I received an advance review copy of this beautiful book from the publisher through NetGalley. Go

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Golem of Prague. Usually as a side story in a larger work, this was my first time diving into the source story itself. Beautiful art. I could feel the cold of the Prague snows and the chilly isolation of the characters. I knew that this graphic novellas was meant for young people and was not prepared for how deep and moving the story was.

The first Frankenstein's monster I suppose, but with a sound moral purpose driving his creation. the Golem, like Adam, is fashioned from clay with orders to rid Prague of the persecutors of the Jewish inhabitants. The Golem, unlike Adam, is created by a man and this animated super being without a soul is a creature born to suffer as it gains first knowledge of his environment and then later turns his increasing intellect to contemplate his own existence. The comparisons to Mary Shelley's story are countless.

Behind the story of the story of the rescue of the Prague Jews from their persecutors there is the framing story of a lonely young boy who is our surrogate--the character who opens the door into the past and opens himself up to the sorrows of isolation.

As soon as I finished this beautiful book I knew that I would read it again to pick up the many complex layers contained in what at first appears to be a simple and beautiful story.

The Golem of Prague
by Irène Cohen-Janca
Looking at the legends and beliefs of the Golem, a little boy find out more than he expected when he placed the remnants of the Golem on his body. This is a dark twist to the legend, the pictures and phrasing are amazing and entrancing. This is a great book to introduce the idea that words and letters have meaning. Religion forget that it is based on the word and that the word is passed from generation to generation.
I would love to share this story in a classroom.

This gothic retelling of the golem of Prague will appeal to fans of dark fantasy/fairy tales or horror. The illustrations are beautiful, although very gloomy and gray- and sepia-toned. Recommended for independent readers.