Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi
Original ISBN 978-0-375-42230-0
Pantheon, 2003
153 pages

Plot Summary: Persepolis follows Marji from the ages of six to fourteen while living in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. This novel tells the day-to-day struggles faced by a nation and its citizens, especially the children, during war. Marji is smart and outspoken, but is bewildered by the atrocities occurring around her. Marji provides the readers with a child’s eye view of the effects of a religious and cultural war.

Critical Evaluation: Translated from the French, this novel, in powerfully drawn black and white pictures, shows the life of the young girl in the middle of the Islamic Revolution. Readers cannot help but be drawn to this innocent, but inquisitive child.

In the introduction of Persepolis, Satrapi explained the importance of writing the novel: “I believe that an entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists. I also don’t want those Iranians who lost their lives in prisons defending freedom, who died in the war against Iraq, who suffered under various repressive regimes, or who were forced to leave their families and flee their homeland to be forgotten.”

Reader’s Annotation: Marji is the midst of her country's religious revolution. This story shows how she handles it.

Author Information: Satrapi (born 1969) was born in Tehran. Persepolis depicts her childhood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. Her parents were educated, successful people who were active Marxists. Fearing for her life, Satrapi’s parents sent her to live in Vienna at the height of the war. A second novel, titled Persepolis 2, begins with Satrapi’s school years in Vienna and her return to Iran after graduation.  

Satrapi earned the Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for First Comic Book in 2001.

Genre: Autobiographical graphic novel

Curriculum Ties: History; art

Booktalking Ideas: I would probably start with some background information, including a map, of Iran and Iraq.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 8-12

Lexile: not applicable

Challenge Issues: There are some references to the atrocities of war, but there is nothing very challenge-worthy in this novel.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: Many people have mentioned how compelling the book is. I wanted to see for myself. Also, Persepolis was named one of the best books of 2000-2010 by Newsweek magazine.

References:

Jones, M. (n. d.). Best fictional books [of the decade]: #5 – Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003). Retrieved from
http://2010.newsweek.com/top-10/best-fictional-books/persepolis_by_marjanesatrapi.html

Persepolis (comics). (2012, December 2). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_(comics)