. Claire Fauvel did an excellent job with the illustrations. Billet tells a story that is frustrating, haunting and hopeful.
I highly recommend to everyone.
I’m so pleased I didn’t pass in this book.
Adults and especially children being so brave. People looking after one another in a time of horror and uncertainty.
The story is informative and the art is stunning. Claire Fauvel did an excellent job with the illustrations. Billet tells a story that is frustrating, haunting and hopeful.
I highly recommend to everyone.
I’m so pleased I didn’t pass in this book.
Adults and especially children being so brave. People looking after one another in a time of horror and uncertainty.
July 6, 2025
Vizuāli šis ļoti skaists darbs un, kā ierasts izdevniecībai "Liels un mazs", arī taustei ļoti patīkama grāmata uz kvalitatīva papīra. Šādas grāmatas gribas ņemt rokās ne reizi vien.
Plašāk blogā: https://lalksne.blogspot.com/2025/06/...
Plašāk blogā: https://lalksne.blogspot.com/2025/06/...
March 4, 2020
**Contains Spoilers**
It's 1942 and Rachel Cohen, a Jewish teen, has been enrolled in the progressive Sèvres Children's Home just outside Paris for four months. It's also been months since she heard anything from her parents and has no idea where they are or what may have happened to them. Luckily, she loves being part of Sèvres, and is convinced that the kind husband and wife who run it, Penguin and Seagull, are part of the French resistance. Thanks to Penguin, Rachel has found an interest in and has a talent for taking photographs and he has lent her a Rolleiflex camera, and has even taught her how to develop the photos she takes.
But as the Nazi stronghold in France tighteneds, and Jews are required to wear yellow stars, the heads of Sèvres refuse to force that on their Jewish students. Instead, the students are asked to change their names to ones that are more Christian sounding and are given false identity papers. Rachel becomes Catherine Colin.
But when the Nazis begin rounding up Jews, it becomes clear that Sèvres is no longer safe for its Jewish students, even with false papers, and plans are made for the students to be spread around France for their safety. Catherine alias Rachel is sent to a convent in Riom with a younger student named Alice, but not before she is gifted the school's precious Rolleiflex camera by Seagull, who tells her to take photos of everything she sees as testimony after the war.
In Riom, Catherine is forced to eat pork, take catechism classes and communion in order to keep her cover. Taking photos proves to be the thing that helps her through. Then, in town to get her photos developed, she meets Étienne, who lets her use his darkroom. Catherine and Étienne are strongly attracted to each other, but when the convent is reported to the Nazis, it is time for Catherine and Alice to move on.
Over the course of the Nazi occupation of France, Catherine and Alice are sent to a small farm in Limoges, then an orphanage in the Pyrenees, where she and Alice go their separate ways, and finally to another small farm. But when France is finally liberated by the Allies, Catherine returns to Paris, where she hopes to find her parents. Instead she finds their apartment trashed and no information about what happened to them. But she is able to reconnect with Seagull, Penguin, and Alice. In 1945, she is finally able to become Rachel Cohen again. Rachel now finds there is a great deal of interest in the photographs she had taken all through her travels during the Nazi occupation and is offered a show in an art gallery. And finally, she and Étienne also reconnect, and yes, they eventually marry and move to the United States.
Catherine's War is based on the real life experiences of the author's mother as a Jewish teen in France during WWII. It is a powerful coming of age story that interrogates questions of identity during a time of crisis, when who one is was all that the Nazis needed to arrest and send you away, often never to be heard from again, like Rachel's parents.
This is one of the best graphic novels I've read in a while. The story's text is clear, straightforward, and succinct, thanks to the excellent translation from the French by Ivanka Hahnenberger. Text and panels harmonize completely, making Rachel's story easy to follow despite so many characters and places. In her ink and watercolor panels, artist Claire Fauvel captures the differing emotions of the characters - fear, anger, happiness, loneliness, kindness - remarkably well, so that nothing is missed and there is no ambiguity. She used a palette of subtle dark grays, blues, and browns, which touches of brighter colors throughout. These dark colors reflect the dark times in which the story takes place.
