A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return (Single Titles) (original 2007; edition 2012)

An account of growing up in Beruit during a particularly violent period of Lebanon's Civil Way told from the point of view ot a young teen. Black and white illustrations tell weave an intracate story. A great companion to Persepolis. ( )

Another remarkable graphic memoir. In this French import, the civil war in Lebanon in the 1980s is seen through the eyes of a child. The black-and-white illustrations are reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. ( )

Tense but quiet, Zeina Abirached weaves this autobiographical story spanning a single night of the Lebanese civil war: her parents, trapped a few blocks away, cannot get back to their children because of the day's violent bombardment. Abirached's heavy, geometric blacks, repetition, and thoughtful use of negative space ramps up the anxiety of the make-shift family of apartment dwellers, gathering in the safest apartment in the complex to wait out the bombing, and hope for the safe arrival of Abirached's parents. Humor and matter-of-fact acceptance of the situation offset the horrors of war, as Similar to Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" in style and in subject matter, this title nevertheless stands out in its approach. While "Persepolis" spans many years and many locations, Abirached's story trades comprehensive narrative for suspense. Visually, the story breathes more than "Persepolis," yet the linework, more thick and stylized, feels heavier. Abirached uses ticking clocks, puffing cigarettes, and a tapestry depicting Moses and the Israelites fleeing Egypt to further create a thick atmosphere, that contrasts with the tenants' attempts to keep positive. Perhaps not a title that children would choose without prompting, this translated (from French) account of anxious waiting provides a top-quality look into life during a time of violence. ( )