Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Title: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Bibliographic information:

Author: Marjane Satrapi

• Series: Pantheon Graphic Novels
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; First Edition edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English

Reader's Annotation:

What was it like during the Iranian Revolution?  Marjane Satrapi tells her story of growing up and rebelling against fundamentalism.  

Interest Level: Ages 8-18

Lexile level: GN380L

Awards, if applicable:

A New York Times Notable Book

Plot summary:  When the Shah of Iran is overthrown, Satrapi and her parents are excited; they see that this could be a new era of potential for Iranians.  Satrapi had idolized the people who were political prisoners of the Shah; she adores her Uncle Anoosh.  But the new regime doesn’t bring about social justice or change: Uncle Anoosh is imprisoned and killed by the new regime.  Satrapi rebels - but what is the cost?  And how does the Iran-Iraq war impact the child and the woman she becomes?

Critical review:  The art - a series of spare black and white images - show the imagination and the gradual loss of innocence of the principal protagonist. This story is remarkable in the way it looks at regimes as groups of people - never completely evil and yet never completely good either. Instead it shows a child’s view of war, and the cost and the gradual shift of idealism.

Why include it?

This is a very approachable book which deals with a controversial time in history and government with an unflinching yet compassionate view.