When I was in college and living in the East Village in the early 1980s, I used to have an old Minolta SRT 101, that I absolutely adored. I also had a pen and ink drawing of it with the words "It's All in the Focus" written in the lens that a friend made for me. I learned a lot about life through my camera's lens, especially when the Aids crisis hit the village so hard then. For me, there is no question as to the power of art to bear witness and convey truth. I think this idea is brought to bear in an important conversation between Rachel and Étienne. He prefers portrait and landscapes while Rachel prefers more candid, in-the-moment daily life shots. The question becomes whose camera tells the greatest truth or do they both, but in different ways? Something to think about.
Back matter includes a map of Rachel's travels between 1942 and 1945, as well as some of the real photos taken by the author's mother, Tamo Cohen. There are also four pages of questions from readers with the author's answers.
Catherine's War is a story, as Julia Billet writes, "that reminds us that even when the wolves are howling death at your door, there are women and men who are still faithful to mankind." So, while this could be classified as a Holocaust story, it is also a resistance/survivor story. Either way, it is a graphic novel not to be missed.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
It's 1942 and Rachel Cohen, a Jewish teen, has been enrolled in the progressive Sèvres Children's Home just outside Paris for four months. It's also been months since she heard anything from her parents and has no idea where they are or what may have happened to them. Luckily, she loves being part of Sèvres, and is convinced that the kind husband and wife who run it, Penguin and Seagull, are part of the French resistance. Thanks to Penguin, Rachel has found an interest in and has a talent for taking photographs and he has lent her a Rolleiflex camera, and has even taught her how to develop the photos she takes.
But as the Nazi stronghold in France tighteneds, and Jews are required to wear yellow stars, the heads of Sèvres refuse to force that on their Jewish students. Instead, the students are asked to change their names to ones that are more Christian sounding and are given false identity papers. Rachel becomes Catherine Colin.
But when the Nazis begin rounding up Jews, it becomes clear that Sèvres is no longer safe for its Jewish students, even with false papers, and plans are made for the students to be spread around France for their safety. Catherine alias Rachel is sent to a convent in Riom with a younger student named Alice, but not before she is gifted the school's precious Rolleiflex camera by Seagull, who tells her to take photos of everything she sees as testimony after the war.
In Riom, Catherine is forced to eat pork, take catechism classes and communion in order to keep her cover. Taking photos proves to be the thing that helps her through. Then, in town to get her photos developed, she meets Étienne, who lets her use his darkroom. Catherine and Étienne are strongly attracted to each other, but when the convent is reported to the Nazis, it is time for Catherine and Alice to move on.
Over the course of the Nazi occupation of France, Catherine and Alice are sent to a small farm in Limoges, then an orphanage in the Pyrenees, where she and Alice go their separate ways, and finally to another small farm. But when France is finally liberated by the Allies, Catherine returns to Paris, where she hopes to find her parents. Instead she finds their apartment trashed and no information about what happened to them. But she is able to reconnect with Seagull, Penguin, and Alice. In 1945, she is finally able to become Rachel Cohen again. Rachel now finds there is a great deal of interest in the photographs she had taken all through her travels during the Nazi occupation and is offered a show in an art gallery. And finally, she and Étienne also reconnect, and yes, they eventually marry and move to the United States.
Catherine's War is based on the real life experiences of the author's mother as a Jewish teen in France during WWII. It is a powerful coming of age story that interrogates questions of identity during a time of crisis, when who one is was all that the Nazis needed to arrest and send you away, often never to be heard from again, like Rachel's parents.
This is one of the best graphic novels I've read in a while. The story's text is clear, straightforward, and succinct, thanks to the excellent translation from the French by Ivanka Hahnenberger. Text and panels harmonize completely, making Rachel's story easy to follow despite so many characters and places. In her ink and watercolor panels, artist Claire Fauvel captures the differing emotions of the characters - fear, anger, happiness, loneliness, kindness - remarkably well, so that nothing is missed and there is no ambiguity. She used a palette of subtle dark grays, blues, and browns, which touches of brighter colors throughout. These dark colors reflect the dark times in which the story takes place.
