I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Cary Fagan and Owlkids Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic story about Maurice Fajgenbaum and the journey he took with his family to escape the Nazis during World War II. The journey took them across the world and throughout it all Maurice never wanted to stop learning. I love that Cary still has Maurice’s dictionary; you can feel the love Cary has for his father throughout this book.

Maurice and His Dictionary is a wonderful of story of a family as they flee the Nazi's and live in an Internment Camp in Jamaica. I say wonderful because Maurice works so hard to follow his dreams even during what was a very chaotic time his his childhood. Enjoy a beautifully drawn book of triumph and family with Maurice and His Dictionary.

Maurice and His Dictionary is a short, but extremely moving and important, middle-grade graphic novel biography. It tells the true story of the author's father and how he (Maurice) and his family found themselves in a Jamaican refugee camp during World War II. The beautiful illustrations and meaningful storyline will perfectly enthrall and educate 4th graders and beyond.

his was a short and beautifully crafted graphic novel that I would read a sequel of in a heartbeat. It follows Maurice and his family as they flee from 1940’s Belgium. We follow the family through several different countries and on Maurice’s journey to finish his education. Maurice wants to make a better world for people and education is the main stepping stone for him to achieve his goals, so he seeks help from the educated village members who guide him.

The art, coloring, and lettering were all fantastic and the characters and plot were interesting to follow. The only thing that I was disappointed by was that it ended so suddenly. I honestly could have read 50 more pages of Maurice’s story, so I hope we get more!


*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Maurice and His Dictionary is a true account of a young Jewish man and the lengths he went to in order to avoid persecution and to continue his education no matter what obstacles stood in his way. This is a heartwarming story about resilience, persistence, and the value of education.
Cary Fagan did a great job adapting the story for a middle-grade audience in the form of a graphic novel. I also appreciated the facts at the end of the book, including pictures of the people behind the story.
Many thanks to Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Maurice and His Dictionary by Cary Fagan is the astonishing true story of one family's harrowing journey during the Second World War. The story of young Maurice is told in the form of a graphic novel, and although this genre is fairly new to me, I cannot imagine a more effective and impactful way of presenting this material to readers of any age. Children will find this to be an accessible way to absorb the sobering events of our history. Although it was an horrific time altogether, the story of Maurice will inspire all who are fortunate enough to hear his story. What a wonderful tribute to a father from his son.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for the opportunity to read this incredible story.

This was a beautiful story. I would love to learn more about this author and his family. I am always so touched by the struggles of the Jewish families during the war. I think that this is a must read for anyone that needs to understand what the war did to families. This would be an asset to any library.

Maurice and His Dictionary is a wonderful graphic novel telling the author's father's story escaping Europe during World War II. I had no prior knowledge of the camps set up in Jamaica for refugees, so this was an eye-opening story for me. I highly suggest for all younger graphic novel collections!

World War II is a time in history that I like to learn more about. I think this is because my first introduction that the world isn’t roses and butterflies was in fifth grade when my class read Number the Stars. Ever since then books and information based during this time period have really interested me.

Graphic novels aren’t usually my choice of book, but I must say that I really enjoyed this one. The illustrations were a little quirky and perfect for upper elementary school children to enjoy. The language was easy to understand, and the storyline was broken down in a comprehensible way. This would be a great way to introduce some WWII concepts to children without it being too overwhelming or too scary.

What I also love about this novel is the fact that the story was true. Sometimes nonfiction may not accessible to children, especially about a topic that is so frightening. However, the author does a fabulous job in presenting this true story.

Following a family who doesn’t give up and who stick together was also sweet to read about. Due to their persistence they were able to escape Europe during WWII, which is nice to read a story that some positivity within its troubling times. Though they did end up in a Jamaican camp, Maurice still had some freedom and was still able to pursue his dreams.

The novel can easily be read in one sitting with children. It can also lead to great discussions and follow-up activities. Overall, it was simply a pleasure reading this graphic novel!

A great graphic novel for kids!! Graphics were nice, colors too. I liked how it was told.

A wonderful story about a Jewish family in 1940, and the struggles they had to stay safe. Maurice was very resilient and wanted to continue his education.

Elementary children will be able to read this.

Reviewed for Netgalley

Maurice Fagan's story is one of survival and hope. The illustrations and text blend to present a family's harrowing story of escaping the Nazi's only to search for new land to call home. Readers are reminded of the small, daily activities of homework, mending, and meals that make Maurice's story feel like that of a friend. Although I found the first few pages to be a big awkward and confusing, the story comes together nicely once the family gets on the boat to Jamaica. The author's note at the end is enlightening and powerful. Maurice and His Dictionary will make a nice addition to juvenile collections where historical fiction and graphic novels are most popular.

The story of a young Jewish boy who fled Belgium with his family during WWII in search of refuge.

Maurice's story is one of many who fled Nazi occupation, but that doesn't make his any less remarkable. Told in the form of a graphic novel, this tale woven with expressive illustrations and short, easy to digest speech bubbles expresses the heartbreak of being torn from one's homeland, not having a place to call home, finding the helpers in the midst of crisis, connection to family, and tenacity of the human spirit. A wonderful addition to any middle grade nonfiction collection.

