Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Satrapi, Marjane. 2003. PERSEPOLIS: THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD. New York: Pantheon Books, 2003.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhoold is just that--the story of Marjane Satrapi's, author of this graphic novel, childhood. Originally published in 2000 and 2001 in two volumes in France, Satrapi tells the story of her life as a child in Tehran from ages six to fourteen. Tehran is the capital city of Iran, not to mention the largest. Her life there was tumultuous, having to live through the Iraq-Iran War, a totalitarian ruler, bombings and deaths. She doesn't make her life any easier by exhibiting her rebellious nature. She chose to share her story in the form of a graphic novel, providing readers with a visual tale as well as a verbal. This was a new type of media for me, having a true story told in graphic format. It adds an entertaining, stimulating quality that may otherwise not have been there. Also, the novel seemed to move at quicker pace because of the short comic strip-like feature. Says one reviewer: "This is a graphic novel of immense power and importance for Westerners of all ages. It will speak to the same audience as Art Spiegelman's Maus (Pantheon, 1993)."

Reference List:

Woodcock, Susan H. 2003. Review of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhoold, by Marjane Satrapi. School Library Journal.

The Plain Janes

Castellucci, Cecil and Jim Rugg. 2007. THE PLAIN JANES. New York: DC Comics, 2007.

 Cecil Castellucci normally writes young adult novels, but with THE PLAIN JANES, she makes her graphic novel debut. No worries, though, this graphic novel is still written with teens in mind. After she's caught in a bomb attack, Jane's parents decide to relocate her from the city to the suburbs. There, bored out of her mind and worried about fitting in, she meets three other girls--all named Jane. Finding a kinship in each other, they form a secret club called the P.L.A.I.N. Janes--People Loving Art in Neighborhoods. They decide to liven up the town with art and manage to gain the title of "art terrorists". If you think that all sounds interesting, well, you're right! This graphic novel was a delight to read, fast paced and extremely entertaining. The artwork by Jim Rugg is clean and somewhat realistic. Says one reviewer: "Regular comics readers will enjoy it, but fans of soul-searching, realistic young adult fiction should know about it as well."

Reference List:

Goldstein, Lisa. 2007. Starred review of The Plain Janes, by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. School Library Journal.

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

Sones, Sonya. 2004. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004.

Boston teen Ruby Milliken’s mother has recently succumbed to cancer. Not only does she have to come to terms with this horrific event, but she has to do it on the other side of the country from her friends and boyfriend. This is because her father, a famous movie star that divorced Ruby’s mother before she was born, lives all the way in Los Angeles. Needless to say, Ruby is not happy. Sonya Sones has a clever writing voice. She takes the subject of a teen losing her mother to cancer and having to move clear across the country away from everything she knows, and makes it an enjoyable, and often times humorous, read.

The novel is written in verse, a style of poetry writing that the average book reader may have to get used to. The entries are short—one to two pages long—and offer quick insights into Ruby’s mind. She also writes emails to her best friend Lizzie and boyfriend Ray, and even to her dead mother. The story is poignant and our lead character is quirky and quick-minded. Young adults everywhere will find a new favorite author in Sones. Says one reviewer: "This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness."

Reference List:

Scheps, Susan. 2004. Review of One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, by Sonya Sones. School Library Journal.