Persepolis

 

    Persepolis is a graphic novel about a young girl named Marjane who is living life as a young adult during the Islamic Revolution.  She encounters experiences including having to wear a veil at school and her school changing to segregating the boys and the girls.  Marjane proclaims that she is going to be a prophet due to all the problems that she sees and intends to fix.  She ends up falling in love with the boy next door, but cannot be with him because of their differing social classes.  The Revolution continued causing bombs to be dropped in her country along with the scarcity of food.  The story ends with her parents sending her to safety in Austria.

    My favorite part is when Marjane decides she's going to be a prophet despite what those around her would think considering the facts that she is young and female.  People around her don't take her seriously, but she is able to see the problems in the world and wants to at least attempt to fix them.

    I would love to use this book in library with young adults.  I think the appeal of a graphic novel makes the story more interesting to young adults.  Learning about the Islamic Revolution can be a sensitive and difficult topic to comprehend.  Having students read about it through the perspective of a young adult and in style they can easily understand would be very beneficial.

Satrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. New York. Pantheon.