Maurice and His Dictionary was good! The illustrations were great. It was approachable and easy to understand. I think this would work well with younger elementary students. The back matter was also fantastic. The photographs were an excellent addition to the book.

If you are familiar with Cary Fagan’s work you will know he has a certain magical quality. Many of his stories take place long ago when times were seemingly simpler and he generously shares many of his life experiences through his stories.

Maurice and His Dictionary is a family story, the story of Cary’s father Maurice and the journey he took many years ago during World War II and the hardships the family endured as a result of being a Jewish family living in Brussels. There is a breadth of work available to young readers of novels, some non fiction, some historical fiction, to tell of the atrocities of the war: the tragedies and triumphs. What sets Maurice and His Dictionary apart is the choice to publish as a graphic novel. Illustrated by Enzo Lord Mariano, it is a graphic novel all about Maurice, a young Jewish boy and his family and how they made their way out of Europe and how Maurice achieved his ultimate dream of going to university and becoming a lawyer. There is humour peppered throughout this story, easing some of the weight of the topic. I especially love the back section containing pictures of Maurice and his family and the dictionary that he carried those many kilometres.

It’s refreshing that OwlKids chose to publish this story as a graphic novel making the story so much more accessible to a greater number of readers. Plus the story really lends itself to a non-traditional form. I think if the story had been published as a traditional novel it would miss a lot of the charm and excitement. Huge shout out to Claudia Davila for her extraordinary design choices in making this book come to life. Cary Fagan is a brilliant storyteller and his words have the ability to transport the reader and this book is no exception. It will appeal to middle grade readers with a thirst for history and knowledge of the past

Maurice and His Dictionary is a story of the resilience of a family fleeing their home. The Nazis were gathering Jews in Brussels and Maurice had to run with his family to survive. As they moved from place to place, Maurice always dreamed of being a lawyer because his family felt that the law was an equalizer. He thought the dream was lost when they found themselves in an internment camp in Jamaica. However, Maurice found people in the camp to teach him. One teacher told him to get a dictionary. The dictionary because a symbol of the search for freedom. Maurice found a local school and then a university in Canada.

This graphic novel follows the life of Maurice through his family’s journey to escape the Nazis and Maurice’s journey to fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer. The book is well-written and engaging. The illustrations add to the interest of the story.

Thank you to OwlKids and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great graphic novel addition to WWII books. A well researched, and written story of the author's father's escape from Belgium, during World War II. Maurice's family were Jews, and they had to make their way across the continent to a safe place. Through it all Maurice wants to be a lawyer, because only as a lawyer, could all be equal. As we follow his journey it seems like an impossible feat, but he is able to achieve it. With the help of a dictionary especially.

Filled with lovely pictures, the story is a great one,, and as a bonus, we get to see pictures of the real Maurice, as well as his English dictionary.

I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Touching story about a less well-know part of WW2 history, jewish families escaping Europe successfully in the 40s. I particularly loved the coloring. I would have loved it to be a little bit longer as I found the subject to be particularly interesting.

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for this ARC.

This juvenile nonfiction graphic novel follows the experiences of a Jewish family that must flee Belgium when the Nazis invade. Maurice, the main character, is the author's father, and this book is based on his stories and outside research. I found this story very interesting and learned a lot, especially since the family's travels ultimately landed them in a Jamaican refugee camp. I had no idea that some European Jews escaped to Jamaica, and it intrigued me to learn more about this.

This story works well as a graphic novel, and the colorful panels clearly differentiate between what is happening in real life versus what the main character is imagining. I liked this touch, especially since it shows how natural it is for people in difficult situations to dream of the future. The dictionary mentioned in the title helped Maurice learn English and gain the education that he longed for, and it is now an heirloom that the author keeps on his desk. The author's note includes a photo of the now-battered dictionary, along with historic photos and additional details about this true story.

This is a great educational resource, but it is also a gripping and well-presented graphic novel, and I would definitely have enjoyed this a kid. I'm glad that I got to read it now, and recommend this to schools, libraries, and families. This is an inspiring and informative story about a lesser known refugee experience in WWII, and stands as a testament to how hard people throughout history have fought to gain their educations.

I truly enjoyed this book. At every downturn I felt that something more terrible would happen but it didn't. It taught me a different historical perspective to the era. I had no idea about this particular voyage to Jamaica. I'll be adding this book to my personal collection to share as a read aloud with my students. It's a wonderful story about the perseverance of dreams and family encouragement in a time of uncertainty.

Maurice and His Dictionary tell the story of Maurice, a young Jewish boy living with his family in Belgium with World War 2 begins. Luckily, him and his family flee,, moving from country to country to maintain their safety. They end up in Jamaica in a refugee camp where Maurice makes a real attempt to pursue his education and eventual dream of becoming a lawyer.
What an amazing story and book. The illustrations were beautiful. The true story is truly incredible, it was presented in an easy to read and understand fashion, with the right amount of history thrown in. The story is extremely interesting and highlights many important concepts, such as perseverance, the importance of family, education and using whatever resources are offered to you. Maurice's story shows how important it it to never give up on your dreams, no matter what difficulties are thrown your way. I would absolutely use this in a classroom, it is a great story to introduce World War 2 or to show where some individuals ended up. It can also be used in multiple other ways as the story shows very important character traits that are often highlighted in schools. Will absolutely read again and recommend!