A stunning memoir of a mother and her daughter's survival in WWII and their subsequent lifelong struggle with faith
In this ... read full description
In this ... read full description
reviews
Dec 07, 2011
Lisa
rated it: 
I am new to graphic books and, to be honest, a bit leery. In a surprising (to me) discovery, this is a book I cannot image being told in any other format. Miriam Katin is truly able to convey a thousand words in key frames.
In 1944, Miriam is a bright and happy child living in Budapest with her mother and her dog Rexy. Her father, a dimly remembered figure, is away at the front. Miriam's mother, Esther, worries about the increasing restrictions on Jews, but Miriam's too young to underst More...
In 1944, Miriam is a bright and happy child living in Budapest with her mother and her dog Rexy. Her father, a dimly remembered figure, is away at the front. Miriam's mother, Esther, worries about the increasing restrictions on Jews, but Miriam's too young to underst More...
Sep 19, 2011
Emilia
rated it: 
So, yeah, as a comic book it was just fine/ok, in that scribbly style ala C. Tyler, which is interesting and boring/cheaty/shorthand at once.
Also, the language was stilted enough that I checked to see if it was a translation. No such luck. Written in English.
We Are On Our Own refers to an atheism borne of the struggles of WWII and it's aftermath, dealing with Nazis and Communists and etc. If all these terrible things happen, there is no god? I guess? But, dude, the book has a h More...
Also, the language was stilted enough that I checked to see if it was a translation. No such luck. Written in English.
We Are On Our Own refers to an atheism borne of the struggles of WWII and it's aftermath, dealing with Nazis and Communists and etc. If all these terrible things happen, there is no god? I guess? But, dude, the book has a h More...
May 11, 2009
Matt
rated it: 
This graphic novel, Katin's memoir of being a child in Hungary when first the nazis, and then the Soviets, took control of the area, invites comparisons to Marjane Satrapi's _Persepolis_ books-- I mean, I think they were produced independent of one another, but both deal with a child's perspective of life under a foreign, repressive regime.... or so you'd think.
But perhaps because this book is mostly reconstructed from conversations with her mother, the book has little interest in yo More...
But perhaps because this book is mostly reconstructed from conversations with her mother, the book has little interest in yo More...
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Mar 23, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Wow. Miriam brings us into the past and we see her as a child escaping WWII with her mother while trying to keep a hold onto their faith amidst death and destruction. Very poignant and powerful story told in a simple manner as seen through the eyes of a child. Considering the untold numbers who perished in the war, the fact that there are those who managed to escape and start a new life is beyond miraculous. One hopes that seeing what they went through could perhaps curb humanity's bloodlust...
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Dec 18, 2010
Lindsay
rated it:
This memoir could have been more than it was. Overall, the WWII part of the story was fairly well crafted, and the late 60s-early 70s part had potential, but since the more modern scenes were fairly sparse and not very eloquent, it almost detracted from the story rather than enhance it. The story seemed like it had a destination, most prominently in reflecting upon religion in a time of crisis, but instead of rounding out its focus, it rather hastily wrapped up the themes and called it a day.
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Jan 09, 2012
Steven
rated it:
This story is about a young girl who’s name is Lisa Levy and her mother Esther Levy. In 1944 World War 2 was happening, and the Jewish had to flee towns to stay save. Lisa and her mother were both Jewish. Her father was in the war and she doesn’t remember him. Through the book they find out that all the Jewish must be reported but instead they leave town. They move town to town avoiding being captured.
This book was a very short and quick read, maybe for someone just to read if they have a More...
This book was a very short and quick read, maybe for someone just to read if they have a More...
Aug 04, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
And God said: Let there be light, and there was light…and it was good.
And then one day, God replaced the light with darkness.
We Are On Our Own is a graphic novel memoire about Katin’s childhood (though she names herself Lisa in the book). It is about both her physical and spiritual struggles. When Lisa was very young, she and her mother had to leave Budapest in disguise to escape the nazis. The book follows them on their journey into Russia, where they come across both good people More...
And then one day, God replaced the light with darkness.
We Are On Our Own is a graphic novel memoire about Katin’s childhood (though she names herself Lisa in the book). It is about both her physical and spiritual struggles. When Lisa was very young, she and her mother had to leave Budapest in disguise to escape the nazis. The book follows them on their journey into Russia, where they come across both good people More...
Jun 18, 2008
Corinne
rated it:
We Are On Our Own is not a completely chronological story. We see Miriam as an adult occasionally, with seemingly unimportant tasks and events reminding her about experiences in her past. The bulk of the story, however, takes place in Budapest during the last two years of World War II. She is Jewish, the single child of a deployed soldier father and a mother (Ester) at home. As the situation worsens for the Jews, Miriam flees with her mother and lives a frightful existence as her mother tries to
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Nov 12, 2007
Alexis
rated it:
I would be afraid to write a graphic novel set during the Holocaust since one of the most successful graphic novels of all time, the Maus series has done is so brilliantly.
I am thrilled that Miriam Katin did not share my fear. She has produced a beautiful, touching and important work in We Are On Our Own. The scope is much smaller than that of Maus which is perhaps why it can happily coexist with Spiegelman's work neither threatening nor competing with it.
The plot is More...
I am thrilled that Miriam Katin did not share my fear. She has produced a beautiful, touching and important work in We Are On Our Own. The scope is much smaller than that of Maus which is perhaps why it can happily coexist with Spiegelman's work neither threatening nor competing with it.
The plot is More...
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Nov 25, 2008
Jan
rated it:
A moving graphic novel about the Holocaust and a powerful look at whether one can maintain a belief in God during the horrors of war. A Jewish mother and her young daughter are forced to flee the city to avoid a roundup by Nazis. They end up sheltered by a family in the country, but when the Nazis flee, they have to deal with the Russians. Eventually the mother is reunited with her husband, who cannot believe in a God who allows such horrors.
Jul 28, 2011
Rachel
rated it: 
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel tells the story of young Miriam Katin and her mother's escape to the Hungarian countryside to hide from the Nazis during World War II. Using the pseudonym Lisa for her childhood incarnation, Katin relives the experience through her childhood memories and portrays the many horrors and agonies of wartime and persecution from the very innocent perspective of a small child.
On some level, Katin's story is a story that has been told many times befo More...
On some level, Katin's story is a story that has been told many times befo More...
Feb 21, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
We Are On Our Own is Miriam Katin's account of how she and her mother had to flee from the Nazis in Budapest and seek a safe haven. The events shift from those of her childhood to her present to show some of the long term effects. It's the small details like a child losing her dog that make this memoir standout.The illustrations were also very interesting, with the art style shifting to reflect different shifts in the plot.
Jan 01, 2011
Megan
rated it:
I'm not sure what to think of this one. The art was light and lovely, which was in bizarre contrast to the story it told. The flash forward to the scenes with the author and her own child made the story seem incomplete in a way. Everything was too brief to accomplish that a memoir like Maus did. But all that sad, the story was powerful, no matter what way it was presented and I'm glad to have read it.
Jul 27, 2009
Karin
rated it:
This graphic novel is so beautifully drawn and courageously told - one woman's journey with her very young daughter through the Nazi war, and all the ravages that entails, contrasted against modern day America, where we are mostly oh so safe and comfortable... I find myself taken in to the imagery and story in a way that words alone cannot do - the impact was powerful for me.
Oct 26, 2009
Philip
rated it:
This was a decent and emotional graphic novel of a mother and daughter fleeing the Nazis and then more or less fleeing the Russians after them.
The story has been pieced together from her own recollection of when she was a child on the run, but also from conversations and letters.
I think she comes to the wrong conclusion about God, but then, I understand her rationale.
The story has been pieced together from her own recollection of when she was a child on the run, but also from conversations and letters.
I think she comes to the wrong conclusion about God, but then, I understand her rationale.
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Mar 13, 2009
Kricket
rated it:
though this is a true story, the author was very young during the year she and her mother fled through hungary, away from nazi soldiers. the story is brief but packs a punch, especially in the simple way it expresses the author's family's struggle to believe in a god that would allow genocide to take place.
Jun 08, 2010
Kerry
rated it:
Eh. I liked the art, but the story didn't engage me at all. I didn't care more about these people than any of the other millions affected by the Holocaust. And having a kid say shit like "God is in the wine!" every few pages, does not an insightful discussion about God make. Sorry lady.
Nov 05, 2008
Patty
rated it:
A haunting book about WW II that I have recently read was We Are on Our Own by Miriam Katin. This book preoccupies my mind for several reasons. One, it is a story about WWII that is not familiar to me. I had never thought much about those who tried to escape. What Miriam and her mother went through was very difficult.
Two, the drawings of this "graohic novel" are very evocative. Most of the GNs I have read have been black and white, and very clear. These drawings are in colo More...
Two, the drawings of this "graohic novel" are very evocative. Most of the GNs I have read have been black and white, and very clear. These drawings are in colo More...
Oct 02, 2009
Charlotte
rated it:
Memoir of a woman, told by her daughter, as she does whatever it takes to escape being sent to concentration camps by the Nazis. Addresses how difficult it is to keep faith amongst such violence and destruction.
Some sexual exploitation and gang rape, however, its not explicit.
Some sexual exploitation and gang rape, however, its not explicit.
Jun 06, 2009
Flissy
rated it:
I actually finished reading We Are On Our Own by Miriam Katin a while ago and have put off posting about it because it is just not a good book. Don't bother. The illustrations are poor and don't communicate well, the writing is just as vague.
This is a memoir about the author's flight with her mother during World War II. I have no doubt that this was a painful and trying experience, but the book just does not explain how it really affected her, nor was very clear about the details of More...
This is a memoir about the author's flight with her mother during World War II. I have no doubt that this was a painful and trying experience, but the book just does not explain how it really affected her, nor was very clear about the details of More...
Oct 29, 2011
Karla
rated it:
The art is delicate and sweet, and the story is strong and heartfelt. A really personal, interesting look into Katin's past.
Sep 09, 2010
Joseph
rated it:
I can't decide if the art is elegantly crude, or just crude. But it's a fairly effective refugee memoir.
Jan 16, 2012
Monica
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This is Katin's graphic memoir of fleeing and hiding from the Nazis. Really powerful.
Aug 03, 2011
Jenn
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Interesting story of escaping from WWII Budapest, captivating illustrations.
Jan 08, 2010
Manday
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This was an interesting story, but graphic novels just are not my thing.
Jun 12, 2010
Courtney
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Read this for school in my 'Holocomics' class. Wasn't a huge fan of it, just didn't connect with the characters or the story (especially after reading Maus before this!)
Sep 24, 2009
Ayne
rated it:
A compelling addition to the canon of serious, socially conscious graphic novels, this autobiographical story follows a young daughter and her mother as they flee the Nazis and are forced to live with the difficult choices necessary for survival, leading to a crisis of faith. Beautiful, often stark illustrations add an almost dreamlike quality, complementing the straightforward yet deeply affecting narrative.