When I was in college and living in the East Village in the early 1980s, I used to have an old Minolta SRT 101, that I absolutely adored. I also had a pen and ink drawing of it with the words "It's All in the Focus" written in the lens that a friend made for me. I learned a lot about life through my camera's lens, especially when the Aids crisis hit the village so hard then. For me, there is no question as to the power of art to bear witness and convey truth. I think this idea is brought to bear in an important conversation between Rachel and Étienne. He prefers portrait and landscapes while Rachel prefers more candid, in-the-moment daily life shots. The question becomes whose camera tells the greatest truth or do they both, but in different ways? Something to think about.
Back matter includes a map of Rachel's travels between 1942 and 1945, as well as some of the real photos taken by the author's mother, Tamo Cohen. There are also four pages of questions from readers with the author's answers.
Catherine's War is a story, as Julia Billet writes, "that reminds us that even when the wolves are howling death at your door, there are women and men who are still faithful to mankind." So, while this could be classified as a Holocaust story, it is also a resistance/survivor story. Either way, it is a graphic novel not to be missed.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
April 14, 2024
Representation: Jewish characters
Trigger warnings: War themes, World War II, death of parents mentioned, displacement, antisemitism
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
What a surprise. I never heard of this author before but I saw her novel in the library. Unfortunately, I missed out on this one for the first time, but not the second. I thought Catherine's War would be a quick read, and I was right, but it defied my expectations. When I picked it up, read and finished Catherine's War, it was pleasantly enjoyable.
It starts with the first character I see, Rachel Cohen, living in a children's home outside Paris, where she has a hobby: photography. Despite the circumstances, the opening pages had nothing catastrophic happening. Everything looks hedonistic and perfect until Rachel alongside others had to escape to another place besides the children's home. All the antisemitism makes life harder for Rachel who found a school she could go to but here's the catch: Rachel must change her name to Catherine to avoid suspicion. The mood quickly changed from hopeful to sombre for the middle section of Catherine's War, but there's a positive note in the conclusion, which I liked. I thought Catherine's War would be a depressing read like another story I've read but shockingly, it isn't.
Trigger warnings: War themes, World War II, death of parents mentioned, displacement, antisemitism
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
What a surprise. I never heard of this author before but I saw her novel in the library. Unfortunately, I missed out on this one for the first time, but not the second. I thought Catherine's War would be a quick read, and I was right, but it defied my expectations. When I picked it up, read and finished Catherine's War, it was pleasantly enjoyable.
It starts with the first character I see, Rachel Cohen, living in a children's home outside Paris, where she has a hobby: photography. Despite the circumstances, the opening pages had nothing catastrophic happening. Everything looks hedonistic and perfect until Rachel alongside others had to escape to another place besides the children's home. All the antisemitism makes life harder for Rachel who found a school she could go to but here's the catch: Rachel must change her name to Catherine to avoid suspicion. The mood quickly changed from hopeful to sombre for the middle section of Catherine's War, but there's a positive note in the conclusion, which I liked. I thought Catherine's War would be a depressing read like another story I've read but shockingly, it isn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2022
Rachel Cohen is a student and resident of the progressive school known as the Sevres Children's Home, outside Paris. She is a passionate photographer, photographing all she sees. She loves seeing the world through her lens, capturing moments as they happen. Then her world is upended and she's forced to change her name and move from place to place for two years all because of her Jewish heritage. As she moves around to survive, she captures the struggles and triumphs of the people she meets along the way.
This is an interesting idea for a novel but the exectution isn't quite there. In the backmatter, the author explains this was adapted from a novel and I think it lost something in the adaptating. The story begins without explanation, assuming the reader knows or will stop to look up, the history of German occupied France and the Vichy government. I knew some of it but didn't know the story of Marshal Petain. The backmatter has a Q&A with the author where she explains the background history to the story, which really should have been included in the text. More of the story should have taken place before the war, as Rachel/Catherine first leaves Paris and comes to the Sevres Home. I also thought the end was rushed a bit and thought Catherine's post-war decision was odd. Another plot hole is This book is for younger readers than Anne Frank and so the author glosses over the Holocaust. Jews are being deported and who knows what happens to them. The author's note doesn't explain anything in great detail. Nothing about massacres, death camps, gas chambers, experiments or even what a concentration camp is!
