Due to the familiarity of the story presented in A Family Secret by Eric Heuvel and Lorraine T. Miller (Translator), things were not as impactful as it could have been. However, if this is your first or near first time reading a WWII / Holocaust story, it is good. The images are busy, so take your time with them. The ending is a smidgen idealistic, but it’s also a nice touch. I am now curious about the sequel / companion graphic novel. I would have liked to learn more about the Dutch traditions used to remember those lost, but I assume an American audience was not the audience originally intended.
The images bring to mind TinTin and Archie Comics. This made the World War Two and Holocaust story at first seem like it was not being taken seriously. However, that deliberate choice will then allow for a less intensity during the harder to deal with scenes. Also, they quickly stop being cartoonish and just are the vessel showing the action. As mentioned above, the illustrations are busy and that was distracting at times. But, in the end the details are not there to fill up space, but do play a role as well.
One piece of the story that was a plus was how the family was so radically different from each other, but each one you understand why they are the way they are. We have the father, a policeman trying to keep his job and family safe. We have a mother that is a woman of her time and loves her children and husband. We have the oldest son who believes in the patriotism and propaganda of saying how strong the blonde young man is destined for greatness (after all, what older teen/young 20-year-old doesn’t believe he is important and immortal?). There is the middle child, the son who tries to find his place in things; as he disagrees with everything his brother stood and stands for; the one who will resist. And finally the younger, the sister, the narrator and though she is the youngest, she is in the middle of it all. Torn between her love of her family and her best friend who happens to be Jewish. These are your friends, family, neighbors and yourself.
One piece of the story that was a bit of a disappointment was how things wrapped up in a Happy Ending. Perhaps that is for the best, giving hope, especially after the brutality unfolding on the pages. This directly relates to how the people shown could fall into stereotypes and caricatures. Still, the story is well-done, gets the job done and shows you a piece of history that is unfolding again
