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Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust
National Book Award winner Neal Shusterman presents a graphic novel exploring the Holocaust through surreal visions and a textured canvas of heroism and hope.
Courage to Dream plunges readers into the darkest time of human history—the Holocaust. This graphic novel explores one of the greatest atrocities in modern memory, delving into the core of what it means to face the extinction of everything and everyone you hold dear.
This gripping, multifaceted tapestry is woven from Jewish folklore and cultural history. Five interlocking narratives explore one common story – the tradition of resistance and uplift. Internationally renowned author Neal Shusterman and illustrator Andrés Vera Martínez have created a masterwork that encourages the compassionate, bold reaching for a dream.
Courage to Dream plunges readers into the darkest time of human history—the Holocaust. This graphic novel explores one of the greatest atrocities in modern memory, delving into the core of what it means to face the extinction of everything and everyone you hold dear.
This gripping, multifaceted tapestry is woven from Jewish folklore and cultural history. Five interlocking narratives explore one common story – the tradition of resistance and uplift. Internationally renowned author Neal Shusterman and illustrator Andrés Vera Martínez have created a masterwork that encourages the compassionate, bold reaching for a dream.
250 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2023
33 people are currently reading
4396 people want to read
About the author
Neal Shusterman
90 books30k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
October 27, 2023
I have been waiting for this book since last year. When I heard Neal Shusterman was writing a Holocaust story, I was both excited and nervous. I heard it would be fantastical, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. But he's one of my favorite writers, and I really wanted to love this book.
And you know what? I did love it. He brought something new and unique to the table, and it worked. This is a graphic novel collection of 4 short stories all using a fantastical element to explore this ugly period of history. Each story is about hope and courage. There is a lot of Jewish mythology and folklore included in the stories, which I loved. The last story really hit me hard - I cried for a few minutes after closing the book, I won't spoil it, but it's something I think about often, and for him to write a story about it...oof. I wasn't expecting it and it hurt in the best way.
I think this would pair very well with any study of the Holocaust. I appreciate that he focuses on finding hope in the darkness in this collection. It can be easy to dwell in the horribleness, it the sadness, but we need to remember to be courage and to have hope.
Highly recommend.
And you know what? I did love it. He brought something new and unique to the table, and it worked. This is a graphic novel collection of 4 short stories all using a fantastical element to explore this ugly period of history. Each story is about hope and courage. There is a lot of Jewish mythology and folklore included in the stories, which I loved. The last story really hit me hard - I cried for a few minutes after closing the book, I won't spoil it, but it's something I think about often, and for him to write a story about it...oof. I wasn't expecting it and it hurt in the best way.
I think this would pair very well with any study of the Holocaust. I appreciate that he focuses on finding hope in the darkness in this collection. It can be easy to dwell in the horribleness, it the sadness, but we need to remember to be courage and to have hope.
Highly recommend.
January 7, 2024
Overall, I liked the idea of this collection of stories, but the pro-Israel bit at the end made me knock off a star. In this time of mass genocide in Gaza, I can’t in good conscience support a narrative that argues that Israel was peacefully created while ignoring it’s history of colonization and ethnic cleansing.
October 13, 2024
✨ "Who would I be if the impossible suddenly became real?"
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of hope, strength and resilience. All 5 tales were imaginative, memorable, highly engaging and tugged at my heartstrings. I also liked how each story ended with real-life insight and trivia.
I tend to be skeptical about magical realism and fantastical elements in contemporary fiction, let alone in a historical context, but they worked really well here and did not evoke anything negative feelings in me.
All graphic novels should aspire to be like this and I highly recommend it.
The author's note at the start is so powerful too.
✨ "This book is about impossible and wondrous things that never happened, set against a backdrop of impossible, unthinkable things that did."
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of hope, strength and resilience. All 5 tales were imaginative, memorable, highly engaging and tugged at my heartstrings. I also liked how each story ended with real-life insight and trivia.
I tend to be skeptical about magical realism and fantastical elements in contemporary fiction, let alone in a historical context, but they worked really well here and did not evoke anything negative feelings in me.
All graphic novels should aspire to be like this and I highly recommend it.
The author's note at the start is so powerful too.
✨ "This book is about impossible and wondrous things that never happened, set against a backdrop of impossible, unthinkable things that did."
July 17, 2023
Fantasy and folklore in a Holocaust themed book? When Neal Shusterman puts his pen to the task, the combination can be not only be entertaining, but a book that will make readers think, much like his YA Roxy, Dry, Unwind, and Arc of the Scythe series. While many will pick up Courage to Dream and read it lightly, most will be reminded of the horror of the Holocaust and the deaths of millions of Jews, handicapped, Roma, those who stood against the Nazi regime and many others. Along with the history, folklore like Baba Yaga, the Golem from Jewish storytelling, and Moses of the Bible are weaved in seamlessly, shining a light on the hope and heroes that emerged during the war. At the end of each of the tales that are more history than magic, Shusterman includes a few pages to clearly delineate and expound on the historical facts as well as give background on the tales from various cultures. End notes from both author and illustrator are informative and provide insight into the intense research required to create such a book, including consulting authorities on uniforms worn and even architecture! Early promotion of this Shusterman work have indicated that it targeted to middle grade readers but that is far too limiting. With the depth of research, the detailed and emotionally charged artwork, and the topic, this is a book that will be well-placed in libraries serving grades 5-adult. Excellent gift for fans of Neal Shusterman, graphic art lovers, readers of historical fiction, as well as those who enjoy tales from different cultures.
