Middle+East

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return By Marjane Satrapi 2004. 186p. Random House, $12.95 U.S.A / $16.00 Can. (0-375-71466-9)

As a young, strong-willed girl growing up in the desperately tragic period of the Iranian revolution into the Iran-Iraq war, Marji Satrapi’s parents sent her to Austria so she could live a better life. Being only fifteen at the time, Marji is faced not only with the harsh realities of embarking on a new independent life, but also with the difficulties of female adolescence. On her journey, she encounters many types of people. She builds numerous solid friendships, but she also makes a handful of evanescent ones. Those fleeting relationships cause her much pain. She feels the rejection by her peers, the heartbreak from failed romances, and the ethnocentrism and prejudice of those who are ignorant. This turmoil internally scars her; to cope, she picks up many deleterious habits including chain smoking, abusing drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity. As Marji states, “I proffered to put myself in serious danger rather than confront my shame”. Additionally, Marji begins secluding herself from the world. Eventually her confidence was destroyed to a point where she felt compelled to return home to Iran and the shelter of her family. Now several years later Marji must start her life over, struggling to erase the memories of her past. The recurring theme of __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__, is to be yourself and not to let the way anyone feels about you alter your character, because when you leave your happiness in the control of others, you will never find inner tranquility. Marji learns this the hard way, and it is not until Marji realizes that happiness is self-proclaimed that she becomes content with herself. The author of this autobiography, Marji Satrapi does a marvelous job of capturing the essence of being a foreigner abroad, while transitioning into the maturity of adulthood. The book grabs the reader’s interest instantaneously. Moreover, with the exception of few jejune moments, the author does a phenomenal job of retaining the readers’ interest. This autobiography is a sincere, heartwarming, comical, yet informative book that can be read by a vast majority of ages (those well into middle school and older due to its slight objectional use of drugs, alcohol, tints of inappropriate language, and sexually explicit scenes). Because the book is in the form of a graphic novel, it is perfect for those who lack interest in reading or are visual learners. The method used of intertwining this story with pictures to illustrate subject matter helps give the reader more empathy of Marji’s situation, creating a feeling that you have known Marji her whole life. It is a truly captivating story, climaxing to a point where you forget you are even reading a book, but rather actually visualizing her story upfront. By the time you’re finished Marji Satrapi’s exhilarating sequel, you’ll have wished she wrote a third. -Zachary F.


 * Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return**
 * By Marjane Satrapi **
 * 2004. 186p. Random House, $12.95 U.S.A / $16.00 Can. (0-375-71466-9)

