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Jacqueline: j'avais 7 ans quand la guerre a éclaté
Jacqueline n’a que 7 ans quand la Seconde Guerre mondiale éclate. Et son papa est militaire. Il va lui falloir vivre désormais avec l’absence, avec l’attente et traverser des épreuves qu’elle n’aurait jamais pu imaginer… Suivant sa mère comme son ombre, ne comprenant pas toujours ce qui se passe autour d'elle, Jacqueline va traverser la France pour faire échapper son papa de prison puis l'aider à gagner la zone libre. De Lyon à Marseille, d'Alger à Friedrichshafen en Allemagne, Jacqueline va vivre des aventures souvent inquiétantes, mais qui heureusement finiront bien ; elle verra même son rêve le plus cher - avoir enfin une "sœur" avec qui tout partager - réalisé... Ce récit est une histoire vraie.
104 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2021
About the author
Pierre-Jacques Ober
5 books6 followersPierre-Jacques Ober was born in a military family but broke with family tradition in his preference for philosophy over war. He lives with his wife, Australian photographer Jules Ober, in the rain forest of Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 16, 2022
Such a beautiful WW2 children's story, beautifully related through the most gorgeous photography of miniature design and storytelling. I love that it is based on a true account too!
April 27, 2022
A young French girl's experiences in World War 2 is poignantly portrayed in this stunning picture book. The visuals are illustrated by miniatures that are incredibly realistic. It is based on true events, so photos at the end of this book also act as a reference to history. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2021
When a young French girl’s world turns upside down amidst war, she finds many things in the darkness. Some of those things are scary—there’s nightmares and heartbreak. But there’s also love, family and friendship. These are the beacons of light that drive this story—and Jacqueline—through the dark.
Jacqueline – a soldier’s daughter is a new book by Pierre-Jacques Ober and Jules Ober, published by Ford Street Publishing. Their first book, CBCA shortlisted title and winner of the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize, The Good Son has been hailed as ‘having the power of a timeless fable’ by The New York Times. The French version of Jacqueline – a soldier’s daughter has won Jules Ober the 2021 HiP prize, and the book will be part of a travelling art exhibition in French-speaking countries in 2022.
As Jacqueline navigates her way through loss in a town ravaged by war, and faces loneliness and isolation in a new city, she ultimately discovers happiness in an unexpected place. Her journey, woven together with the use of short text and miniature photography, becomes a testimony to resilience of the human mind and the love of family.
This unique pairing of text and photography creates a new brand of immersive storytelling. The short text gives the miniatures room to breathe and come to life in a place where they can tell their own story. Each page turn becomes like watching a “paper movie”.
Jules Ober found her main challenge was how to bring emotion to the “very stiff and expressionless little plastic men”.
Speaking with CBCA about her first book, she said:
“When I photographed [the figurines], I discovered who they were and then worked to bring out their emotions by the angles I chose, sometimes tilting a tiny head, or emphasising the droop of shoulders.”
These choices are reflected on each page of Jacqueline; Ober’s decision to use natural lighting for her photography speaks in volumes. Bleak lighting becomes the framework for the gloomy, freezing climate Jacqueline and her mother navigate through to find her father. Vibrant colours pierce through the landscape in sunnier sections of the book—a stark contrast to orange bombs glowing in the dark nights of others.
Ober delicately captures the raw human emotion that was a sign of these times. Each figurine gives the impression of something very small being controlled from above, giving a first-hand view into what it’s like being small in a big world—just like Jacqueline.
Jacqueline’s young age gives younger readers the chance to resonate and empathise with her, making this book an imperative one for upper primary/lower secondary students. And for the teachers, you can find a handy PDF of teacher’s notes on Ford Street Publishing’s website—helping you bring this important story to the classroom.
Available now from Ford Street Publishing, and all good bookshops. RRP $34.95
ISBN 9781925804911 (HB)
Reviewed by Katrina Burge
Jacqueline – a soldier’s daughter is a new book by Pierre-Jacques Ober and Jules Ober, published by Ford Street Publishing. Their first book, CBCA shortlisted title and winner of the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize, The Good Son has been hailed as ‘having the power of a timeless fable’ by The New York Times. The French version of Jacqueline – a soldier’s daughter has won Jules Ober the 2021 HiP prize, and the book will be part of a travelling art exhibition in French-speaking countries in 2022.
As Jacqueline navigates her way through loss in a town ravaged by war, and faces loneliness and isolation in a new city, she ultimately discovers happiness in an unexpected place. Her journey, woven together with the use of short text and miniature photography, becomes a testimony to resilience of the human mind and the love of family.
