Concerning & Potentially Concerning Content

We have taken every chance we can get to point out the growing discrepancy in graphic novels between the medium and the message as we more and more of these brightly colored illustrated books being used to tell stories that are not in any way aimed at the young children who are inevitably drawn to them, and that we as parents at least initially assume they are written for. In the past this has been almost exclusively something we have pointed out in really secular books that we have tried to help warn Christian parents about. That is not the case at all here, as this is a wonderful Christian resource for families. But Christian parents should know that the original discrepancy we often point out is still something to consider here, as this is a faith-building tale, but it is one that includes violence (here illustrated) and really sad historical content that many of the youngest readers who love graphic novels will not be ready for. We will attempt to share a glimpse at this content here so you can use it to determine if this great book is one that your young reader is ready for (see the “Good Book Mom review linked below for a few glimpses at images that show examples of more violent illustrations as well). We highly suggest you read all of this section and the next to get the complete picture. Examples of heavier / more violent content: The book starts with a celebration, but soon a man shows up and the illustrations show a disfigurement of his face. A flashback, again illustrated, shows a group of young men called “The Hitler Youth” catching his beard on fire for being Jewish Remembering her mother lovingly serving her neighbors, Corrie sees a baby that has passed away. We see her father handle this situation with so much love, pointing out God’s goodness and care as the baby is shown peacefully. Hitler’s hate and eventual war/invasion are handled very directly, but still with young audiences in mind (although again, not with the very youngest graphic novel readers in mind). We see older people attacked and hurt, women slapped, etc. There is also several instances of unkind speech. We see men lying dead in a battlefield scene. See men killed in a firing squad. It isn’t graphic, but very clear what is happening. There is a huge pile of illustrated dead bodies shown in a concentration camp. Other items to be aware of when assessing this one for your reader: Carrie as a child decides to use a few minutes alone with her father to ask him about a poem she read in class. She leads with “What is sex?”. Father answers with wonderful wisdom and gentleness (“Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.”), but good to know it is there (again, this is a graphic novel!). There is a good bit of wrestling with things like lying, theft and deception when it is for a “good cause”. This is probably something to talk through with your children, how to see it from God’s eyes as it comes up a lot for things like hiding Jewish people from Nazi authorities. In a similar lane, we see a couple instances of men dressing as women as a disguise. Women in concentration camp are made to strip down multiple times (nothing shown).