Graphic Novel

A Family Secret 
by Eric Heuvel
Published by Square Fish
Copyright 2007

Reading Level: Lexile level GN400L, reading level 3.3

Suggested Delivery: Independent read

Vocabulary: chancellor (10), abolish (12), unemployment (12), neutrality (15), resign (24), ideology (26), solemn (26), resent (41), resistance (41), ration (43), courier (45), liberated (45)  
Awards: Dutch Comics Association category award, Sydney Taylor notable book for teens 2010


"While searching his grandmother’s attic for likely items to sell at a yard sale, Jeroen finds a photo album that brings back hard memories for his grandmother, Helena. Helena tells Jeroen for the first time about her experiences during the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War, and mourns the loss of her Jewish best friend, Esther. Helena believes that her own father, a policeman and Nazi sympathizer, delivered Esther to the Nazis and that she died in a concentration camp. But after hearing her story, Jeroen makes a discovery and Helena realizes that her father kept an important secret from her."- Amazon.com

This novel is informational, engaging, educational, serious, and takes young readers step-by-step through a tough time period.

Pre-Reading Activity: Students can dicuss with the teacher what they already know about the Holocaust and the event that occurred during the tragic time. The teacher can introduce the story by explaining why they're going to read a graphic novel. Graphic novels are a very good genre for introducing young audiences to historical events they might avoid. The pictures speak to a kind of print because it may take many words to say what points and messages the author wants to get across to their readers.

During Reading Activity: As students read they can ask themselves following questions, "Why did Helena prefer being at Ester's house to bring at her own house?" "Would you have supported Helena's father's decision if he was your own father?". These questions can be used in a bookmark for the novel.

Post Reading Activity: Students can imagine the school principal just created a new policy that everyone must attend school on Saturdays. Students can divide into small groups and dicuss with their classmates the likelihood of eveyone accepting this new policy. Students can make a list of feelings they would have and maybe some actions they would take against the new policy. Students can then come together as a whole class are share their lists with the other groups. 

Writing Activity: Students can write a few paragraphs on the following question, "The Nazis got rid of some human rights in every place they took over. Think about some rights that you have: the right to go to school, the right to see a doctor, the right to go to the movies and shop. What rights would be hardest for you to lose? What rights would be the easiest for you to lose? Why?" 

Electronic Resources: 

World War II History for Kids
This website can be very informational
for students who wish to learn more 
about the Holocaust and the events 
involved in it. This website helps ease
in young children into the tought subject
of the Holocaust through helpful vocabulary definitions, pictures, links to timelines, and other helpful links to learn more about World War II. 


Graphic Novels for Kids
This website is very helpful for students 
if they really enjoyed reading this type of genre.
It includes not only a list of other graphic novel
that kids would enjoy, but it also lists  graphic
novels that students can find in their own library. 
Each book has a brief decription of the novel just in
case students are looking for a particular storyline, 
characters, or other element.