Persepolis-Marjane Satrapi

 

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This was my second foray into graphic novels, and I think I'm becoming a fan.  While completely different than American Born Chinese, this graphic novel still held my attention.  I feel like "recent" history isn't taught or talked about enough, so reading about the revolution in Iran was extremely interesting and informative.  I liked that though the book deals with serious issues there was still a bit of humor intertwined in the story.  I think this could be used easily in a high school English class, or in a world history course.  I'd be interested in hearing how teachers have used it, as I know many have.  

Awards:

2004 ALA Alex Award  

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 

Booklist Editor's Choice for Young Adults 

New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age  

School Library Journal Adult Books for Young Adults 

A New York Times Notable Book 

A Time Magazine "Best Comix of the Year" 

A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller 

Originally posted at: http://yalitgoodbadugly.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/perepolis-marjane-satrapi/

 

American Born Chinese- Gene Luen Yang

This is the first graphic novel I've read for this challenge.  This review was first posted in my blog YA Lit The Good The Bad The Ugly.

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American Born Chinese might be my favorite book of 2009.  It was so much FUN to read.  I laughed out loud several times, from the dialogue and the illustrations.  Written in the format of a graphic novel it follows three story lines that come together at the end.  It took me a minute to figure out the connection at the end, but it worked.  Though I'm not an immigrant or the child of immigrants, I have several friends who are- and the references to what life is like in a new country seem to be spot on.  There is nothing preachy in the story- but it does touch on the issues of racism, fitting in, crushes, and general teenage angst.  I am definitely going to be buying a copy of this book to keep in my future classroom.  This book would be appropriate for middle and high school students.  I'd be interested to hear if other people love it as much as I did!

Awards:

2007 Printz Award Winner
National Book Award finalist
American Library Association best Book for Young Adults, Top Ten List
Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice Book
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
NPR Holiday Pick
amazon.com Best Graphic Novel/Comic of the Year