Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father

“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it,

or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government.”

– Alexander Hamilton

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since the successful musical, Hamilton, the story of Alexander Hamilton’s life has become such a popular topic. Many fans of the musical want to learn more about Alexander Hamilton and his work as one of America’s Founding Father, including me. And though he was one of the most influential figures in United States’ history, non-Americans is not too familiar with his life story, unlike with the other Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Now, author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood bring Alexander Hamilton’s world to life. Through this graphic novel, they tell the story of improbable hero who helped shape the United States of America.

To Look a Nazi in the Eye by Kathy Kacer with Jordana Lebowitz

“We bravely said ‘never again’ in 1945, but the world is full of hate.

This is why I speak to children — so that they will make a better world for themselves.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 2015, 19 years old Jordana Lebowitz attended the trials of 94 years old ex-Nazi officer, Oskar Grӧning. The man accused of aiding and abetting in the murder of more than 300,000 Jews in the Auschwitz/Birkenau death camp. Jordana has some obsession about Holocaust. Her late grandfather was one of survivors of the death camp, so she definitely has her reasons for her enthusiasm. But it wasn’t the main reason that drives her passion over studying Holocaust, it was her visit to March of the Living back in 2012 to Poland where she met many Nazi’s death camp survivors. When she heard about this war criminal trial, she can’t help but feels like she has to attend this trial and witness with her own eyes how the judge will decide the fate of a member of Nazi that will affect the world’s view.

Perbudakan Seksual (Sexual Slavery) by Anna Mariana

“Because of the practice of sexual politics,

they became the target of state officials.

They were stripped naked, gang raped,

and tortured as a form of authorization.”

Perbudakan Seksual: Perbandingan Antara Masa Fasisme Jepang dan Neofasisme Orde Baru (Sexual Slavery: Comparing Japanese Facism and Neo-Facism of New Order) is a book written by Anna Mariana. In this book, Mariana reveal her research of many sexual assault, sexual slavery and sexual abuse that happens in Indonesia during Japanese Occupation in World War II and during New Order regime under Soeharto presidency.

And Still Peace Did Not Come

“Reopening old wounds will be painful, but in the end, the scar will be smaller.”

When I pick this book, it was meant to fulfill the ‘Political Memoir’ category on this year Pop Sugar Reading Challenge. But, after I read this book, I realize that this book isn’t only a political memoir  of a country, but also an autobiography of a woman.  This is a woman journey to help rebuild and bring peace to her country. This book tells stories about Liberia journey through their Civil War, or like they called it in this book, their own version of ‘World War I’ and ‘World War II’. War that last from 1989 to 2003, between the government, rebels, and warlords. Wars that make the lives of so many Liberian children turn into nightmares and terror, as they forced them to be child soldiers. It’s also a story of a woman named Agnes Fallah Kamara-Umunna, who largely escaped the worst effect of the war, but ended up as a journalist trying to bring peace to her country by talking about what really happened in these wars.