Maus I by Art Spiegelman

The graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman is a story told of Spiegelman's interview of his father as he recalls his experience prior to the Holocaust as well as during the ordeal. The story follows Vladek, Spiegelman's father, as he lives through the experience of being a Jewish person in 1930s and 1940s Poland. Though Vladek and his wife emigrate to Holland for fear of German persecution in Poland, the reach of Nazi power extends to that part of Europe as well. In addition to the central story which takes up most of the text, there is also the story of the interview process itself as Art Spiegelman struggles with his relationship with his father while he is trying to gain a stronger understanding of what it was like to be a Jew during that time period. From an artistic standpoint, the most interesting part of this story is the fact that all of the Jewish characters are portrayed as mice, Nazis as cats and Polish non-Jews as pigs. Though they act as normal humans, it highlights the relationship and power dynamic between the Jews and the Nazis This story is extremely teachable for young readers. It is a captivating story of survival as well as providing a clear view of the stress that such struggle puts on all relationships. The artwork is unique and provides another layer to the story that a normal Holocaust story would not be able to do. I am a big fan of teaching graphic novels in school especially for students that struggle with reading because of the multi-modal function of the story. The story also brings the social and political history of the time to the forefront while showing its impact on the characters.