Non-Fiction- THE WALL

Sis, Peter. 2007. THE WALL. New York. Frances Foster Books. ISBN 139780374347017
THE WALL is a graphic memoir that recalls the memories and experiences of Peter Sis as a young child and teen growing up in communist Czechoslovakia. The pages are filled with the thought and dreams of a boy that sees more than his country will allow. His dreams and thoughts are translated into original art. Peter draws and paints as a way to feel freedom even though it must be done in secret. The book contains private photos and journal entries help to better understand the changes he experienced. Peter shows the influence of the Western culture as we see the lines of people waiting to go to a “Beach Boys concert” and he writes” out of the dark came a glimmer of hope.” Freedom,” America to the rescue”, he began to paint dreams again. The emotion of a young boy wanting to wear blue jeans, grow his hair long, and be in a rock band is expressed through the illustrations, while the conflict can be understood in the verse, “Rock music is against the principles of Socialist art.” “The Iron Curtain descends again.” The dreams of a young boy could not be taken away and freedom should never be taken for granted is a message that could only be expressed by the combination of the complex art, personal journal entries and the private photos that put a face to the experience of growing up behind the “Iron Curtain.” This is a must read for anyone who takes for granted the freedoms that we have living in America.
Awards and Reviews
The Robert F. Siebert Medal Caldecott Medal Honor Book
Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic “Peter Sís’s book is most of all about the will to live one’s life in freedom and should be required reading for all those who take their freedom for granted.”
Starred, Kirkus Reviews- “A masterpiece for readers young and old.”
Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State- “Peter, born to dream and draw, is now also teaching the tragic history of his native Czechoslovakia under communism in this beautiful, poignant, and important work for those of all ages.”
Starred, Publishers Weekly “Younger readers have not yet had a graphic memoir with the power of Maus or Persepolis to call their own, but they do now.”

Milos Forman, Oscar winning-director of Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
“This stunning book is a MUST for anybody who is curious to learn about the world we live in!”
The Wall is a book that I would recommend for older students. I believe a middle school student would be able to understand what Peter is feeling and experiencing. This graphic memoir would make a great resource or introduction to lessons in history, government, and language arts. This book would be a great way to have students work in groups to examine the different time periods that Czechoslovakia went through and how it today.
I do love the journal entries that Peter Sis included in The Wall and I would share this part of the book with my first grade students. The journal entries were very important to me in understanding his experiences. I can use this as one more example of using journal or diary entries in writing.