Last winter, on an exceptionally slow day at the bookstore where I work, I decided to read Art Spiegelman’s graphic memoir, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale; 1 My Father Bleeds History.
This graphic novel is based on Spiegelman’s father’s recollections of being Jewish in Poland during WW2, including life in concentration camps. I read the first volume in the series, which flips between Spiegelman speaking with his elderly father and his flashbacks to his father’s memories.
I’m surprised that I had not read this sooner, as it was originally published in the 80’s. I’m not sure when it started becoming part of school curriculum, but I graduated high school in 95 and I did not encounter it in lower education or at the university level. I was really curious about it, because of the recent surge of book bans, with Maus being a target.
Ostensibly, it is banned for adult content, including language and nudity, however, after a read, it seems like a weak argument. The “adult content” is not excessive, even by standards of today’s movies or television. It’s also not gratuitous. It’s fitting to the themes of the book and the storytelling. It is a shame that some that parents and school boards would throw out this important work in an effort to shelter teenagers. Exposure to books and stories helps people develop empathy and gain perspectives. Maus is an excellent educational tool and it seems whatever might be objectionable to some is far outshined by the positive gains from reading it.
I’ve been trying to expand my horizons and read more graphic books. Maus is particularly engaging in this format. I thought the story framing of having Spiegelman’s interactions with his father and flashbacks worked particularly well. There is some humor and comfort that Spiegelman reveals in his interactions with his father which serve to balance the heaviness of the overall story. It also helps with the pacing.
Maus is important and memorable. I highly recommend it to everyone, and if you're a teenager facing school book bans, find a bookseller or librarian that will help you get the books that you should be allowed to read!