This unique pairing of text and photography creates a new brand of immersive storytelling. The short text gives the miniatures room to breathe and come to life in a place where they can tell their own story. Each page turn becomes like watching a “paper movie”.
Jules Ober found her main challenge was how to bring emotion to the “very stiff and expressionless little plastic men”.
Speaking with CBCA about her first book, she said:
“When I photographed [the figurines], I discovered who they were and then worked to bring out their emotions by the angles I chose, sometimes tilting a tiny head, or emphasising the droop of shoulders.”
These choices are reflected on each page of Jacqueline; Ober’s decision to use natural lighting for her photography speaks in volumes. Bleak lighting becomes the framework for the gloomy, freezing climate Jacqueline and her mother navigate through to find her father. Vibrant colours pierce through the landscape in sunnier sections of the book—a stark contrast to orange bombs glowing in the dark nights of others.
Ober delicately captures the raw human emotion that was a sign of these times. Each figurine gives the impression of something very small being controlled from above, giving a first-hand view into what it’s like being small in a big world—just like Jacqueline.
Jacqueline’s young age gives younger readers the chance to resonate and empathise with her, making this book an imperative one for upper primary/lower secondary students. And for the teachers, you can find a handy PDF of teacher’s notes on Ford Street Publishing’s website—helping you bring this important story to the classroom.
Available now from Ford Street Publishing, and all good bookshops. RRP $34.95
ISBN 9781925804911 (HB)
Reviewed by Katrina Burge
January 24, 2024
Excellent récit, mais surtout, merveilleuse et très originale mise en scene
August 2, 2025
Amazing!
February 20, 2022
Well the Obers have done it again. A beautiful book using lovely miniatures and glorious photography to tell a sensitive story about the difficult subject of war.
This time the story is told by Jacqueline , Pierre-Jacque’s mother, who the book is based on.
Through Jacqueline’s story we learn of the bravery of her mother, the trials of her father and the discovery of where one can find”family”.
A moving and balanced story that avoids demonizing the enemy and the “other” but showing the struggle of a young girl’s experience of war
Such a beautiful book. I brought it with me up to our coast house and all who came couldn’t resist the pull of this book. From the youngest to the oldest all enjoyed the magic within the pages.
Well worth the read and hours can be spent marveling over the art work.
This time the story is told by Jacqueline , Pierre-Jacque’s mother, who the book is based on.
Through Jacqueline’s story we learn of the bravery of her mother, the trials of her father and the discovery of where one can find”family”.
A moving and balanced story that avoids demonizing the enemy and the “other” but showing the struggle of a young girl’s experience of war
Such a beautiful book. I brought it with me up to our coast house and all who came couldn’t resist the pull of this book. From the youngest to the oldest all enjoyed the magic within the pages.
Well worth the read and hours can be spent marveling over the art work.
November 15, 2021
Pierre-Jacques and Jule Ober have created another visual masterpiece with their photographed dioramas to tell the story of Jacqueline, a young girl living through WW2 in occupied France and the efforts of her mother to survive and then to reach and rescue her father after being captured and imprisoned.
The find detail in each diorama accurate portrayal French culture and the hardships of the time. The story is poignant and presented as a memoir recalling the past which draws the reader in. The text is sparse and this generally works well but didn't quite build the tension to reflect the hardships and dangers that mother and daughter endured, and survived. The photographs at he end provide relevant primary source material to inspire budding historians
The find detail in each diorama accurate portrayal French culture and the hardships of the time. The story is poignant and presented as a memoir recalling the past which draws the reader in. The text is sparse and this generally works well but didn't quite build the tension to reflect the hardships and dangers that mother and daughter endured, and survived. The photographs at he end provide relevant primary source material to inspire budding historians
June 24, 2023
An incredible true story of Jacqueline and her parents fight to survive and be together during WW2. The devotion of her mother to her father really kept him alive. I’ve never read a story like it. It is also stunningly illustrated with miniature models made by the authors.
Recommend for children 7+ or when you think they’re ready to read about the war (the main character was 7 when the story took place)
Recommend for children 7+ or when you think they’re ready to read about the war (the main character was 7 when the story took place)
June 20, 2024
This book tells about the WWII from the perspective of little French girl, Jacqueline. It is based from true account (they also attached real pictures of Jacqueline and her family at the end of the book) and illustrated with miniature clay. The depiction is detailed and beautiful. The experience that Jacqueline had to go through also rough and I can imagine how hard it was for her and her mother to survive the war.
December 31, 2022
An incredible story of survival, written with brevity. The imagery (made from small-scale models) is astounding.
March 7, 2024
Bluffant et très émouvant, un autre regard sur la guerre.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews