5th and 6th Graders Love MARZI!

The 5th and 6th grade were given a special treat during Middle School Meeting on October 26th when the author/illustrator team of the graphic memoir MARZI , along with their American editor Karen Berger from DC Comics, came for a visit. MARZI is based on the author Marzena Sowa’s childhood growing up in Communist Poland during the the 1970’s and 80’s. The book’s illustrator, Sylvain Savoia, is also Marzena’s partner and was the one to encourage her to translate her childhood memories into this exceptional graphic memoir. Think Persepolis, except set in Poland and for a much younger audience. Our middle schoolers were charmed by Marzena and Sylvain, who regaled them with funny stories from the memoir and drew original art for them during the presentation. After reading that Marzi had to make her own gum from window putty, one student couldn’t resist bringing Marzena a pack of chewing gum! We feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to see this wonderful couple in action, as their home is in France and they were only in New York for a short visit. We have two copies of MARZI in the school library available for check-out, so please come by and take a look!

Marzena and Sylvain meeting an ardent young fan, who finished the whole book in one night.

Vertigo Executive Editor Karen Berger, artist Sylvain Savoia, author Marzena Sowa and me! (Middle School Librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan)