Marjane Satrapi takes
us back to 1980 and gives us insight to the life she was living in her beloved
Iran. Marjane experienced so much change that was brought by the Islamic
Revolution. As a child, Marjane, witnessed protests, bombings, inequality, and
loss of loved ones. All this sparked in her the passion for fighting equality
and freedom. Because of this warrior spirit, Marjane was kicked out of several
schools and had to leave the country; for her parents feared for her life.
It is important to be
aware of the world around us. Sometimes we may be guilty of being too caught up
with our lives that we forget that people around the world are suffering
through wars and oppression. To continue learning about the life in the Middle East,
you may read Palestine by Joe Sacco. In this graphic novel, Sacco narrates his experiences in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip during the early 1990’s. Sacco does an excellent job
depicting the lives and struggles of the Palestinian people. You may also enjoy
reading Saints by Gene Luen Yan. It takes place in China, 1898. Saints
is about a young girl whose conception was considered a mistake, for she was
not planned or wanted. Because of her suffering, the main character finds hope
in Christianity. In America, your religious freedom is protected, but China is
a dangerous place for Christians. Read Saints to find out how this story
unfolds.
Persepolis is a great
novel that should be in every school library and classroom in our country. But,
I do feel the teacher should preview certain vocabulary words and provide
background knowledge that can help students fully understand Satrapi’s message.
The teacher can provide and image to help students understand the meaning of
the following words: imperialism, radicalize, fanaticism, fundamentalism, and terrorism. She can also assign
students an investigation or research of Middle Eastern countries. Students can select a country and present to the class the country’s customs, culture, and religion.
Persepolis, such an impactful graphic novel filled with
action, has been made into a movie. If you are interested in seeing the
characters come alive, watch the trailer by clicking on the following link:
Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis The Story
of a Childhood. New York, NY: Pantheon.
Books similar to Persepolis: Persepolis The Story of a Childhood. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/similar/3303888-persepolis
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