Thanks for the arc, Scholastic and Texas Library Association annual conference and thanks for signing it, Neal!
Thanks for the arc, Scholastic and Texas Library Association annual conference and thanks for signing it, Neal!
April 30, 2024
I really wanted to like these stories, and I did for the most part, but I can’t in good conscience rate something above 1 star when the ending is very pro-Israel. The first four stories taking place during the holocaust are all done very well, mixing fantasy with historical events in a beautiful way. I loved the inclusion of folklore and the educational texts at the end of each story. However, in the last story, which takes place in present day, Shusterman essentially says the world would be a worse place if Palestine’s right to exist was recognized by the worlds major powers and suggests that the creation of Israel was done peacefully and without genocide. The mentioning of Palestine at all is very unnecessary to the points of antisemitism that are being made here. We do not have to encourage hate towards others to talk about our own injustices. Without this ending, this would’ve been a solid 4 star read for me. I’m very disappointed in Neal Shusterman, whose work I have enjoyed up to this point.
January 14, 2024
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und den Loewe Verlag für das kostenlose Leseexemplar.
Den Autoren ist eine interessante Mischung aus historischen Fakten, Folklore und Fantasy gelungen.
Eine recht bedrückende Lektüre mit zum Teil schonungslosen Zeichnungen, wie bei dem Thema zu erwarten. Die Erzählungen handeln nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch in Dänemark, USA und Polen/Belarus. Am Ende jeder Geschichte wurde aufgezeigt, welche Aspekte nicht real waren, gleichzeitig wurden Fakten genannt und historische Persönlichkeiten vorgestellt, auf denen die vorangegangenen Geschichten beruhten. Ein wichtiges Buch, und sicherlich künftig mit Spiegelmans Maus in einem Atemzug zu nennen.
#FensterinderNacht #NetGalleyDE
Den Autoren ist eine interessante Mischung aus historischen Fakten, Folklore und Fantasy gelungen.
Eine recht bedrückende Lektüre mit zum Teil schonungslosen Zeichnungen, wie bei dem Thema zu erwarten. Die Erzählungen handeln nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch in Dänemark, USA und Polen/Belarus. Am Ende jeder Geschichte wurde aufgezeigt, welche Aspekte nicht real waren, gleichzeitig wurden Fakten genannt und historische Persönlichkeiten vorgestellt, auf denen die vorangegangenen Geschichten beruhten. Ein wichtiges Buch, und sicherlich künftig mit Spiegelmans Maus in einem Atemzug zu nennen.
#FensterinderNacht #NetGalleyDE
November 29, 2023
A book of what ifs . . . Myth and legend rise from long lost events. But as a world community may we never forget the scars and terror of the Holocaust. This quote from the afterward by Shusterman haunts me:
“ . . .provide a warning for what happens when authority gives permission to hate.”
What an incredible work of art. It takes a mind like Shusterman’s to tackle something this complex and make it so relatable. The combination of history and folklore is utterly satisfying.
“ . . .provide a warning for what happens when authority gives permission to hate.”
What an incredible work of art. It takes a mind like Shusterman’s to tackle something this complex and make it so relatable. The combination of history and folklore is utterly satisfying.
May 8, 2024
Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust by Neal Shusterman is a collection of short stories in graphic novel format (illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez). The stories feature incidents during WWII and all deal with the Holocaust. Each story also has a spiritual / supernatural element to the story. While the events did take place, the results are guided by these spiritual elements.
The first story, for example, is set in Germany and deals with the Nazis efforts to gather up the Jews and other groups they consider as 'deviants' or enemies of the State and ship them to concentration camps. The story focuses on 3 sisters being hidden by a neighbor who relies on food deliveries from the local stores. The neighbour is killed in an accident just as she has gather travel permits for the girls from the Chinese embassy. Meanwhile, the girls have discovered a supernatural aspect to their hideaway, one of the windows seems to open into an alternate dimension, which might provide an escape. That's what I mean by the supernatural aspect. At the end of each story, Shusterman discusses the reality of the story, how many Jews and others were sent to camps and at the same time, how many people worked to try and save them, highlighting specific people.
Each story is set in a different location; freedom fighters in the forests of Poland, trying to help prisoners escape from camps (this time with the help of supernatural beings of Eastern Europe), or the story of the creation of the Golem who defeats the enemies of the Jews (In this case in Auschwitz). One story I was not aware of was the heroism of the Danes, who refused to turn their Jewish citizens, their Gypsies etc over to the Nazis and when the Nazis finally tried to force them, arranged flotillas of ships to transport these citizens to safety in Sweden.
It's a fascinating, different set of stories, well-told and well-drawn. Worth reading and thinking about. Can it happen again? Only if we let it. (4.0 stars)
The first story, for example, is set in Germany and deals with the Nazis efforts to gather up the Jews and other groups they consider as 'deviants' or enemies of the State and ship them to concentration camps. The story focuses on 3 sisters being hidden by a neighbor who relies on food deliveries from the local stores. The neighbour is killed in an accident just as she has gather travel permits for the girls from the Chinese embassy. Meanwhile, the girls have discovered a supernatural aspect to their hideaway, one of the windows seems to open into an alternate dimension, which might provide an escape. That's what I mean by the supernatural aspect. At the end of each story, Shusterman discusses the reality of the story, how many Jews and others were sent to camps and at the same time, how many people worked to try and save them, highlighting specific people.
