Rolling enrollment open. Courses prorated.
Explore now.Is your teen ready for a book that will change how they think about history, storytelling, and art all at once? Maus is one of the most important graphic novels ever created, a Holocaust narrative told through stunning, unforgettable illustrations. In this course, students read and discuss Maus together, exploring how words and images combine to tell stories that traditional books simply can't. If your teen loves graphic novels or powerful history, this is the course for them.
This course is not currently being offered. Please check back later or explore our other available courses.
In 1986, Art Spiegelman created Maus, a graphic novel that wrestles with the punishing reality of the Holocaust and the fragile challenge of hope for Jewish people living in and fleeing Nazi Germany.
Across this 5-day course, we discuss the first few chapters of Book 1 and connect the story to themes of survival, guilt, trauma, dehumanization, and racism.
By the end of the course, students will have been introduced to Maus, engaged in critical literary analysis using both textual and visual techniques, and had the opportunity to share their thoughts within a safe, mentor-moderated learning community.
Because this book is based on Spiegelman's parents as Holocaust survivors and addresses traumatic events, parental support is recommended.
Maus is not just a graphic novel. It is a Pulitzer Prize-winning work that challenges students to think deeply about history, identity, and the stories we tell about suffering. Your child builds the kind of literary analysis skills that AP English, college seminars, and thoughtful citizenship all require.
Topics like the Holocaust, racism, and intergenerational trauma matter too much to avoid. This course gives your child a structured, mentor-guided space to sit with difficult material, form their own conclusions, and grow as a thinker. Parents tell us their kids come away more thoughtful and more willing to engage with complexity.
YSA is a UC-registered online publisher and WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center, which means our courses can count toward official college credit requirements. State schools can recognize the courses your student takes here, adding real legitimacy to your homeschooling journey or building on top of your student's existing transcript. That opens up two ways to enroll: For Credit -- Your student earns official, accredited credit toward their transcript. For-credit students complete weekly assignments that build toward their transcript grade. Outside-of-class work ranges from 1-2 hours per week. Perfect for families who want documentation that reflects what their child is actually capable of -- to show the world how brilliant they are. For Enrichment -- Your student takes the very same course purely for the love of learning. No grades, no outside-of-class work, no credit attached. Just the content, the community, and the growth. Same course. Same mentor. Same experience in class. You choose what fits your family.
If you homeschool, this works seamlessly. If your student attends another school full time, we create a report card and transcript that we share with you, and you share with the school. It is up to your primary school to accept it and add it to your student's official transcript.
Engage with a landmark graphic novel that tackles survival, trauma, and identity through both text and visual storytelling 
Build critical literary analysis skills by examining how words and images work together to convey meaning 
Discuss complex themes like guilt, dehumanization, and racism in a safe, mentor-moderated learning community 
Develop empathy and historical understanding through a story that connects the Holocaust to lasting questions about humanity 
Hi! Thank you for taking a moment to learn a bit about me and about how I might be able to help support your learner on their educational journey. Over the past twenty-five years, I have valued the opportunity to teach across various educational levels including, K-12 public schools, community colleges, and at 4-year public and private universities. I hold a PhD in Sociology and I am a generalist by training. I currently teach courses in the areas of class, culture, family, ethnicity, gender, methodology, philosophy, race, social justice, and theory. I also actively mentor students in research, writing, and in their continuation into graduate, law, and medical school. Over the past decade, I have also created programs to help incoming college students develop a sense of belonging, connect to positive peers, and academically excel. In all of my classes, I work to develop strategies that foster presence, openness and a reflexive learning environment where student support, acknowledgement of the intrinsic value of every student, and efforts to promote student persistence and success are requisite. Through critical, contextualized learning; active and ongoing student mentorship; progressive and responsive course development, and the creation of experiential opportunities, I have constructed inclusive and enriched academic experiences for students, where they are at, and that help equip them for where they want to go. At YSA, I look forward to providing courses that build knowledge through reflexive, reciprocal learning, to inspire growth in the minds and lives of our students, and to help foster belonging within this rich learning community. See you soon! Eric
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
Parents don't just see happier kids. They see sharper thinking, stronger friendships, and a child who actually wants to log on.
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric guided my son through Maus with incredible sensitivity. He handled the Holocaust with honesty and never lost the humanity in it."
Hannah B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My daughter learned to read both the words and the images. Dr. Eric taught real literary analysis in a way she found thrilling."
Isaac R.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric guided my son through Maus with incredible sensitivity. He handled the Holocaust with honesty and never lost the humanity in it."
Hannah B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My daughter learned to read both the words and the images. Dr. Eric taught real literary analysis in a way she found thrilling."
Isaac R.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"I worried the subject was too heavy. Dr. Eric created such a safe, moderated space that my son felt supported the entire time."
Priscilla M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric drew out themes of survival and hope so thoughtfully. My daughter is now reading the second book on her own."
