Adolescence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 2) [Paperback]

Vittorio Giardino (Author), Joe Johnson (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Jew in Communist Prague | Publication Date: January 2003

A brilliantly written graphic novel about the real human experience of living behind the iron curtain from one of Italy's leading comic artists.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The second volume of Italian master cartoonist Vittorio Giardino's powerful A Jew in Communist Prague finds the main character, Jonas Finkel, still patiently waiting for word on his father's imprisonment. After much ill luck at a variety of odd jobs, Jonas finds employment first as a working-class laborer and then at a bookstore, where he can again pursue his love of books (his education was previously stunted by the racially motivated actions of the state). The beauty of Adolescence--even more than Giardino's wonderfully realistic drawings--is in the relationships he reveals: Jonas's friendship with a kind, middle-aged drunk in the labor yards; the supportive fatherly role of the bookstore owner; and Jonas's awkward connection to a group of young radicals bent on reading anything and everything that the government bans. Giardino lays down slices of life like jewels along a dusty path.

From School Library Journal

YA?The next chapter in Jonas's life finds him coming of age. The family has learned that Dr. Finkel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison without the right to correspond. Eventually, he is able to receive packages from his family. Meanwhile, Jonas works as a laborer, an apprentice plumber, and is eventually allowed to take a job in a bookstore. He rekindles a friendship with a childhood friend and joins a group of teens who read forbidden literature in the park. Jonas becomes infatuated with one of the girls in this circle and pursues her in a rather clumsy fashion. The politics of the times continue to rule the Finkels' lives: Jonas is compelled to spy on his boss in order to be able to keep his current employment. Readers always privy to the young man's feelings by his facial expressions. Giardino is a highly skilled artist, effortlessly portraying myriad emotions through both text and drawing. Two forthcoming volumes will inform readers about the ultimate fate of the Finkels.?Betsy Levine, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561631973
• ISBN-13: 978-1561631971
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish it Were Longer!, July 27, 2001

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Adolescence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 2) (Paperback)

This second installment of Italian cartoonist Giardino's graphic novel series about a Jewish boy growing up in Communist Prague finds Jonas Finkel unable to attend school due to his father's status as political prisoner. Forced to work, he toils as a laborer on a building site before falling in with Slavek, a fatalistic, drunken storytelling plumber. From this substitute father-figure, he moves on to work in a bookstore, where his love of books can be nourished, and where he meets a club of teenage intellectuals who meet in the park to read forbidden poetry and sing banned songs. Jonas's outsider status is highlighted by his awkward fumblings in trying to attract the attention of Tatiana, one of the intellectual girls. Interspersed with his is some of the political goings-on of the time, the death of Stalin, counter-revolutionary efforts by the secret police, and soforth. These feel rather forced and shoehorned in when contrasted with the simple tale of Jonas growing up without his father. Perhaps the effect is lessened when the series is read in its entirety, instead of in sparse 48-page installments. It'll be interested to see where it'll all lead. As to the art, the story is drawn in the lovely realistic style I tend to associate with European cartoonists, and colored with an appropriately subdued palate of greys and browns.