Persepolis

Sartrapi, M.  (2004).  Persepolis.  New York, NY:  Pantheon. This graphic novel talks about the wars occurring in Iran in the early 1980s through the eyes of a young girl, Marjane.  The Shah in place is quickly loosing popularity, since he made many promises, such as returning Iraq's splendor.   Marjane is confused because at first, she is told that the Shah was ordained by God and after he was forced to step down, the teacher asked all the students to rip out any pictures in the text books that were of the Shah.  She could not understand why there was revolution, so she decided to read.  One time, she went with the live-in nanny to demonstrate.  When she gets home, her mother is very upset because that day was “Black Friday,” and many people, who were protesting, were killed.  As she is getting a little older, she notices that many people that go away do not come back, and if they do, it is because they have been in prison and have been tortured.  At fourteen, Marjane is a rebel.  She is expelled from school because she accidentally pushes the principal. When an Iraqi bomb hit right next to her home, Marjane’s parents feel better if she is sent to Austria with her friend in Vienna.  What I liked about this book is that it brings to light the conflicts in Iran and how the people had to suffer under the harsh regime. This is not a topic that is discussed often.  I think this book lends itself for students to find more information on the revolution.  Satrapi provides examples of emotional development in her book.  When she is six, she is unable to understand why people protested against the shah when the teacher said he was ordained by God.  As she gets older, she has read books on the subject and is able to understand and sees that the new government in place also has many flaws.