Superman isn't Jewish (but I am...kinda)

by Jimmy Bemon, Emilie Boudet (Illustrator), Nanette McGuinness (Translator)

Overview

An intimate and humorous autobiography of a boy's quest for identity as he struggles with his heritage and his heroes.

“I’m Jewish!” yells Benjamin, adorning a cape, as he soars among his classmates on the playground. Convinced by his father that Judaism is some kind of superpower, Benjamin believes that each of his eccentric, Jewish relatives is a superhero in their own right, and that he is sure to follow suit—that is, until he realizes that being “different” has turned him into a Bizarro among his classmates. Humorous and timeless, this personal and poignant story of inherited identity will resonate with everyone, especially those who have experienced the trials and tribulations of Interfaith unions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594655982
Publisher:	Humanoids, Inc.
Publication date:	10/02/2018
Series:	Superman isn't Jewish Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

A film director above all else, Jimmy Bemon has put a lot of himself into Superman isn’t Jewish (but I am... Kinda), his graphic novel debut. Born in Nice, France, in 1977, he began his filmmaking career by directing two short films: L’Esprit ouvert (Open Mind) and Poison d’avril (April Fools), both of which received many awards. Superman Isn’t Jewish (But I am... Kinda) was also adapted as an award-winning short film in 2014. Most recently, Jimmy Bemon co-wrote the screenplay for big-budget genre drama Just a Breath Away (2018).​

Born in 1982, Emilie Boudet left her native Beaujolais (a French region known for its wines) to learn art and sequential art at the best schools in Paris (Duperré, Estienne...). She quickly found work as an illustrator at various publishers, both for adults and children’s books. Superman Isn’t Jewish (But I am...Kinda) is her first foray into the graphic novel field.

Editorial Reviews

09/03/2018
Pop culture and ancient religious icons get mashed up to humorous and heartwarming effect in this charming graphic memoir of a boy trying to reconcile the identity he was born with and the identity he’s built for himself. “You are and will always remain Jewish,” little Jimmy’s father tells him the day his parents separate. What’s more, according to Jimmy’s dad, all great men are Jewish­—even Superman. (Well, his creators were, anyway.) That’s enough for Jimmy, who comes to believe that being Jewish is a superpower and starts telling everyone about his amazing birthright. Then while at the urinal in the school bathroom, he discovers how he’s not like the other boys. Desperate to fit in, he adopts a secret identity of sorts, becoming one self to his family and another to everyone else. This internal conflict informs his friendship with a Palestinian schoolmate (who harbors a secret of his own), his love life with the out-of-his-league Jasmine, and his burgeoning career as a filmmaker. Boudet’s illustrations bring a sense of whimsy to Bemon’s life story, rendering his grandfather Yoda as a Muppet and perfectly capturing the prurient POV of a hormone-addled teenager. Together, the dynamic duo of Bemon and Boudet have brought to the page an intimate, entertaining, and truly universal exploration of personal identity. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"“Pop culture and ancient religious icons get mashed up to humorous and heartwarming effect in this charming graphic memoir of a boy trying to reconcile the identity he was born with and the identity he’s built for himself.... The dynamic duo of Bemon and Boudet have brought to the page an intimate, entertaining, and truly universal exploration of personal identity. ” " - Publishers Weekly ""The full color illustrations by Boudet are bright and cheerful...recommended for synagogue and school libraries."" - Association of Jewish Libraries ""...his internal conflict is something that all readers will recognize."" - JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL ""...an impressive graphic memoir that explores self, religion, and pop culture. The story by Bemon is heartfelt, humorous, and relatable. The art by Emilie Boudet transports the reader to a different world. Altogether, it’s a story which gives readers affirmation that being different is a superpower. "" - GRAPHIC POLICY "A humorous, poignant journey of acceptance and learning to love the hero within ourselves. " - PASTE MAGAZINE ""Humorous, timeless and universal, this personal and poignant story of acceptance and understanding shows how we all must learn to love the hero within ourselves." " - NEWSARAMA

From the Publisher

"The full color illustrations by Boudet are bright and cheerful...recommended for synagogue and school libraries."

ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES