Catherine's War

Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask complex questions about why people are treated differently or how one person can stay brave in a world that feels unfair. It is a perfect choice for the sensitive reader who is ready to learn about history but needs a gentle, art-focused entry point. Based on the real life of the author's mother, the story follows Rachel, a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France who must change her name to Catherine and go into hiding. While the setting is the Holocaust, the narrative focuses on resilience, the power of creativity, and the kindness of strangers. Through the lens of her camera, Catherine documents her world, finding her own identity even as she is forced to hide it. This graphic novel offers a hopeful and humanizing perspective on a difficult era, making it highly appropriate for upper elementary students who are discovering their own voices.