Julia Billet is an acclaimed French novelist and author of short stories, children's books, and poetry. Billet will be appearing at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum to discuss her award-winning graphic novel "La Guerre de Catherine" (Rue de Sèvres, 2012), debuting in the U.S. in translation as "Catherine’s War" (HarperCollins) on January 21st.
Billet will be joined in conversation by Dr. Margaret Flinn, Associate Professor of French at The Ohio State University, in the Billy Ireland's Will Eisner Seminar Room (205). This event is free and open to the public.
5:00-6:00 Conversation and Q+A
6:00-6:30 Book sale and signing
ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Catherine’s War" is a magnificent narrative inspired by a true survival story that asks universal questions about a young girl’s coming of age story, her identity, her passions, and her first loves.
At the Sèvres Children’s Home outside Paris, Rachel Cohen has discovered her passion—photography. Although she hasn’t heard from her parents in months, she loves the people at her school, adores capturing what she sees in pictures, and tries not to worry too much about Hitler’s war. But as France buckles under the Nazi regime, danger closes in, and Rachel must change her name and go into hiding.
As Catherine Colin, Rachel Cohen is faced with leaving the Sèvres Home—and the friends she made there—behind. But she possesses an object with the power to remember—her beautiful camera. For the rest of the war, Catherine bears witness to her own journey and to countless heroes, whose courage and generosity save the lives of many, including her own.
Based on the author’s mother’s own experiences as a hidden child in France during World War II, Catherine’s War is one of the most accessible historical graphic novels featuring a powerful girl since Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi—perfect for fans of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Anne Frank, or Helen Keller.
Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger from French and illustrated by Claire Fauvel.
