Catherine’s War
By:
Illustrator: Claire Fauvel
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.
Map of Catherine’s journey. Photographs from the Sèvres Children’s Home. Author’s note. “Questions from Readers.” Full-color illustrations.
ISBN: 9780062915603
JLG Release: Apr 2020
Sensitive Areas:
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War, Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes, Language: Infrequent Use, Language: Infrequent Use
Topics:
World War II (1939–1945)
, Refugees
, Jewish Holocaust (1939–1945)
, Friendship
, Love
, Photography
Awards & Honors
2021 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor Book
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Booklist*, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal*, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
School Library Journal
Billet has crafted a pictorial paean to the everyday heroes of Vichy France, as seen through the eyes—and camera lens—of a Jewish teen. Rachel Cohen’s story begins in 1942 at the Sèvres Children’s Home outside Paris, where students separated from their parents direct their own education. As Nazi deportations increase, the school’s Jewish Billet has crafted a pictorial paean to the everyday heroes of Vichy France, as seen through the eyes—and camera lens—of a Jewish teen. Rachel Cohen’s story begins in 1942 at the Sèvres Children’s Home outside Paris, where students separated from their parents direct their own education. As Nazi deportations increase, the school’s Jewish residents must flee. Rachel assumes a new identity—Catherine Colin—and hides in plain sight. Aided by those she meets on her journey, “Catherine” travels from Sèvres to a monastery in Riom, a family farm in Limoges, an orphanage in the Pyrenees, and a second small farm before finally returning to a liberated Paris in the hope of reuniting with her parents. Along the way, her beloved Rolleiflex camera documents her story one snapshot at a time. Adapted from a novel based on Billet’s mother’s wartime experiences, this tale vividly renders a period that might seem removed to younger readers. Almost every panel—especially those inspired by real photographs—could stand alone as a work of art. From the subtle motion lines and detailed facial expressions to intricately composed scenes and dramatic backdrops, Fauvel’s ink and watercolor illustrations are masterly. This brief book will leave readers wishing they could spend more time among the torrent of settings and characters. A remarkable tribute to the generosity, compassion, and courage of ordinary people who endanger themselves to do right, as well as those who capture glimpses of light in the darkness.
Book Details
ISBN
9780062915603
First Release
April 2020
Genre
Fic
Dewey Classification
F
Trim Size
9" x 6"
Page Count
176
Accelerated Reader
Level 3.7; Points: 1;
Scholastic Reading Counts
N/ALexile
N/AFormat
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Harper
Potentially Sensitive Areas
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War, Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes, Language: Infrequent Use, Language: Infrequent Use
Topics
World War II (1939–1945), Refugees, Jewish Holocaust (1939–1945), Friendship, Love, Photography,
