Two Pieces of Chocolate

When they are sent to Bergen-Belsen in 1945, Francine and Maman have already spent four years being shuttled from one prison camp to another. This one is the worst yet; Maman tries to keep up Francine’s spirits by showing her two small pieces of chocolate which she vows to keep hidden until a time when they need it most. Among the other prisoners Francine meets is Helene, a young woman who has managed to keep secret from the guards that she is pregnant. Shortly before Helene gives birth, Francine and Maman agree that Helene should have the chocolate, which gives her the strength she needs to safely deliver a daughter, Yvonne, a child who miraculously remains silent until the camp is liberated.

Kacer’s smooth retelling does not shy away from the hardships and privations of Nazi death camps, but it does focus on life within the barrack rather than the horrors that took place in the rest of the camp. Of note as well are Kacer’s comments on the lack of counseling and mental health support provided to Holocaust survivors after the war. The illustrations make effective use of colour to convey the story’s tone: drab greys, browns, and greens are employed for the prison scenes while brighter, more vivid hues appear in other images. Grimard is particularly effective in conveying the various emotions of the characters: surprise, sadness, desolation, awe, and kindness. With an informative afterword that clarifies the true parts of this story, Two Pieces of Chocolate makes a worthy addition to Holocaust literature and a reminder of the dangers inherent in authoritarian regimes.