Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. Pantheon; First Edition, 2004. ISBN 978-0375714573
Plot
Story begins with the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This caused the downfall of the dictator, who is supported by the US government. This time created religious extremism establishing a more oppressive society. Marjane was attending a non religious school at the time, and it was outlawed being that it was French, the Islamic Republic had a huge distrust towards anything connected to the West. At that time women and girls were to wear veils. Her family was not religious in this way, and encouraged her education, and they supported the overthrow of the Shah. Marjane learns a lot about the history of Iran and how rooted systems of oppression are, and the differences among folks of different economic classes. After Shah is pushed out, political prisoners are freed and share about the tortures they experienced. She learns of her uncle who is later executed, with the country becoming more radical (conservative) the political prisoners become targets. She begins questioning God and things intensify, many fleeing the country, although her family decides to stay. After a time of joining protests, they become targets and they see the lies the country is selling to its young men to enlist in the army, the Iran-Iraq war. Things get more intense and as a neighbor's house gets destroyed, she gets more bold and she is outspoken in school, where she gets in trouble. She is then sent to study in another country for her own safety and future.
Critical Evaluation
The author engages readers in this biographical novel and touches on numerous themes: religion, repression, modernity, martyrdom, nationalism, violence, justice, gender equity, in this graphic novel, with black and white illustrations many pictures illustrating depth that at times words may have a hard time capturing. It is portraying a difficult time in Iran, and all the ways the government is taking control over their lives. The views of the way the Iranian Islamic Revolution from the eyes of someone from Iran, and a young person at that, is superb. It is told also from a household that is secular, in a country where Islam is the dominant religion. Her perspective also speaks to the middle class experience.
Reader's Annotation
Story of a young Iranian girl sharing the daily portraits of daily life during the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the cost of war.
Author Information
Marjane Satrapi was born in 1969 in Rasht, Iran, and currently lives in Paris. She has written several children’s books and her commentary and comics appear in newspapers and magazines around the world, including The New York Times and The New Yorker. She is the author of the internationally best-selling and award-winning comic book autobiography in two parts, Persepolis (Pantheon, 2003) and Persepolis 2 (Pantheon, 2004). Embroideries was published in April 2005 by Pantheon. (Asia Society, nd)
Source: Asia Society
Genre
Graphic Novel
Booktalking Ideas
The moment when the aunt was at the store and overheard others speaking about refugees specifically the women, and anti-refugee sentiments.
Reading Level/Age Interest
Grade level, 7th +
Challenge Issue
Gambling, offensive language and political ideas. My defense: Library Bill of Rights, and this Publisher's Weekly Review. I also will hold on tight to this Collection Policy from the Los Angeles County Library. Will continuously take note of the Banned and Challenged Book List and continue to sharpen listening skills, and garner support from the leadership and staff of my places of employment.
Why I Chose This Book
Because it is a graphic novel and we need to have these books in our collections for readers that do not like text heavy material. Plus this tells the history of Iran from the perspective of a young Iranian girl/teen.
Emma Watson Interviews Persepolis Author Marjane Satrapi
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