Even with the problems, I enjoyed the story. I had to resist the urge to skip to the end to see what happened to everyone. Catherine is not a character I can relate to because I don't see the world with an artist's eye but I think young artists will enjoy her very much. I liked seeing the illustrations depict the photos she took and reading her description of the process of making a photograph and printing it. She's passionate about it and that shows in the text and illustrations. She has a real artist's eye. I also liked the issue of identity. Rachel struggles to choose and accept a new name, fearing she'll lose herself in the process. The story shows the young woman coming of age and finding her identity through her love of photography.
I loved the progressive school, the Sevres Home. It reminded me of the school in The Dragonfly Pool. I also loved the story of little Alice. How heartbreaking to be her or any child like her. She symbolizes the horror of the Holocaust for children- orphaned and alone, Alice doesn't relate to the other children. It takes Catherine's understanding, care and guidance. I think Catherine connects with Alice because she's in a similar situation. She hasn't seen or heard from her parents in a long time and she's trying not to think about what that means. Catherine's kindness and empathy really help develop Alice's character as much as one of Catherine's photos.
As the author notes, the real heroes are the adults who stood up to the unjust Nazi laws and helped save who knows how many children. Those adults put their own lives at risk and I was surprised none were caught and imprisoned/murdered. "Seagull", whose real name was Yvonne Haguenauer, earned the Medal of the Righteous. I can't imagine having that much courage.
It's important to note that the author/Catherine doesn't pass judgement on the ordinary French women who fell in love with German soldiers. Nor does she condemn all Germans as evil. There's one specific instance of a soldier who may have saved Catherine's life or at the very least didn't say anything when she pretty much gave herself away.
The illustrations are nice enough. I like the format because we get to see Catherine's photography as it happens and see the photos she captured. However, for that sort of thing, I would have preferred a more realistic illustration style. I liked the real photos in the back of the book showing the author's mother and some of the teachers at the children's home.
This is a good book for middle school students studying the Holocaust. I would have read it after reading the Diary of Anne Frank but if I'm going to choose one Holocaust graphic novel to share with my nieces, of course I'm going to choose Anne Frank, unless they read a regular edition of her diary in school and then I'd supplement their education with this novel that will appeal to them more because it has pictures.
This is an interesting idea for a novel but the exectution isn't quite there. In the backmatter, the author explains this was adapted from a novel and I think it lost something in the adaptating. The story begins without explanation, assuming the reader knows or will stop to look up, the history of German occupied France and the Vichy government. I knew some of it but didn't know the story of Marshal Petain. The backmatter has a Q&A with the author where she explains the background history to the story, which really should have been included in the text. More of the story should have taken place before the war, as Rachel/Catherine first leaves Paris and comes to the Sevres Home. I also thought the end was rushed a bit and thought Catherine's post-war decision was odd. Another plot hole is This book is for younger readers than Anne Frank and so the author glosses over the Holocaust. Jews are being deported and who knows what happens to them. The author's note doesn't explain anything in great detail. Nothing about massacres, death camps, gas chambers, experiments or even what a concentration camp is!
Even with the problems, I enjoyed the story. I had to resist the urge to skip to the end to see what happened to everyone. Catherine is not a character I can relate to because I don't see the world with an artist's eye but I think young artists will enjoy her very much. I liked seeing the illustrations depict the photos she took and reading her description of the process of making a photograph and printing it. She's passionate about it and that shows in the text and illustrations. She has a real artist's eye. I also liked the issue of identity. Rachel struggles to choose and accept a new name, fearing she'll lose herself in the process. The story shows the young woman coming of age and finding her identity through her love of photography.
I loved the progressive school, the Sevres Home. It reminded me of the school in The Dragonfly Pool. I also loved the story of little Alice. How heartbreaking to be her or any child like her. She symbolizes the horror of the Holocaust for children- orphaned and alone, Alice doesn't relate to the other children. It takes Catherine's understanding, care and guidance. I think Catherine connects with Alice because she's in a similar situation. She hasn't seen or heard from her parents in a long time and she's trying not to think about what that means. Catherine's kindness and empathy really help develop Alice's character as much as one of Catherine's photos.
As the author notes, the real heroes are the adults who stood up to the unjust Nazi laws and helped save who knows how many children. Those adults put their own lives at risk and I was surprised none were caught and imprisoned/murdered. "Seagull", whose real name was Yvonne Haguenauer, earned the Medal of the Righteous. I can't imagine having that much courage.
