Good Fight
Author: Ted Staunton and Josh Rosen
Publisher: Scholastic Canada
A fast-paced story set in the turbulent summer of 1933, this graphic novel sheds light on prejudice and racial injustice.
The summer is stiflingly hot and the growing city feels small as a xenophobic wave rises. Everyone flocks to the lake, where in one area of the beach, a neighbourhood protective association has formed to keep out “undesirables” and its members patrol wearing silver swastika pins. Meanwhile, as the world witnesses an alarming rise of anti-Semitism overseas, the local police chief believes the immigrant Jewish community is at the root of a communist threat.
Sid and his pop live nearby in Toronto’s immigrant slum, where they rent a room. Times are tough, and Sid faces difficult choices as he wrestles with honesty, bigotry, poverty and expectations as a member of a “whiz mob” — a gang of pickpockets. When Sid and his friends get coerced into assisting the police after they’re caught stealing a wallet, they become caught up in something much bigger than themselves. They must decide how far they will go to do what’s right and to protect those they love.
With extraordinarily cinematic artwork that immediately transports readers back in time, this incredible graphic novel shines a striking light on many contemporary issues: the immigrant experience, the roots of prejudice and taking a stand against injustice.
The illustrations are superb, and the story follows three boys and a girl through a tense time when Canada is deciding how to react to anti-Semitism abroad. It gives an excellent historic perspective on being poor, unwanted and desperate during the Depression and on the brink of World War II. It hints at the fomenting of unions, nasty politics and crooked police. It’s chock full of interesting characters from every walk of life. Although the pictures and overall story will appeal to many ages, the complexities of the true-grit storyline and moral lessons are best left to teens, who will also appreciate the two-page historical note at the end of the book. Oh, and who knew that acclaimed author Ted Staunton’s grandfather, W.J. Stewart, was mayor of Toronto at the time of the infamous riot?
P.W.