Christine Wellman

What a brilliant way to pass on such a sad bit of history - through a comic medium that we all know and find non-threatening. I came across this book in my school library by chance. Pascal uses the language of cartoons to graphically recapture experiences in the concentration camp. Apparently, most of the dialogue has been taken from memoirs of those who survived Auschwitz. This book - more than any other - brought to life "up close and personal" the horrific abuses endured not only by men and women but also by children. "Come in through the gates but leave through the chimney" is a haunting statement which summarizes the reality of the camp. Now all we need is an artistic pen to draw and tell the story about what the horrors of 300 years of slavery have done to the people of African decent. These stories are vital. I am just touched that Croci has the guts to draw it. Great expressive drawings too, by the way!