Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

I picked up We Are On our Own: A Memoir by Miriam Katin after I read Dewey’s review at The Hidden Side of a Leaf in which she says, “This is an amazing book. I suggest you all run straight out to your library or bookstore now and pick it up. Seriously.” So seriously, I did exactly that and placed a hold on it immediately.

I have a confession to make. We Are On Our Own was the very first Graphic Memoir (or any type of graphic anything) that I’ve ever read (does Archie count?). There, it’s out in the open. I said it. We Are On Our Own is a amazing illustrated graphic memoir. By profession, Miriam Katin was a graphic artist and when sitting down to put her experiences about her childhood during WWII to paper, I suppose drawing it out just made sense. Too cool if you ask me.

With her father off fighting for the Hungarian army, Miriam Katin retells the story of her and her Mother leaving the comfort of their home and escaping on foot to avoid deportation. Miriam is small, probably about four or five and the story reflects how she viewed what was going on around her through the eyes of a child. She remembers the small things, her dog being taken away, the “nice man” who brings her chocolates, the snow, confusion over mommy crying, the tanks, being left alone while her mother went to the hospital. She also blends in the memories that she created when she later heard stories of what really happened, for example the search that her father undertook to find them and what her mother had to go through to keep them a few steps ahead of the Nazis.

From the book jacket:

We Are on Our Own is a woman’s attempt to rebuild her earliest childhood trauma in order to come to an understanding of her lifelong questioning of faith. Katin’s faith is shaken as she wonders how God could create and tolerate such a wretched world, a world of fear and hiding, bargaining and theft, betrayal and abuse. The complex and horrific experiences on the run are difficult for a child to understand, and as a child, Katin saw them with the simple longing, sadness, and curiosity she felt when her dog disappears or a stranger makes her mother cry.

The pencils illustrations were very stylistic, loose and told so much more of the story. I thought they were very well done.

Here is a short video with Miriam sharing a few of her thoughts about On Our Own:

If you’re like me, and like to read anything about WWII, On Our Own: A Memoir by Mariam Katin would be a good addition to your reading list.

Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!