Book Talk: Yossel

Yossel, by Joe Kubert

The story

Yossel is a fictional graphic novel account of a young artist in Poland who is forced to move to the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. He trades his artistic abilities for food and security from the guards, surviving by drawing portraits and comics for them. Eventually, he meets a man from one of the camps, who describes the atrocities happening in the camps. The story ends with the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Although fictional, Yossel's story is based on first person accounts of the Holocaust, as well as letters and documents of family members and survivors. 

Part of what makes this story so compelling is the art. Kubert intentionally uses rough pencil sketches, as if they were drawn by Yossel himself, to create a dark and gritty atmosphere. This book brings the Holocaust to life in an unconventional manner, using strong visuals and narration to convey the tension and dread of living in the Warsaw Ghetto during the war. 

Yossel is considered one of the most influential graphic novels ever written, and has received a lot of critical attention.  It won a spot on Library Thing’s 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written, and received two nominations for the Harvey Award. Yossel has also been nominated for the Eisner Award.

Resources Available

While there are few teaching resources that concentrate specifically on Yossel, there are many that provide guidance for incorporating graphic novels into lessons on literature, politics, sociology and more. Check out the Secret Origin of Good Readers, which includes comics-related activities for the classroom, and this Visual Rhetoric and Visual Literacy Handout from Duke University. In addition, a lesson plan for graphic novels is available from Barker College. Finally, there are many books on teaching and interpreting graphic novels, including Comics & Culture: Analytical and Theoretical Approaches to Comics, by Ann Magnussen,  and Graphic Storytelling and the Visual Narrative, by Will Eisner. Depending on where you are located, these may be available through your local or school library.

About Me 

Leah Kuriluk is the Holocaust Education Resource Center's Library Intern. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Library and Information Science and a certificate of Information Management at Wayne State University. Leah also has a BA in History.