Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (edition 2004)

Persepolis is a powerful use of imagery and sharp writing, and outlines the true story and life of Marjane Satrapi, the daughter of socialist reformers in a war torn Iran. The material in Persepolis may be ideologically sensitive, but could be highly effective in a multi-cultural unit for possibly Freshman students. There is a second section of the story outlining Marjane's years as a college student in Vienna, and her eventual return to Iran. However due to being older in this installment I would likely not include the second installment and instead would allow students to seek it out if they personally wanted to.

Reading Level: 5.8 ( )

Characters: Marji, strong-willed 10 year-old Persian girl; Taji, Marji’s mother; Ebi, Marji’s father; Marji’s grandfather; Mehri, left her parents when she was eight, to live with and work for Marji’s family; Siamak Jari, a family friend who was held as a political prisoner; Mohsen Shakiba, a revolutionary held as a political prisoner; Uncle Anoosh, who told Marji about the torture he suffered in prison and escaped to Russia; Kaveh, Marji’s friend who emigrates to America.

Setting: Iran in the 1970s and 80s.

Theme: Freedom of speech, freedom of thought, expression, education are fundamental to living a happy, satisfying life.

Genre: graphic novel, YA memoir

Golden quote: “I couldn’t bear looking at them there behind the glass. Nothing’s worse than saying goodbye. It’s a little like dying.”

Audience: older teens interested in politics and the history of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Curriculum ties: Social Studies; Government—read the personal narrative about life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution to support the study of political events. Develop arguments about the purpose of the second amendment, and the separation of church and state.

Awards: 2003 Fernando Buesa Peace Prize; New York Times Notable Book; Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year.”

Personal response: A conflicting complex of political and religious interests is revealed in this personal account, told in a comic arts format. Marji’s slowly developing understanding of the political events which so greatly affect the lives of herself and her family, make a powerful experience for readers. The specific effects of the evolving political climate, are captured in the emotions and reactions of the young girl. Understanding the motives and the sides in this ongoing tumult, finally seems less important than understanding the effects of war on people: children growing up in oppressive conditions, families torn apart, people spending decades in prison, loved ones telling stories of torture and brutal executions. The very personal way she tells the details of the story—her cries of unfairness regarding class distinctions (shown in the servitude of Mehri)—reveals her intelligence and her strong convictions. At the end, she loses her family when they send her to live in Europe. This is a powerful narrative that leaves the reader sharing the sense of loss felt by Marji as she walks away from her parents. ( )

5Q, 3P - Satrapi's ability to combine so many themes (war, coming of age, death, family, history) into a memoir and graphic novel format is incredible. The narrative is woven through the roller coaster ride of emotions and situations that teens face in an honest, humorous, depressing and candid manner that hooks the reader. While many American teens have never experienced war, Marjane's character is one that is both unique and relatable, making the unfamiliar topics easier to comprehend. Marjane may be growing up in a time and place that we could not even imagine, but her curiosity and desire to find herself in a universal experience. Although this is a fantastic vessel for introducing the complex and convoluted history of a nation that most teens have not been unbiasedly exposed to, I placed the popularity rating at a 3P because I think that it might be too dark or dense for some teens. ( )

I saw Marjane Satrapi at the Free Library in Philadelphia a few years ago, and she was so charming and great and for some reason I always think of her saying that one of her most important influences was The Bicycle Thief. ( )

fantastic! really, really good. ( )