It's important to note that the author/Catherine doesn't pass judgement on the ordinary French women who fell in love with German soldiers. Nor does she condemn all Germans as evil. There's one specific instance of a soldier who may have saved Catherine's life or at the very least didn't say anything when she pretty much gave herself away.
The illustrations are nice enough. I like the format because we get to see Catherine's photography as it happens and see the photos she captured. However, for that sort of thing, I would have preferred a more realistic illustration style. I liked the real photos in the back of the book showing the author's mother and some of the teachers at the children's home.
This is a good book for middle school students studying the Holocaust. I would have read it after reading the Diary of Anne Frank but if I'm going to choose one Holocaust graphic novel to share with my nieces, of course I'm going to choose Anne Frank, unless they read a regular edition of her diary in school and then I'd supplement their education with this novel that will appeal to them more because it has pictures.
January 4, 2019
La guerra de Catherine es un cómic adaptado a una novela escrita por Julia Billet, una mujer cuya madre tuvo que pasar por el horror de ser una niña judía durante la ocupación nazi francesa. Así pues, Julia usa los conocimientos y experiencias de su madre para contar la historia de Rachel, una niña judía que vive en un internado tras la ocupación, que ama la fotografía y que tendrá que huir de ciudad en ciudad para evitar caer en las manos de los alemanes.
Así pues acompañamos a esta niña y conocemos su historia a través de su inseparable compañera, una cámara réflex con la que retrata a las personas que va conociendo y a los que le dan cobijo y que se terminan convirtiendo momentáneamente en su familia.
Es una historia, por la temática que trata, dotada de una gran sensibilidad y emoción y que en la mayor parte de sus páginas y diálogos te trasmite el horror de la guerra pero también la valentía y la fuerza interior de aquellos que tuvieron la suerte de sobrevivirla.
Bajo mi punto de vista, esta historia debería de ser una lectura obligatoria dentro del sistema educativo, pues recordar los errores del pasado nos puede ayudar a que estos jamás de repitan.
La guerra de Catherine es una historia preciosa, llena de fuerza, arte y emoción y que acompañada por estas maravillosas ilustraciones de Claire Fauvel, seguro que te llegará directa al corazón y a la memoria.
P.D: si sois curiosos podéis buscar información sobre las fotos reales en las que se basa esta novela, algunas de las cuales aparecen en las últimas páginas.
Así pues acompañamos a esta niña y conocemos su historia a través de su inseparable compañera, una cámara réflex con la que retrata a las personas que va conociendo y a los que le dan cobijo y que se terminan convirtiendo momentáneamente en su familia.
Es una historia, por la temática que trata, dotada de una gran sensibilidad y emoción y que en la mayor parte de sus páginas y diálogos te trasmite el horror de la guerra pero también la valentía y la fuerza interior de aquellos que tuvieron la suerte de sobrevivirla.
Bajo mi punto de vista, esta historia debería de ser una lectura obligatoria dentro del sistema educativo, pues recordar los errores del pasado nos puede ayudar a que estos jamás de repitan.
La guerra de Catherine es una historia preciosa, llena de fuerza, arte y emoción y que acompañada por estas maravillosas ilustraciones de Claire Fauvel, seguro que te llegará directa al corazón y a la memoria.
P.D: si sois curiosos podéis buscar información sobre las fotos reales en las que se basa esta novela, algunas de las cuales aparecen en las últimas páginas.
December 3, 2015
Plus qu'un témoignage sur la guerre, on découvre le parcours d'une jeune juive passionnée de photographie, jetée sur les routes d'un monde en pleine débâcle, et qui usera de son art pour raconter les heures les plus sombres du pays.
Cette aventure tétanisante, mais palpitante, a été inspirée de l'enfance de la mère de l'auteur, non sans quelques fioritures romanesques, et donne lieu à un récit sensible, lucide et poétique, écrit de façon remarquable, dans un style pur et élégant.
J'ai été sous le charme, du début à la fin, et j'ai adoré le couple formé par Goéland & Pingouin, de la Maison des Enfants de Sèvres, rue Croix-Bosset, les pionniers de la pédagogie nouvelle et expérimentale, façon Montessori. Cette lecture est juste magnifique et épatante.