Nathan F.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"I worried the subject was too heavy. Dr. Eric created such a safe, moderated space that my son felt supported the entire time."
Priscilla M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric drew out themes of survival and hope so thoughtfully. My daughter is now reading the second book on her own."
Nathan F.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son came away with a deep respect for what people endured. Dr. Eric turned a graphic novel into a lesson in empathy."
Talia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric treats these kids as capable of big ideas. My daughter discussed trauma and racism with a maturity that surprised me."
Wesley A.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son came away with a deep respect for what people endured. Dr. Eric turned a graphic novel into a lesson in empathy."
Talia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric treats these kids as capable of big ideas. My daughter discussed trauma and racism with a maturity that surprised me."
Wesley A.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric guided my son through Maus with incredible sensitivity. He handled the Holocaust with honesty and never lost the humanity in it."
Hannah B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My daughter learned to read both the words and the images. Dr. Eric taught real literary analysis in a way she found thrilling."
Isaac R.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"I worried the subject was too heavy. Dr. Eric created such a safe, moderated space that my son felt supported the entire time."
Priscilla M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric drew out themes of survival and hope so thoughtfully. My daughter is now reading the second book on her own."
Nathan F.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son came away with a deep respect for what people endured. Dr. Eric turned a graphic novel into a lesson in empathy."
Talia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Dr. Eric treats these kids as capable of big ideas. My daughter discussed trauma and racism with a maturity that surprised me."
Wesley A.
YSA parent
If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:
You can switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit or get a credit to use toward a future course.
You can either get credit toward a future course, switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit, or stop all future payments after a 30-day processing period.
No risk. No stress. Just the learning and belonging you have been looking for.
We can offer this because we know what we do works for thousands of other families. Kids become more self-confident. They find their people. And families tell us this is the place where their student finally feels welcome. We know it will work for your family, too.
All-Access Passes have separate terms and conditions. Please see the All-Access Pass pages.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway... to qualify for the satisfaction guarantee policy, you have to actually attend the classes. This is not a cancellation policy. It’s a satisfaction guarantee. You can’t be satisfied or dissatisfied if you don’t attend.
Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers one-of-a-kind, engaging enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old bright, quirky kids to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, cultivate life skills, build confidence, and feel great about themselves under the loving care of expert mentors. description2: >- Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content their beautiful brain craves. That happens every day at YSA for over 1,200+ families, and it can happen for your family, too.
WASC Accredited · 1,200+ Families · 93% Re-Enroll · 47+ States, 17 Countries, 6 Continents
Learn more about YSAQUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COURSE
Everything you need to know before enrolling your child.
Yes, and our families are often surprised by how well. Students work on their own projects with live mentor guidance, real-time feedback, and peer collaboration. The camera-optional policy means your child can share their work without the pressure of being on screen. Many of our art students produce portfolio-quality work by the end of the semester.
Yes. YSA families join from 47+ states and 17 countries across 6 continents. All you need is an internet connection. We schedule sections across multiple time zones so families worldwide can find a time that works.
Graphic Novels: Maus meets once per week for 50 minutes, every week from August through December. Your child joins the same tight-knit group of up to 8 students and the same mentor all semester long. Same friends, same mentor, a new challenge every week.
Our gifted and 2e students experience such asynchronous development that hard age limits rarely tell the full story. If your student should be aged up or aged down, contact us at support@youngscholarsacademy.org or click the chat in the bottom right corner of the screen. We do this all the time.
Please don't confuse reactive distance learning with what happens at YSA. When a kid is engaged in a course they chose, with a mentor who gets them and peers who share their interests, the screen disappears. They're not on a screen. They're with their people. Parents tell us their children fight to log on to YSA.
If your child isn't loving a course by the end of the first week, swap into a different course. Same semester. No questions. Not the right fit within the first month? We'll stop payments, switch courses, or issue credit toward any future course. The credit never expires. And you keep every bonus you've received. Over 93% of YSA families don't just stay. They add more courses.
No. Cameras are always optional. Always. Many of our students start with cameras off and turn them on when they're comfortable. Our mentors engage every student equally, cameras on or off.
No. If you're here, you're in the right place. We don't require paperwork, evaluations, or labels. Whether your child has been formally identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, whether you suspect it but haven't pursued testing, or whether you just know your kid's brain works differently and nothing else has fit, they're welcome here.
Yes. YSA is an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs including Arizona ESA, Utah Fits All, ClassWallet, My Tech High, Florida Step Up, and others. Enroll directly to secure your child's spot, submit the invoice to your ESA, and your payment method is refunded when funds transfer. Many families pay zero out of pocket.
Click "See Available Times" on this page, pick the section that fits your schedule, and your child's spot is secured immediately. No phone call. No placement test. No prerequisite.
Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a course they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.
Your child is one click from finding out what that feels like.
An internet connection and a can-do attitude!