Each story is set in a different location; freedom fighters in the forests of Poland, trying to help prisoners escape from camps (this time with the help of supernatural beings of Eastern Europe), or the story of the creation of the Golem who defeats the enemies of the Jews (In this case in Auschwitz). One story I was not aware of was the heroism of the Danes, who refused to turn their Jewish citizens, their Gypsies etc over to the Nazis and when the Nazis finally tried to force them, arranged flotillas of ships to transport these citizens to safety in Sweden.
It's a fascinating, different set of stories, well-told and well-drawn. Worth reading and thinking about. Can it happen again? Only if we let it. (4.0 stars)
March 4, 2025
This book is supposed to be hopeful, but really it just made me sad. With the hate against the Jewish people right now and the Bibas funerals just taking place this graphic novel felt heavy.
The premise for this book is very interesting. It took Bible stories, Jewish folklore and philosophy and wove it into 5 "what if" tales. They were interesting, but each one left me disconsolate. Thinking about what could have happened makes real life all the more devastating.
The premise for this book is very interesting. It took Bible stories, Jewish folklore and philosophy and wove it into 5 "what if" tales. They were interesting, but each one left me disconsolate. Thinking about what could have happened makes real life all the more devastating.
May 10, 2024
Okay, yes I was skeptical.
Holocaust fiction with fantastical elements? How?
Buuut I admit, this was done really well, and the author gives an afterword on each one with explanations and details of what really happened.
I really enjoyed the collection, and that last one phew that was heartbreaking.
Holocaust fiction with fantastical elements? How?
Buuut I admit, this was done really well, and the author gives an afterword on each one with explanations and details of what really happened.
I really enjoyed the collection, and that last one phew that was heartbreaking.
December 19, 2023
I bought this for our library on the basis of 3 things:
- it was a graphic novel, which our students just devour
- it was about the Holocaust, which also provokes a lot of interest
- it was by Neal Shusterman, who is a deadset genius!
I didn't realise it had a fantastical element, although I should have realised Shusterman wouldn't go for a straight retelling of stories, and so that caught me by surprise. While I was initially unsure, ultimately I enjoyed this take. The elements intertwined from WWII history, the Bible and Jewish folklore make for interesting tales that make you think about what could have been. Neal Shusterman always makes you think!
I had heard the story of the Danish Jews escaping to Sweden before. However, I know very little about the detail of what happened in Denmark. I am intrigued and would like to understand why they were able to stand up to the Nazis when very few could.
The last tale was the most powerful, and scarily realistic when you look at current world events.
I hope this gets read by many.
- it was a graphic novel, which our students just devour
- it was about the Holocaust, which also provokes a lot of interest
- it was by Neal Shusterman, who is a deadset genius!
I didn't realise it had a fantastical element, although I should have realised Shusterman wouldn't go for a straight retelling of stories, and so that caught me by surprise. While I was initially unsure, ultimately I enjoyed this take. The elements intertwined from WWII history, the Bible and Jewish folklore make for interesting tales that make you think about what could have been. Neal Shusterman always makes you think!
I had heard the story of the Danish Jews escaping to Sweden before. However, I know very little about the detail of what happened in Denmark. I am intrigued and would like to understand why they were able to stand up to the Nazis when very few could.
The last tale was the most powerful, and scarily realistic when you look at current world events.
I hope this gets read by many.
November 1, 2023
This is an important book. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because someone with less knowledge of Jewish folklore may be confused in parts.
January 14, 2024
Kurzmeinung / Leseerlebnis
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und den Loewe Verlag für das kostenlose Leseexemplar.
Den Autoren ist eine interessante Mischung aus historischen Fakten, Folklore und Fantasy gelungen.
Eine recht bedrückende Lektüre mit zum Teil schonungslosen Zeichnungen, wie bei dem Thema zu erwarten. Die Erzählungen handeln nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch in Dänemark, USA und Polen/Belarus. Am Ende jeder Geschichte wurde aufgezeigt, welche Aspekte nicht real waren, gleichzeitig wurden Fakten genannt und historische Persönlichkeiten vorgestellt, auf denen die vorangegangenen Geschichten beruhten. Ein wichtiges Buch, und sicherlich künftig mit Spiegelmans Maus in einem Atemzug zu nennen.
#FensterinderNacht #NetGalleyDE
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und den Loewe Verlag für das kostenlose Leseexemplar.
Den Autoren ist eine interessante Mischung aus historischen Fakten, Folklore und Fantasy gelungen.
Eine recht bedrückende Lektüre mit zum Teil schonungslosen Zeichnungen, wie bei dem Thema zu erwarten. Die Erzählungen handeln nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch in Dänemark, USA und Polen/Belarus. Am Ende jeder Geschichte wurde aufgezeigt, welche Aspekte nicht real waren, gleichzeitig wurden Fakten genannt und historische Persönlichkeiten vorgestellt, auf denen die vorangegangenen Geschichten beruhten. Ein wichtiges Buch, und sicherlich künftig mit Spiegelmans Maus in einem Atemzug zu nennen.
#FensterinderNacht #NetGalleyDE
February 24, 2024
Blending the horrors of the Holocaust with Jewish folklore and history into stories that never happened, but should have, is beautiful. This is a perfect graphic novel.
