#SundayReview: Maurice and his Dictionary

Sunday Review

Maurice and His Dictionary

by Cary Fagan

Owlkids Books

This is the story of one refugee family’s harrowing journey, based on author Cary Fagan’s own family history. The graphic novel follows a young Jewish boy, Maurice, and his family as they flee their home in Belgium during the Second World War. They travel by train to Paris, through Spain to Portugal, and finally across the ocean to Jamaica, where they settle in an internment camp.

All the while, Maurice is intent on continuing his education and growing up to be a lawyer. He overcomes obstacles to find a professor to study with, works toward a high school diploma while in the camp, and is ultimately accepted to university in Canada. His English dictionary becomes a beloved tool and beacon of hope through the danger and turmoil of the family’s migration.

Moments of lightness and humor balance the darkness in this powerful story of one refugee family’s courage and resilience, and of the dictionary that came to represent their freedom.

What an amazing story about the author's father's family, fleeing the Nazi's multiple times until ending up in Jamaica. So much research went into this story, and it ends with some photos, including one of the MC's beloved dictionary. I learned things about the war that I didn't know before.

Well written with the perfect illustrations, this book is a must for all classrooms. Without showing the violence of WWII, the story keeps us on the edge of our seats hoping that Maurice's family gets away to safety.