Wow, this was exciting! I knew a little about the Borden murders, but having it from a possible neighbor point of view was very interesting and accessible for kids.

While I was hoping for a more definitive conclusion, this graphic novel is a great - age-appropriate! - overview, especially in explaining crime solving at the time, as opposed to today's current standards. I will definitely be buying this to supplement my class library for my true crime and mystery fans.

Such a good middle grade, historical graphic novel!

The layout was great, the case facts were interesting, Charles was a good main character, and Lizzie was written well. This is a good one for libraries where "I Survived" thrives!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I liked the facts boxes sprinkled throughout the book as well the drawings being in black and white. I felt like it added to the book and made it a bit more darker. The Lizzie Borden murders are one of the darker spots in American history and I think will always leave people wondering if she did it or not.

I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story is a unique view into what happened in the Borden home before and after the Borden murders. The story is told from the perspective of Charlie, the young neighbor. The artwork fits the story perfectly, depicting the many facets of Lizzie Borden's personality. Highly recommended when historic graphic novels circulate well with teens and tweens.

Charlie lives next door to the reclusive and rather odd Borden family. Unfortunately, he witnesses a murder. But who will believe a kid?

As the trial plays out, Charlie struggles with what he witnessed, learns about the justice (or injustice) system in the U.S., and watches as his hometown is forever changed by the events of that day.

A well done graphic novel portraying all of the intrigue and events surrounding the Lizzie Borden story. For any true crime aficionado, you’ll recognize this historic tale of Lizzie’s step mother and her father’s brutal murder involving an axe, leaving her and her sister his large estate.
It has baffled the public for years, and even today there is a lot of unanswered questions and speculation about Lizzie’s innocence. And if she was, then who was the real murderer?

The story is told through their teenage neighbor Charlie who witnesses something that he finds suspicious. Once he starts talking about it, all eyes begin to focus on Lizzie as the culprit when her father and step mother are found brutally murdered.
There’s nothing too graphic described. In fact, this graphic novel is meant for middle grade or YA, and it’s a great introductory story into Lizzie’s circumstances and the trial that she went through.

I know a lot of kids are very interested in historical true events, especially any surrounding mystery or the unexplained, such as ghosts, Amelia Earhart or the Bermuda Triangle. This lends itself well to this category. The story is clear, fast paced and the reader really doesn’t know who/what to believe. There’s a certain level of innocence that Charlie possesses that passes through the pages onto the reader, which perfectly illustrates the removed voyeristic quality of the narration. The art is clean, colored well and really helps keep the story paced, especially at the beginning when Charlie is first introducing all of the characters.

For any fan of this story in particular, or historic true crime, I would recommend this book. It’s a fast read but captures the mystery and the still unanswered questions bout this massive trial.

I thought this book was informative and interesting. I enjoyed the illustrations and artistic style. Prior to reading this, I did not know much about the Lizzie Borden case but this book laid out some of the facts. Because true crime is so popular, I think YA readers will enjoy this book!

Lizzie Borden is always a hot topic! Very interesting take inspired by the perspective of Lizzie's neighbor. Do you ever really know a person?

<i>I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story blends historical events with an engaging fictional perspective, creating a fresh and immersive take on one of America’s most infamous unsolved cases. Jeramey Kraatz weaves a compelling mystery through the eyes of Charlie Churchill, a fictionalized character based on the real neighbor of the Bordens, whose firsthand account gives true crime lovers that fly on the wall feeling with the well-known story, following the events the family experienced while adding some new possibilities along the way. The narrative is gripping from the start, balancing suspense with historical depth while exploring themes of sensationalism, truth, and perception that mirrors the very real fascination society develops for events like these.

The artwork by Crystal Jayme is a standout element, perfectly capturing the eerie atmosphere of 1892 Fall River. The expressive character designs and moody color palettes add to the tension, making the setting feel alive and immersive. The integration of real-life facts within the fictional story is done seamlessly, offering both entertainment and historical insight. Whether you're familiar with the Lizzie Borden case or coming into it fresh, <i>I Witnessed</i> offers a compelling, visually stunning, and well-executed take on a case that still fascinates (and let’s be honest, kind of disturbs) to this day.

Thank you to netGalley and HarperAlley for the eARC.

This graphic novel was definitely an interesting read from start to finish, and I believe it was a good introduction to children who haven't heard of this mysterious murder. I can tell there was a lot of careful thought and research to go over this topic, and it translates well into the entire novel. I think using the real life neighbor who could've found out any aspect of this story is pretty plausible, and helps children try to piece together the story.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, albeit from a gruesome story, and I can really commend the author and cartoonist for telling it very well.

After witnessing a horrifying murder unfold next door in the Borden family home, Charlie is determined to find the murderer. While the police and law enforcement are actively investigating the case, Charlie believes he has information that they do not. What really happened in the Borden family that day?
From the very first page, I was captivated. I haven't read many historical fiction graphic novels, so this one was a delightful surprise. I found myself constantly questioning who the real murderer was. Charlie was a well-developed character, but my favorite had to be the enigmatic Lizzie Borden; she possessed an aura of mystery that made me curious about the secrets she might be hiding. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a graphic novel that will keep them engaged and guessing.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @netgalley & @harperalley for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a cool graphic novel/historical true crime. I can imagine a lot of teens and young adults being interested. The illustrations are very muted and the characters are a bit anime-style. I felt I learned a great deal about the time and the case itself. It isn't overly gory or macabre, and the suspense is limited, so slightly younger readers could read this one without too much trouble.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I will purchase for my library and am interested in similar titles.

This is about a gruesome murder case that remained unsolved to this day.

To be honest i’d never heard of the name Lizzie Borden before, so at first I thought this was totally fictional. Until a simple google search told me that it’s very much true, even though the story for this book was fictionalized in some parts, parts that didn’t have immediate impact to the case. Since it’s more like a retelling, it doesn’t offer alternative conclusion whatsoever. So by the end of the story i still have question on my mind but there’s nothing I could do.

The monochrome color palette adds up to the gloomy vibes. Overall it was quite interesting.

Didn’t get a chance to finish this one in time before the book expired on my tablet. I will have to get the book and read it in person and then edit the review once I’ve finished.

I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story is a middle-grade graphic novel about the 1892 murder of Andrew and Abby Borden, allegedly by Andrew's daughter, Lizzie. The story is told from the perspective of the Borden's 14-year-old neighbor, Charles. The story contains facts about the investigation and Lizzie's trial as well as Lizzie herself, her family, and their home. I thought this book was interesting and well-illustrated. Kids in grades 5 and up will likely enjoy this historical true crime graphic novel.

Thanks to HarperAlley and NetGalley for a review copy of I Witnesses: The Lizzie Borden Stroy.

This is too dark for my middle school classroom.
That is why I rated it so low.
I can maybe see it in YA, but not MS.

Jeramey Kratz has captured the events of the Lizzie Borden story in this historical fiction graphic novel. The Lizzie Borden trial that grabbed the attention of people throughout the nation is history, but the facts are framed by fantastic middle grade fiction. Although the trial is fact, the witness is fiction. The Borden's did, indeed, have a 14-year-old neighbor, but his actions are pure fiction. By using the youth as the narrator of the story, Kratz frames the events in a way that is relatable to kids. He balances the facts with the appropriate level of violence for the intended age range. The facts are not sugar coated, but they are not explicit either. The illustrations by Chrystal Jayme have historical accuracy and just the right amount of grey moodiness to set the tone of the story. I accessed a temporary advanced copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions in this review are entirely my own. I thought that Kratz was a new to me author until I read the biographical notes. Besides his books, he also writes scripts for the English dubs for a few anime. As a fan of My Hero Academia, I will now be adding Kratz's books to my TBR.

This was a fascinating book. I am not super familiar with Lizzie Borden's story aside from the rhyme so it was interesting to see how the story played out. I especially enjoyed the presentation of the information in graphic novel form.

Lizzie Borden’s story is one of the most infamous true crime cases in history, but I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story brings a fresh perspective by introducing a real-life neighbor who gets caught up in the fictionalized story. Through the use of engaging storytelling and striking illustrations, this graphic novel captures the intrigue of the Borden case in a way that’s accessible for middle-grade readers and keeps their attention.

This would be perfect for fans of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, students who enjoy true crime, or anyone interested in history with a touch of mystery.