Cette aventure tétanisante, mais palpitante, a été inspirée de l'enfance de la mère de l'auteur, non sans quelques fioritures romanesques, et donne lieu à un récit sensible, lucide et poétique, écrit de façon remarquable, dans un style pur et élégant.
J'ai été sous le charme, du début à la fin, et j'ai adoré le couple formé par Goéland & Pingouin, de la Maison des Enfants de Sèvres, rue Croix-Bosset, les pionniers de la pédagogie nouvelle et expérimentale, façon Montessori. Cette lecture est juste magnifique et épatante.
February 11, 2023
As long as you don’t wonder too much about where Rachel is getting all these rolls of film while secretly living in an orphanage during the war, you’ll love this hopeful story about a young Jewish girl forced to go from one place of hiding to another while living in the “free” zone of Vichy, France in 1942. She finds beauty wherever she can as she and her gifted camerawork capture humanity and promise of the expectation of the end of the war. Simple but beautifully rendered in rich, sketchy watercolor.
August 17, 2017
Magnifique!
November 6, 2019
Como siempre una historia de la 2ª Guerra Mundial que te llega a emocionar, te pierdes entre sus páginas y quieres saber las aventuras y desventuras de Catherine y su cámara de fotos, desde mi humilde punto de vista super recomendable.
September 3, 2022
5 stars. Wonderful. Beautiful historical fiction graphic novel about how the lives of Jewish children were uprooted-and forever changed- during World War II in France.
May 2, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel WW2 story about a Jewish young woman that uses her camera to find a way through the dark.
January 24, 2024
Una bella scoperta che non conoscevo affatto. La storia parla di Rachel, una giovane studentessa ebrea, che ama guardare il mondo attraverso la sua Rolleiflex, non se ne stacca mai. Ma con lo scoppio della Seconda guerra mondiale tutto cambia ed è costretta a fuggire e a cambiare identità. Diventa così Catherine che nonostante tutto, non si mai separerà mai dalla sua macchina fotografica. Inizia così il viaggio infinito fi una lunga testimonianza grazie ai suoi scatti: immagini che invita a non dimenticare la bellezza nascosta nel quotidiano e che celebra gli eroi anonimi, che mettono a rischio la propria vita per salvare quella degli altri. Un viaggio che l'aiuterà a crescere e che la trasformerà in una donna libera.
June 2, 2022
L'esperençadora i tràgica història d'una noia jueva durant la 2a Guerra Mundial. Graciés a la seva gran passió per la fotografia, veu el món a través d'una càmera Rolleiflex, amb la que documentara tot el que veu i recordarà tothom que es creua pel seu cami. Una novel•la gràfica bonica i tendre.
March 23, 2018
C’est drôle... Pendant les cours d’histoire, j’ai toujours détesté la partie sur les guerres mais dès que je lis des témoignages, des gens qui l’ont vécu comme ce fut le cas pour Rachel/Catherine, je suis complètement chamboulée.
Des libertés ont été prises, comme le dit l’autrice, mais elle a puisé dans l’histoire de sa mère et c’est très beau. J’ai beaucoup aimé le style, le personnage principal mais aussi ceux qui l’accompagnent dans cette France assiégée, ils sont tous attachants et courageux.
Et toute la symbolique de la photo m’a énormément plus.
Petit plus pour les dessins qui sont vraiment beaux.
Je m’éparpille mais c’est parce que j’ai vraiment aimé cette BD, si jamais vous n’aviez pas encore compris.
Des libertés ont été prises, comme le dit l’autrice, mais elle a puisé dans l’histoire de sa mère et c’est très beau. J’ai beaucoup aimé le style, le personnage principal mais aussi ceux qui l’accompagnent dans cette France assiégée, ils sont tous attachants et courageux.
Et toute la symbolique de la photo m’a énormément plus.
Petit plus pour les dessins qui sont vraiment beaux.
Je m’éparpille mais c’est parce que j’ai vraiment aimé cette BD, si jamais vous n’aviez pas encore compris.
