The jury was unanimous in selecting this graphic novel that tells a fictional World War II love story between Dutch Liesbeth and African-American Allied liberator Franklin, based on true stories. The forgotten history of African-American soldiers and their relationships with the Dutch population in the aftermath of the war is told in strong graphic language using two mixed inks: though these do refer to skin colour, their use is not stereotypical. Historical documents linking the fictional story to real history are presented on the insides of pages in Japanese binding. The front matter and end matter are printed in blue and black while the cover is in white and red, creating a reference to the flag of the Netherlands. The fine, felt-like paper used for the interior and the cover gives this book the feel of a historical document, although the painstaking design firmly marks it out as a contemporary book. Thanks in part to the suppleness of the paper, this simple paperback opens with ease.