August 23, 2023
Extremely moving set of fantasy stories based on the Holocaust. The first one made me gasp out loud at the idea juxtaposed with the parallel of the history - I was just that moved by the idea of it. The last one made me absolutely bawl. All of them give you such food for thought and a new lens in which to view this horrific tragedy - one of empathy, sorrow and hope. There is also a great little page or two between stories educating readers on the very real history and/or Jewish lore the piece is connected to. Definitely one of the most interesting Holocaust based works I have read. Wonderful job.
June 25, 2023
This has earned its place on my shelf next to the Maus graphic novels. Powerful and important.
November 30, 2023
Um, wow. The last story in particular really hit me.
March 23, 2025
Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust is a collection of five short stories presented in graphic novel format. I wasn’t sure if I would like this book at first, but I ended up reading it in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down. It was an incredible experience. The illustrations are beautifully done, reminiscent of old-school comic books, which feels like the perfect style for this collection.
Each story is rooted in the Holocaust but incorporates elements of Jewish folklore and the fantastical. At the end of each story, there’s a short section explaining the real historical inspiration behind it, which adds even more depth. Let’s go over the stories.
1. He Opens a Window
I was already familiar with this story, as it was previously published in text format in Neal Shusterman’s 1996 anthology Mindstorms: Stories to Blow Your Mind . Now, we have a graphic novel adaptation, and I found it even more compelling in this format—the story lends itself to strong visuals. The original text version was briefly available as a preorder incentive for Courage to Dream, since Mindstorms is now out of print.
The story follows three sisters hiding from the Germans. A young German boy, who delivers food for a market, realizes an old woman is secretly helping them. Though he doesn’t support the Nazis, he is forced to join their youth organization, yet he still does what little he can—like sneaking extra food into the old woman’s deliveries. The woman tries to obtain fake documents to help the sisters escape, but before she can, she is hit by a vehicle and either hospitalized or killed—it’s left unclear.
With their food supply cut off, the girls are starving. The market owner catches on to the boy’s theft and reports him. As a result, the Nazis follow him and discover the sisters. But in the place where they are hiding, there is a magical window—whenever the curtains are opened and closed, a different world appears outside. In a desperate moment, they manage to open the window to space, while the pursuing Nazis are sucked into the void. The boy and the sisters cling to a radiator. Later the two younger sisters are able to step through to a new world. When the boy and older sister try to follow, the window vanishes, leaving them separated. It’s a bittersweet ending, but at least the younger girls are safe.
2. The Golem of Auschwitz
This story draws from the legend of the Golem. It takes place in Auschwitz and vividly portrays the horrors of the concentration camp. There’s a twist: the protagonist is actually a Golem, but he doesn’t know it at first. I thought this reveal was clever and surprising. It turns out a rabbi created him, and while he couldn’t save everyone, he did what he could.
This story and the first one nearly made me cry. They are incredibly emotional, and the blend of history and the fantastical makes them even more powerful.
3. Spirits of Resistance
This story incorporates various elements of Jewish folklore, such as Solomon’s Shamir, the Nephilim, and Chelm, as well as Eastern European folklore, including Baba Yaga and Izbushka, the house with chicken legs. These mythical figures help Jewish people escape and fight against the Nazis in the forest.
4. Exodus
Set in Denmark, this story features the Staff of Moses. I initially expected it to depict the parting of the waters, but instead, it presents a unique twist: sunken vessels rise to form a bridge, allowing Jewish refugees to escape to Sweden. It’s also a touching story of friendship.
5. The Untold
This was the most emotionally impactful story for me because it deals with a universal question: What if? What if the Holocaust had never happened? How different would the world—and our personal lives—be?
In the story, a dying grandmother passes down a family heirloom, a crystal shell, to her granddaughter. When the girl listens to the shell, she is transported to an alternate reality where the Holocaust never occurred. Her family is larger—relatives who perished in the Holocaust are alive, and she is no longer an only child. The world itself is different: the war ended before concentration camps were built, and Israel does not exist. However, anti-Semitism still lingers, and there are hints that in this version of history, someone similar to Hitler is beginning to rise.
In the end, the girl chooses to remain in her own timeline and destroys the shell. The story leaves you with a lot to think about.
While you don’t need prior knowledge of Jewish folklore to enjoy this book, it definitely enhances the experience. I recommend looking up the folklore elements in each story because they add so much depth, and they’re fascinating to learn about.
The book closes with acknowledgments that are deeply moving. Overall, Courage to Dream is an excellent read—both fast-paced and meaningful. I believe it’s suitable for both young and adult audiences.
Each story is rooted in the Holocaust but incorporates elements of Jewish folklore and the fantastical. At the end of each story, there’s a short section explaining the real historical inspiration behind it, which adds even more depth. Let’s go over the stories.
1. He Opens a Window
I was already familiar with this story, as it was previously published in text format in Neal Shusterman’s 1996 anthology Mindstorms: Stories to Blow Your Mind . Now, we have a graphic novel adaptation, and I found it even more compelling in this format—the story lends itself to strong visuals. The original text version was briefly available as a preorder incentive for Courage to Dream, since Mindstorms is now out of print.
The story follows three sisters hiding from the Germans. A young German boy, who delivers food for a market, realizes an old woman is secretly helping them. Though he doesn’t support the Nazis, he is forced to join their youth organization, yet he still does what little he can—like sneaking extra food into the old woman’s deliveries. The woman tries to obtain fake documents to help the sisters escape, but before she can, she is hit by a vehicle and either hospitalized or killed—it’s left unclear.
With their food supply cut off, the girls are starving. The market owner catches on to the boy’s theft and reports him. As a result, the Nazis follow him and discover the sisters. But in the place where they are hiding, there is a magical window—whenever the curtains are opened and closed, a different world appears outside. In a desperate moment, they manage to open the window to space, while the pursuing Nazis are sucked into the void. The boy and the sisters cling to a radiator. Later the two younger sisters are able to step through to a new world. When the boy and older sister try to follow, the window vanishes, leaving them separated. It’s a bittersweet ending, but at least the younger girls are safe.
2. The Golem of Auschwitz
This story draws from the legend of the Golem. It takes place in Auschwitz and vividly portrays the horrors of the concentration camp. There’s a twist: the protagonist is actually a Golem, but he doesn’t know it at first. I thought this reveal was clever and surprising. It turns out a rabbi created him, and while he couldn’t save everyone, he did what he could.
This story and the first one nearly made me cry. They are incredibly emotional, and the blend of history and the fantastical makes them even more powerful.
3. Spirits of Resistance
This story incorporates various elements of Jewish folklore, such as Solomon’s Shamir, the Nephilim, and Chelm, as well as Eastern European folklore, including Baba Yaga and Izbushka, the house with chicken legs. These mythical figures help Jewish people escape and fight against the Nazis in the forest.
4. Exodus
Set in Denmark, this story features the Staff of Moses. I initially expected it to depict the parting of the waters, but instead, it presents a unique twist: sunken vessels rise to form a bridge, allowing Jewish refugees to escape to Sweden. It’s also a touching story of friendship.
5. The Untold
This was the most emotionally impactful story for me because it deals with a universal question: What if? What if the Holocaust had never happened? How different would the world—and our personal lives—be?
In the story, a dying grandmother passes down a family heirloom, a crystal shell, to her granddaughter. When the girl listens to the shell, she is transported to an alternate reality where the Holocaust never occurred. Her family is larger—relatives who perished in the Holocaust are alive, and she is no longer an only child. The world itself is different: the war ended before concentration camps were built, and Israel does not exist. However, anti-Semitism still lingers, and there are hints that in this version of history, someone similar to Hitler is beginning to rise.
In the end, the girl chooses to remain in her own timeline and destroys the shell. The story leaves you with a lot to think about.
While you don’t need prior knowledge of Jewish folklore to enjoy this book, it definitely enhances the experience. I recommend looking up the folklore elements in each story because they add so much depth, and they’re fascinating to learn about.
The book closes with acknowledgments that are deeply moving. Overall, Courage to Dream is an excellent read—both fast-paced and meaningful. I believe it’s suitable for both young and adult audiences.
November 21, 2024
5 graphic novel tales combine stories of Holocaust survival and hope with folklore and fantasy.
"He Opens a Window" ****
3 sisters are in hiding thanks to an old widow's generosity and her perceptive delivery boy's kindness. When the Nazis start closing in, a miraculous window that shows different worlds to the girls may be their only hope.
I wanted a little more to this story, but it did fulfill it's purpose in showing the bravery and kindness of others who helped the Jews hide during the Holocaust. After the story Shusterman highlights some of the real "Righteous among the Nations" who saved Jewish people in history. I had only heard of 1 of these people before.
"Legend Speaks of a Superhero.../The Golem of Auschwitz" ****
A prisoner in Auschwitz discovers he's a golem and works to set people free from Auschwitz.
Definitely a new take on the golem story. This will likely open the eyes of some readers to prisoners' experiences in Auschwitz. The informational bit after this story shares about how many attempted escapes from Auschwitz and other camps and how many were likely successful.
"Spirits of Resistance" *****
2 Jewish teenage siblings who have escaped from Nazi transport find refuge in the forest with resistance workers hiding there, and recruit an unlikely group of allies to help their efforts when they meet Baba Yaga.
I loved the idea of Baba Yaga, her house, and other Eastern European folklore figures helping the resistance workers in the forest fend off the Nazis. Baba Yaga is snarky and hides her kind heart with a gruff exterior, but she's fooling no one. The informational section after this stories talks about Eastern European folklore figures and the Bielski brothers who really did lead resistance groups in the Belarusian forests.
"Exodus" ****
When the Nazis push to take over Denmark despite the people's resistance, a family is saved by an heirloom purported to be Moses' staff now used as a curtain rod. The family story appears more plausible when the young man of the family wields the rod with fantastical results that help the Danish Jews get to freedom in Sweden.
Creative parallels between the Biblical Exodus story and a reimagining of the Danish Jew's exodus to Sweden work together well in this story. The informational pages tell the real story of how the Danish people helped a huge number of Jewish Danes get to freedom.
"The Untold" ***
A teen girl is given a crystal shell by her dying grandmother. When the girl listens to the shell she hears numerous voices and finds reality altered by a number of new people appearing, people who would have been there had the Holocaust not have happened. But there are horrible things happening in the alternate timeline too, and the girl must decide which timeline she wants to live in.
This one will get you thinking of how things could be different in good and bad ways if the Holocaust had never happened. Yes, people would be around who were killed, but society may also not have learned important lessons from the tragedy. Points out why the Holocaust shouldn't be forgotten.
Notes on content:
Language: I don't remember any swearing, but there may have been some minor swears. There are some mild racial slurs/name calling.
Sexual content: Nothing beyond a hug.
Violence: People are sucked into voids, in train crashes, drowned, shot (minimal blood shown), stomped, and hit, some fatally so but the death on page is depicted respectfully and not super gorily (or implied and happens off page). People being killed in the gas chambers at Birkenau is talked about and prisoners being worn out and starved is as well.
Ethnic diversity: The main characters are all Jewish from different parts of Europe and America. Compassionate Gentiles from those places are also included.
LGBTQ+ content: It is mentioned that the Nazis sent homosexuals to the camps and one informational page lists how many were killed.
Other: Racism and prejudice are common themes. Baba Yaga threatens to eat the teens, but as mentioned she's all bark and not bite in this book.
"He Opens a Window" ****
3 sisters are in hiding thanks to an old widow's generosity and her perceptive delivery boy's kindness. When the Nazis start closing in, a miraculous window that shows different worlds to the girls may be their only hope.
I wanted a little more to this story, but it did fulfill it's purpose in showing the bravery and kindness of others who helped the Jews hide during the Holocaust. After the story Shusterman highlights some of the real "Righteous among the Nations" who saved Jewish people in history. I had only heard of 1 of these people before.
"Legend Speaks of a Superhero.../The Golem of Auschwitz" ****
A prisoner in Auschwitz discovers he's a golem and works to set people free from Auschwitz.
Definitely a new take on the golem story. This will likely open the eyes of some readers to prisoners' experiences in Auschwitz. The informational bit after this story shares about how many attempted escapes from Auschwitz and other camps and how many were likely successful.
"Spirits of Resistance" *****
2 Jewish teenage siblings who have escaped from Nazi transport find refuge in the forest with resistance workers hiding there, and recruit an unlikely group of allies to help their efforts when they meet Baba Yaga.
I loved the idea of Baba Yaga, her house, and other Eastern European folklore figures helping the resistance workers in the forest fend off the Nazis. Baba Yaga is snarky and hides her kind heart with a gruff exterior, but she's fooling no one. The informational section after this stories talks about Eastern European folklore figures and the Bielski brothers who really did lead resistance groups in the Belarusian forests.
"Exodus" ****
When the Nazis push to take over Denmark despite the people's resistance, a family is saved by an heirloom purported to be Moses' staff now used as a curtain rod. The family story appears more plausible when the young man of the family wields the rod with fantastical results that help the Danish Jews get to freedom in Sweden.
Creative parallels between the Biblical Exodus story and a reimagining of the Danish Jew's exodus to Sweden work together well in this story. The informational pages tell the real story of how the Danish people helped a huge number of Jewish Danes get to freedom.
"The Untold" ***
A teen girl is given a crystal shell by her dying grandmother. When the girl listens to the shell she hears numerous voices and finds reality altered by a number of new people appearing, people who would have been there had the Holocaust not have happened. But there are horrible things happening in the alternate timeline too, and the girl must decide which timeline she wants to live in.
This one will get you thinking of how things could be different in good and bad ways if the Holocaust had never happened. Yes, people would be around who were killed, but society may also not have learned important lessons from the tragedy. Points out why the Holocaust shouldn't be forgotten.
Notes on content:
Language: I don't remember any swearing, but there may have been some minor swears. There are some mild racial slurs/name calling.
Sexual content: Nothing beyond a hug.
Violence: People are sucked into voids, in train crashes, drowned, shot (minimal blood shown), stomped, and hit, some fatally so but the death on page is depicted respectfully and not super gorily (or implied and happens off page). People being killed in the gas chambers at Birkenau is talked about and prisoners being worn out and starved is as well.
Ethnic diversity: The main characters are all Jewish from different parts of Europe and America. Compassionate Gentiles from those places are also included.
LGBTQ+ content: It is mentioned that the Nazis sent homosexuals to the camps and one informational page lists how many were killed.
Other: Racism and prejudice are common themes. Baba Yaga threatens to eat the teens, but as mentioned she's all bark and not bite in this book.
September 8, 2023
Disclaimer: I won a free preview copy of this book through a giveaway on Goodreads. Other than the complimentary volume, I have not received any monetary payment for this review.
There's a famous early Superman story called 'How Superman Would End the War.' It's a great fantasy of how things could have ended much quicker and less bloodier if super heroes really did exist during World War II. A Siegel and Shuster classic, the spirit of it is captured in this forthcoming graphic novel by the Scholastic imprint, Graphix.
Writer Neal Shusterman pens several tales about the Holocaust in which elements of the supernatural and Jewish folklore is used to protect the European relatives of God's chosen people. The more supernatural themed tales are about a window which provides a portal for freedom to a trio of Jewish girls being hidden in a secret room from the Gestapo and a crystal heirloom provides a young girl with a look at what might have been if the Holocaust never happened. These were both good stories, though I hated the ambiguous ending of the magic window tale. But it was the stories that integrated Jewish folklore that I loved the best!
In those adventures, a golem enacts revenge on the guards of a concentration camp and a pair of siblings are rescued by freedom fighters, only to be able to provide some unexpected allies to their defense from German forces. There was also a fifth story that integrated fantastical happenings with the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. All of these stories got my blood pumping. But the story of the children rescued by freedom fighters got me wanting the adventure to never end. It was a team up of several mythical characters of Eastern European folklore with characters like the Baba Yaga and the Fools of Chelm, I don't think there's ever been a story told just like this one and I am a nut for team-ups and crossovers!
Every story had a touch of truth to them and each section ends with a 2-page spread explaining the historical contexts and the legends involved in each story. Unfortunately, the fanciful cannot erase the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. There are atrocities galore in this book. Jews and Germans alike die in some very intense ways. Artist Andres Vera Martinez portrays the horrors with realism without being overly graphic. Amazon, which is currently doing pre-orders, rates this a book for readers aged 12 and up. I think that's a completely fair assessment.
A powerful book that was fun and intense at the same time. I loved how fantasy and tall tale were brought together to make a story that ponders 'What If...' while dealing with traumas and discrimination both past and present. Each story reminded me of the classic version of The Twlight Zone, entertaining and thought-provoking and very mystical.
If the subject matter is something that parents and guardians balk at, read this book along with the young reader in your life. Use the background features at the end of each story to discuss these complicated and uneasy subjects.
A near perfect read. If only that first story had a more definitive ending or tied-in with another tale...
There's a famous early Superman story called 'How Superman Would End the War.' It's a great fantasy of how things could have ended much quicker and less bloodier if super heroes really did exist during World War II. A Siegel and Shuster classic, the spirit of it is captured in this forthcoming graphic novel by the Scholastic imprint, Graphix.
Writer Neal Shusterman pens several tales about the Holocaust in which elements of the supernatural and Jewish folklore is used to protect the European relatives of God's chosen people. The more supernatural themed tales are about a window which provides a portal for freedom to a trio of Jewish girls being hidden in a secret room from the Gestapo and a crystal heirloom provides a young girl with a look at what might have been if the Holocaust never happened. These were both good stories, though I hated the ambiguous ending of the magic window tale. But it was the stories that integrated Jewish folklore that I loved the best!
In those adventures, a golem enacts revenge on the guards of a concentration camp and a pair of siblings are rescued by freedom fighters, only to be able to provide some unexpected allies to their defense from German forces. There was also a fifth story that integrated fantastical happenings with the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. All of these stories got my blood pumping. But the story of the children rescued by freedom fighters got me wanting the adventure to never end. It was a team up of several mythical characters of Eastern European folklore with characters like the Baba Yaga and the Fools of Chelm, I don't think there's ever been a story told just like this one and I am a nut for team-ups and crossovers!
Every story had a touch of truth to them and each section ends with a 2-page spread explaining the historical contexts and the legends involved in each story. Unfortunately, the fanciful cannot erase the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. There are atrocities galore in this book. Jews and Germans alike die in some very intense ways. Artist Andres Vera Martinez portrays the horrors with realism without being overly graphic. Amazon, which is currently doing pre-orders, rates this a book for readers aged 12 and up. I think that's a completely fair assessment.
A powerful book that was fun and intense at the same time. I loved how fantasy and tall tale were brought together to make a story that ponders 'What If...' while dealing with traumas and discrimination both past and present. Each story reminded me of the classic version of The Twlight Zone, entertaining and thought-provoking and very mystical.
If the subject matter is something that parents and guardians balk at, read this book along with the young reader in your life. Use the background features at the end of each story to discuss these complicated and uneasy subjects.
A near perfect read. If only that first story had a more definitive ending or tied-in with another tale...
November 9, 2024
I read this book after hearing the author talk about writing it at a school event. I was intrigued by the mix of Jewish mythology and historical Holocaust stories. The way the reader is left with the impression that the stories could have happened is lovely. The golem could have helped people escape from the camp and everyone kept it quiet because who would believe it. :) The last story hit the hardest. The idea of how different the world would be in an alternate reality where the Holocaust never happened is heart-breaking.
This statement describes the early parts of the war at a time when the world was waiting to see what was going to happen. I can't imagine being at this point and being able to predict the atrocities that were in store. It's easy to judge from our position here in the future.
Hope was a weapon for both sides. The Nazis never could have gotten so many people to march to their deaths without wielding the hope that better things could be found there. And the survivors would have given up long before the end without it. In the story, two characters debate the need of hope and it's hard to tell who is right.
..when the Reich marches, the world must hold its breath.
This statement describes the early parts of the war at a time when the world was waiting to see what was going to happen. I can't imagine being at this point and being able to predict the atrocities that were in store. It's easy to judge from our position here in the future.
The Rabbi said false hope was better than no hope at all. But what if that hope is used against you? The hope of the newcomers, who want to believe the horrible stories aren't true. The hope of parents who believe their backbreaking work might save their children.
Hope was a weapon for both sides. The Nazis never could have gotten so many people to march to their deaths without wielding the hope that better things could be found there. And the survivors would have given up long before the end without it. In the story, two characters debate the need of hope and it's hard to tell who is right.
July 21, 2024
Not exactly what I was expecting, but I did enjoy most of it. The author combines realistic stories from the Shoah with super-hero characters from European myths and legends.
The addition of "fact panels" after each of the stories was a great addition and added to my understanding of the stories and the war, and the art work is FANTASTIC!
The final story (chapter) ties all the other chapters and stories together.
Some things I learned from this book:
The stories of the Fools from Chelm, which are well know Jewish fables, influenced the creators of The 3 Stooges (who were Jewish actors).
The escape from concentration camp stats were new to me, I didn't realize there was actually accounts of these escape attempts.
The Bielski brothers and their organization of partisans
There were jews who escaped their fate by jumping from trains while in transport to crematoria or concentration camps.
Outside of Jews, 1.8 millions non-Jewish poles were also murdered
3 million Soviet prisoners of war murdered
Rescue of the Danish Jews by the Swedes - had as advocates, Greta Garbo and Neils Bohr.
This book is worth a read, and again, some great, great artwork!
The addition of "fact panels" after each of the stories was a great addition and added to my understanding of the stories and the war, and the art work is FANTASTIC!
The final story (chapter) ties all the other chapters and stories together.
Some things I learned from this book:
The stories of the Fools from Chelm, which are well know Jewish fables, influenced the creators of The 3 Stooges (who were Jewish actors).
The escape from concentration camp stats were new to me, I didn't realize there was actually accounts of these escape attempts.
The Bielski brothers and their organization of partisans
There were jews who escaped their fate by jumping from trains while in transport to crematoria or concentration camps.
Outside of Jews, 1.8 millions non-Jewish poles were also murdered
3 million Soviet prisoners of war murdered
Rescue of the Danish Jews by the Swedes - had as advocates, Greta Garbo and Neils Bohr.
This book is worth a read, and again, some great, great artwork!
May 8, 2023
Neal Shusterman & Andrés Vera Martínez have combined their talents to bring us a historical fiction graphic novel about the Holocaust. Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust combines historical facts with legends and lore to create 5 stories of resistance and hope set in a time that had little.
This title come out in October of this year.
I will definately be purchasing this one for my high school library.
Grades 6 & up.
This title come out in October of this year.
I will definately be purchasing this one for my high school library.
Grades 6 & up.
January 15, 2024
Leave it to the one and only Neal Shusterman to give me my first 5 star book of 2024. I only put this book on hold because I saw Shusterman's name attached to it. I had no idea what this book was about but I knew I was in for a treat.
This is a graphic novel that is also an anthology - more of this, please? There are five stories in this collection that are set around different characters and what they went through in relation to the Holocaust. Woven in each story is a fictional and magical element that allows the characters to fight back against their oppressors. Some of these characters were ones I had heard of before, but most of them were new, allowing me a glimpse into another culture in a new way.
This collection is beautiful, both in the stories themselves and the illustrations. This should be an automatic buy for middle and high school classrooms.
This is a graphic novel that is also an anthology - more of this, please? There are five stories in this collection that are set around different characters and what they went through in relation to the Holocaust. Woven in each story is a fictional and magical element that allows the characters to fight back against their oppressors. Some of these characters were ones I had heard of before, but most of them were new, allowing me a glimpse into another culture in a new way.
This collection is beautiful, both in the stories themselves and the illustrations. This should be an automatic buy for middle and high school classrooms.
Read
October 7, 2024An extremely difficult book to review. The concept of "holocaust + fairytales + fantasy" is always going to be a jarring mix of genres - a discomfort which sometimes works in the books favor and sometimes does not.
The artwork was acceptable, but it didn't really do much for me.
The final story had some of the strongest moments of the book, but... it's hard to ignore the comment (made in an alternate timeline where the Holocaust never occurred) about how Palestine "could become Israel if the Zionists got their act together". It's pretty hard to stomach.
The artwork was acceptable, but it didn't really do much for me.
The final story had some of the strongest moments of the book, but... it's hard to ignore the comment (made in an alternate timeline where the Holocaust never occurred) about how Palestine "could become Israel if the Zionists got their act together". It's pretty hard to stomach.
not-for-me
January 12, 2024I was really excited about this, but it did not work for me at all. This is a fantasy story about WWII. Honestly I had no idea what was going on. I'm not a fantasy reader and I really don't find fantastical plot lines interesting. I also hated the style of this book. It's VERY dark. The text is dark, the pictures are dark and I found myself having to read in a super bright room or else I was scowling. This just was not for me.
March 17, 2024
This book was so powerful especially the last story. At first I was a little unsure about the format - a graphic novel about the Holocaust, but it worked. The integration of fantasy - Baba Yaga, the Golem, and more was so well done. The only thing I didn't like (and it's probably because I'm old!) was the dark pages and print. Because the print was so small and some of the pages so dark, it made reading difficult.
July 13, 2024
I was skeptical about a graphic novel that weaves folklore and fantasy in with the horrors of the Holocaust, but this was really well done.
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I had the opportunity to hear Neal Shusterman talk about the process of writing these stories when he came to my daughters school in late 2023. I loved listening to him speak; he has such a unique perspective.
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The illustrations in this graphic novel are stunning.
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I had the opportunity to hear Neal Shusterman talk about the process of writing these stories when he came to my daughters school in late 2023. I loved listening to him speak; he has such a unique perspective.
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The illustrations in this graphic novel are stunning.
July 17, 2024
Loved learning some Jewish folklore! I loved how they intertwined folklore into stories from WWII.
August 26, 2024
4/5
A solid exploration of what-ifs and could-have-been. Though this collection is nothing groundbreaking, it fits neatly in the very large, very wide canon of Holocaust literature in the comic/graphic novel format.
In short I've seen literally all of this before, so I'm not blown away.
A solid exploration of what-ifs and could-have-been. Though this collection is nothing groundbreaking, it fits neatly in the very large, very wide canon of Holocaust literature in the comic/graphic novel format.
In short I've seen literally all of this before, so I'm not blown away.
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