The Other Side of the Wall
Age 12+
Graphic Novels Comic Strip Fiction / Graphic Novels
A memoir from a talented graphic novelist that explores an important period in history from a personal perspective.
Simon Schwartz was born in 1982 in the GDR (East Germany). One and a half years later, he left the country with his parents, and the family resettled in West Berlin. As political dissidents, his parents experienced harassment by the Stasi and a lack of understanding from members of their own family. This striking graphic novel memoir chronicles the family's difficult journey to get to the other side of the Berlin Wall.
Creators
Simon Schwartz grew up in Berlin, Germany. Since 2006 he has been working as a freelance illustrator for several magazines, newspapers, agencies and other clients. In 2011 he began teaching illustration as an Adjunct Professor at the Design Department of the Hamburg Universtity of Applied Sciences. Druben! was nominated for the German Youth Literature Prize 2010 and awarded the ICOM Independent Comic Award for Outstanding Scenario 2010.
Laura Watkinson translates into English, from Dutch, Italian and German. Her literary interests are varied and her projects range from children’s picture books to adult novels and comics. She founded the Dutch chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 2008.
