I hadn’t really given it much thought until now, but since I just read and reviewed two non-fiction graphic novels in a row, I guess I really like this combination of genre and format, especially for historical/biographical stories. My most recent non-fiction graphic novel read is Liberated by Kaz Rowe, and oh, this one is so good I read it in a single sitting without even meaning to.
Liberated is the story of Claude Cahun, a non-binary/genderqueer (guessing at how they would identify using today’s labels; in the book they say “Masculine? Feminine? It depends on the situation. Neuter is the only gender that always suits me.”) writer, photographer, and artist. Together with their partner Suzanne, they waged a creative attack against occupying Nazis.
By the way, I’m following the author’s convention here of referring to Claude by they/them pronouns and their assumed nom de plum, and Suzanne by she/her pronouns and her birth name, though Suzanne also created sometimes under the name “Marcel Moore.”
Claude and Suzanne were in their 40s, and Claude was chronically ill, when the Nazis invaded. Both were seen as women by their neighbors; eccentric in how they wore “men’s” clothing, but essentially harmless. I personally found it really inspiring how they used their perceived weakness to fly under the radar while the Nazis were convinced that whoever was creating propaganda had the support of an entire cell (nope, just one ornery queer couple).
Although Liberated is a short book, I feel like it has two important messages.
The first is that there are many ways to protest and resist. In today’s political climate, there are a lot of people who will tell you that you HAVE to attend protests or you HAVE to call your elected officials every day. Those actions may not be accessible to you. Claude and Suzanne started by literally writing slogans on cigarette papers and leaving them all over town as they walked their cat (yes, they walked their cat on a leash. These two were absolute icons). They found a method of protests that worked with their skillset, abilities, and position in life. You can too. We can all find ways to resist.
The second is that queer people have always been here. Claude may not have had the same vocabulary for their identity that we have today, but they clearly understood their own gender. Don’t let anyone tell you that trans and non-binary identities are some brand-new invention.
And yes, I know a lot of adults already know this… but Liberated is for audiences 12 and up and is shelved in the Teen section of the library. I think this is a great book for teens who are exploring either their gender and sexuality, or their political activism. It’s less traumatic than some other WWII/Holocaust themed materials geared towards teens, so this could be a good one for your more sensitive young readers.
Before I wrap this up, I want to touch on Rowe’s artwork. I think they did a very good job of illustrating this book, of aging up Claude and Suzanne over the years, while still keeping them recognizable. The book also occasionally incorporates photographs, which to me grounds the story even more in reality and creates a multi-media feel.
Over all, I think Liberated represents the best elements of graphic non-fiction. It helps bring history to life, and hopefully makes it more appealing to readers who might usually avoid history due to bad experiences with dry textbooks in school. It’s short and doesn’t get too deep, but it provides a jumping-off point if readers would like to learn more. And for families with teens, I think it could inspire some great conversations about identity and resistance.
Here are a couple reviews of other non-fiction graphic novels I’ve enjoyed, if you’d like to find more to add to your TBR: Wake, and I Know What I Am. I also really enjoyed the March series, Ten Days in a Madhouse, and Persepolis, but I don’t have reviews of them.
CWs and TWs: Antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, violence, discussions of WWII and the Holocaust, discussions of mental illness and institutionalization, death of a parent.
Source and Format: I borrowed a hardback copy from Sno-Isle Libraries, but I’ll be looking to add this to my collection.
Reading Challenge Prompts
Brick & Mortar: Comic or Graphic Novel. This is a graphic novel. Not much to say about that.
World of Whimm: Recommended on Social Media. If you hang out in bookish spaces online, you tend to see a lot of the same recommendations over and over and over again. Sometimes you’ve gotta get away from the mainstream bookish space and pay attention to other conversations. I saw Liberated recommended in response to a BlueSky thread someone posted about Claude Cahun, and I immediately put a library hold on it. So if you feel like you’re getting bad recs on social media, try hanging out in a space related to your interests rather than books in general. Good luck out there!
Reading Challenge Progress
Nook & Cranny (Card 1): 6 of 25, no bingos.
Nook & Cranny (Card 2): 7 of 25, no bingos.
Book Riot: 10 of 25.
Physical TBR: 2 of 12.
Brick & Mortar: 19 of 25, 3 bingos*.
*I’ve completed several of the non-reading prompts, hence the mismatch with the number of reviews!
World of Whimm: 10 of 24, no bingos.