Author: Art SpiegelmanPublication: New York: Pantheon Books
Pub. Date: 1997
ISBN: 0679406417
Pages: 295
Summary: Maus is a book within a book. It tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. Interspersed throughout the book, however, are glimpses into Vladek's relationship with his son.
Major characters: Vladek Spiegelman, Art Spiegelman, Anja Spiegelman
Comments: This is a very powerful book. Not only is it a great first-hand account of the atrocities of the Second World War, but it really examines family relationships. We all have those moments when our parents drive us crazy, but imagine how frustrating and guilty we would feel if our parents had survived the Holocaust and we couldn't stand to be around them. It's a very emotional book. The drawings are simple but effective as the characters are all drawn as animals (the Jews are mice, the animals are cats, etc.) As a Pulitzer Prize winner and a staple on recommended reading lists, this book should not be missed.
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel
Age Level: 15+
Rating: 5/5
