"Maus I: A Survivor's Tale" by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman interviews his dad, Vladek, to try to piece together his father's experiences with the Holocaust during World War II. Vladek recalls how he and his wife were constantly either on the run, or in hiding, in order to avoid getting arrested by the Germans for being Jewish. Many Jews were sent to concentration camps, and few managed to escape the horrors of these camps, and were murdered while in captivity. Spiegelman illustrates his father's past, alongside his modern existence in New York State. The Nazis are drawn as cats, and the Jews mice. This story captures the tragedy of the Holocaust, not only for the survivors, but also for the families of those who experienced the terror of war. Spiegelman won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for this masterpiece.

"What I Saw and How I Lied" by Judy Blundell

World War II has just ended, and Evie and her parents are on vacation in Palm Beach, Florida. It's just what the family needs - palm trees, warm weather and time away from the hustle and bustle of Queens, New York. Peter Coleridge shows up at their resort, and Evie is immediately smitten with the handsome veteran. It turns out that Peter and her step-father Joe served together during the war. Evie's relationship with Peter takes a romantic turn, and her parents do not approve of the age difference between them. It's hurricane season in Florida, and one powerful storm will inflict tragedy upon Evie's family. Her adoration of her gorgeous mother and loving step-father are forever tarnished, and she must come to terms with the grave reality of her family's situation. High suspense and great historical fiction. This book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.