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Jerusalem: A Family Portrait


Summary: The story of the Halaby family is a remarkable, yet sad one. What is mostly told is the relationship between the family's two brother: Yakov and Isak. From the early days of their childhood, the two brothers have had an estranged relationship and despite the horror, the violence, the frustration, and abuse that surrounds them and their immediate families, the two men obstinately stick to their clashing opinions. The two men are trying their best to raise their families during the 1940s in Jerusalem. This is a time when the conflict between Arabs and Jews was intense and bloody. Members of the families are drawn to the conflict and want to help what they believe to be just causes. However, the two youngest boys on both sides of the family are friends and despite their fathers' quarrel they promise to be friends forever. As the two grow up, Jonathan and Motti discover that that promise becomes difficult to maintain.

Reference: Yakin, Boaz; Nick Bertozzi (2013). Jerusalem: A Family Portrait. New York, NY. :01First Second. 

Impressions: Admittedly, I am not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the history of Jerusalem, but that didn't stop me from wanting to read this book. The first pages of the book gives the reader a brief history of Jerusalem and summarizes the reasoning for the Arab-Jewish conflict. Again not knowing of the history, I was grateful for the background summary, which helped me to understand what was happening during this time period. I found the story to be fascinating and had a difficult time putting the book down. I started reading the book when I was substituting some classes, so I read the story in increments. Needless to say, I couldn't wait for my next subbing assignment, so that I could finish the book. Yakin's storytelling doesn't get bogged down in explanation, but rather allows the images, facial expressions, and panels to do what they are intended to do: telling the story.  Bertozzi's illustrations were also complimentary to the story because the black and white imagery gave the story a historical feel, as well as a dire feeling to the atmosphere. The drawings kept the mood somber, which was more than likely a good representation of the emotions I'm sure most people of this time period experienced. From time to time, I did get a bit confused with the cast of characters, but a quick re-read fixed that up quickly. All in all, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, which has given me a better understanding of the Arab-Jewish conflict, as well as the people involved. 

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