March 29, 2020
3.5. I wish there was more here from before and after the war. But it's a beautifully drawn story - love the white outlining of the characters, overall it's such an aesthethically pleasing graphic novel. It's a story about hiding from the Nazis and based on a true story. I will definitely recommend this for older middle grade readers at the library.
April 13, 2020
WWII is never pleasant to read about but this take through Catherine's eyes is uplifting. A coming of age story set in a worst case scenario.
February 2, 2021
I found this graphic novel on the Batchelder Honor Award List from 2021. I listend to it on YouTube. It is a story orginally published in French about a Jewish teenager named Rachel, living in France during World War II. Rachel attends a boarding school and hasn't heard from her parents in months. As a way to distract her from her worries, she begins to take pictures of the world around her. But as Nazis begin to invade France, Rachel is given false identity papers in order to keep her safe. Her name is also changed to Catherine in order to hide her identity. Eventually she also leaves her school and moves to a different part of France. She continues to take pictures as a way for her to document her changed life. This is a true and sad story of the horros Jewish people faced during WW2. I would recommend this story to those in 5th grade and older because it requires background knowledge on World War. It would be a great story to do a book club as part of a unit on the Holocaust. This story would definietly create discussions as readers become invested to read what happens to Rachel.
September 29, 2020
Quand j'étais jeune, je détestais les leçons et tour ce qui touchait à la 2nd GM... Mais j'ai trouvé cette BD à la bibliothèque, et j'ai été intriguée, sûrement par la partie photographie.
J'ai apprécié cette lecture, c'était touchant et j'ai aimé voir la vie durant cette période avec le point de vue de "Catherine", d'une jeune fille, et sa sensibilité photographique qui l'aidait à voir la vie plus belle, à s'accrocher et à tenir.
Les dessins sont parfaitement en accord avec l'histoire, alternant les couleurs sombres dans les moments durs, et d'autres plus lumineuses dans les moments heureux, avec les petites touches d'aquarelle.
Note : 3,5/5
J'ai apprécié cette lecture, c'était touchant et j'ai aimé voir la vie durant cette période avec le point de vue de "Catherine", d'une jeune fille, et sa sensibilité photographique qui l'aidait à voir la vie plus belle, à s'accrocher et à tenir.
Les dessins sont parfaitement en accord avec l'histoire, alternant les couleurs sombres dans les moments durs, et d'autres plus lumineuses dans les moments heureux, avec les petites touches d'aquarelle.
Note : 3,5/5
April 6, 2021
4.5 stars. Great portrayal of a Jewish girl from Paris who is hidden at a variety of places during the Occupation of France. She loved photography and was allowed to keep a camera from her school in order to document her experiences along the way. Told in graphic novel format, and based on the author’s mother’s experiences during the war, there is also a q&a from the author at the end of the book. Because she fictionalized the story, some of the characters and ending are created and the fate of her parents is never resolved, though I assume they did not survive.
February 27, 2024
The book I’m reading is called Catherine's War by Julia Billet. This is based on the author’s mother’s true story of having survived during the War Two in France. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, historical graphic novels are very helpful for kids, teenagers, even adults, because history possibly repeated itself if we forget what had happened but it did happen. This book, the author shows so many details about life at the time, with clothing, buildings, cars, etc. It was done beautifully illustrated and well narrated, art style comes with brown and gray colour palette, with touches of green and pink. I would have liked to read her earlier life before the war and how it started. I was moved and fascinated how her mother have become more passionate about photography. As a result, did they survive? You can decide.
July 14, 2021
What I most like about this true story is that the focus is on the men and women who risked everything to save people they weren’t related to or had any connection with; just ordinary people who cared about doing the right thing. I am always inspired by this type of bravery. My daughter picked this book for herself and more than anything, I love that we now can swap books!
January 5, 2018
BD dure mais émouvante sur la guerre de « Catherine », jeune Juive qui passe à travers la guerre, appareil photo au cou. Inspirée d’histoires réelles, de personnes courageuses qui ont survécu à la guerre, cette bande dessinée plaira aux passionnés d’histoire et de personnages attachants.
December 3, 2018
Es imposible no emocionarse, no perderse entre las páginas de este cómic y sentir el miedo y la incertidumbre, la esperanza y la alegría. Totalmente recomendado para cualquier edad.
Reseña: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
Reseña: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
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