Picking up from where she started in **  **__Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood__, __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__ explains in detail Marjane Satrapi's experiences as a young Iranian woman cast abroad to Austria by her parents in hope of a brighter future. Older and wiser, Marjane is able to reconcile with her upbringing in war-shattered Tehran with new surroundings and friends in Austria. Whether living in the company of nuns or as the only female in a house of eight gay men, she creates a unique personality and attitude, joined along with her friends and acquaintances who feel equally uneasy with their place in the world. After a series of unfortunate events and choices, Marji's life is turned upside down. She ends up living in the street for three months, and she realizes that her boyfriend was using her. Marjane decides to return to her native Iran to reunite with her family and to start up a better life that she had hoped for. When Marjane gets back to Iran her personal experiences are revealed and they show how strong and influential she had become through her eye-popping wonders in Europe. After growing accustomed to repeatedly abusing drugs, partying, and dating, Marjane dons a veil and adjusts to a society officially divided by gender and guided by fundamentalism. Marjane follows the examples of her grandmother by testing the bounds of the morality enforced on the streets along with inside the classrooms. She receives a new appreciation for struggle that her fellow Iranians have gone through involving political and spiritualness. Marjane has to adjust to the change in questions when she leaves her house which had changed to "is my veil in place?" rather than "where is my freedom of speech?" These are some of the harder changes Marjane has to make in her new home Iran. Satrapi is able to represent great emotion through her "monochromatic drawing style and the keenly observed facial expressions of her characters." These expressions help create the ideal graphic novel. Satrapi's graphic novels also have fine detail which keeps the readers attention and also brings the reader to focus on key points that are rich with empathy. Don't be fooled by the portrait of the author on the back flap, it is almost impossible to read __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__ without feeling sympathy and warmth towards the woman who had to suffer through all of this. I would give this book a two thumbs up because of the emotion put into it and the way it focuses on the struggles Iranians have to go through each day. I would recommend this book to either gender but females may tend to enjoy it more. Ages 14 and up would also be recommended to read this book due to the fact that it deals with a lot of parties, sex, and drugs. In total, I think that Marjane Satrapi did an outstanding job in writing this book, and that everyone should read it. ** ** Abbey G. **  **Children of Jihad**   By Jared Cohen  Sept. 2008. 275p. Gotham Books, $15.00  (9781592403998)  <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Journeying into the dry, and oftentimes fatal, areas of Africa, Jared Cohen, a twenty-four year old Jewish American, is no stranger to putting his life on the line for the truth. When the reader first meets the author, Jared is eating at a fast food restaurant with members of the international terrorist organization, Hezbollah. They invite him back to their headquarters, when he admits to his heritage. At this point the reader is probably holding his/her breath waiting for the end to come for this poor innocent journalist. But this is not the case. The men tell Jared that this is not a problem, and they do not hold the Jewish people accountable for what the Israeli government has done. //Children of Jihad// is filled with these instances of shock and enlightenment. It is a young man’s true account of his travels through the Middle East and his expedition to understand the arcane youth of this region. It is a tribute to the importance of listening; not just hearing, as so many do, but understanding that however many differences there may be between American youth and the youth of these countries, there is always a common theme: life. This book is a celebration of life and unity. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The organization of this piece is very conversational. It constructs the atmosphere that Jared is sitting in the reader’s living room, telling him/her about his travels. He also gives a fascinating history of the conflicts he investigates, many with roots thousands of years deep. This gives the reader an unbiased insight into the scars that are all too commonly worn by the youth of the Middle East. Organized by country, the descriptions of Jared’s adventures leave the reader to draw connections for him/herself and rethink his/her opinion of the ways America views this region. //Children of Jihad// is an eye-opening look into a world that is so often shown in a negative light. All of the opinions that fill the pages show that an overwhelming majority of the people in the Middle East do not hate Americans and have a very advanced view of the world at large. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">This book is written by the youth of the world and is definitely geared toward the youth of the world. Jared’s definition of “youth” is college age to early thirties, and the subject matter is more interesting for this age group. However, mature high school students would enjoy it as well. Although the story is written by a man, it discusses, in depth, the plight of Middle Eastern women, including the choice to veil; therefore it is a book for both genders. //Children of Jihad// is a story for all ethnicities, but it is especially important for Americans to read so they may get a true perspective of what life means overseas. Anyone with an adventurous spirit and an open mind will thoroughly enjoy this controversial story of a man who dared to seek the truth. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">-Nina G. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">__A Thousand Splendid Suns__ <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By Khaled Hossenini <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2007. 372p. Riverhead Books, $25.95 <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (97815494489501) <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">What a great read! The novel __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ is about a young Muslim girl named Miriam. Turning each page, Miriam is proven to be equal to “a thousand splendid suns.” As her father, a very successful businessman, arranges a marriage for her at age 15, she is forced to conquer what she does not want do. Her life with her new husband Rasheed, <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">a traditionalist who demands that his wives wear the full // burqa // covering and have no contact with other men, <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> is not a fun one. For one thing he is older, and that alone scares her. Mariam does not understand why she must get married. It has always been a part of her society, to marry young, but the fact that it is actually happening to her is quite frightful. With no external arguing, she goes on to her new life as a wife, leaving her role as a “daughter” completely out of sight. Laila is Rasheed’s second wife who joins the two after the death of her husband. She and Mariam soon form a tight bond and share their every feeling, about the difficult marriage, with each other. When both ‘fail’ to produce what Rasheed desires, the two girls need one another to stay strong especially during a tough time when women have little freedom. The way in which Rasheed abuses them is quite sad and hard to read, especially because Hossenini does not necessarily side with the girls, sympathizing and showing pity for them. He rather tells it like it is, describing the girls as // microscopic beings in a huge society //. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ demonstrates this lifestyle during the Islamic Revolution and is an eye-opener. There are multiple themes portrayed throughout the novel. Some include: love, friendship, and a love for ones’ country. Each is touched on so nicely within the plot, framing each character’s reactions and emotions. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">It was a story of the horrible actions of war, violence, and suppression, masked by beauties like hope, love, and strength. The use of words to describe each scene so intricately really gives an impression and create a fondness and sympathy toward the struggling characters. I enjoyed the deep exploration of the female “brokenness” from mother to daughter and the way in which each was raised in a “broken” society serving as an archetype. The full plot bloomed on each page and made the book one to keep on reading. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ time period was an interesting on e as well, taking place during the Communist overthrow of the traditional Afghan King. It happens over the rocky transition from the Communists lead to the establishment of the international force that is yet still struggling to recreate Afghanistan to this day. Two lines of poetry from the novel sum up the meaning: “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” By reading, one will receive a glimpse of what exactly it was like, and still somewhat // is //, over there in the Middle East. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ is for either gender ages 12 and up, depending on maturity, who enjoy some poetry and eye-opening historic meaning in a good book! <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Johanna D. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The Pakistani Bride **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">By Bapsi Sidhwa **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">2008, 249 pages, Milkweed Editions, $14.oo <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">(978-1-57131-063-7) <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> __<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The Pakistani Bride __<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> is a story of a middle aged man named Quasim who leaves his home in Pakistan because of the grief he feels after losing his family. Quasim moves to a small town named Lahore where he meets an orphan girl named Zaitoon, who is as lonely as he is. Quasim adopts Zaitoon and provides for her as if she were his own. As time goes on, Quasim wants to take Zaitoon back home to Pakistan because that is where his heart truly is. When they return to Pakistan Quasim, must arrange a marriage for Zaitoon. Arranged marriage is a major part of culture and tradition, and even though Zaitoon is only 15, it is time for her to be given to a man. Zaitoon must choose between being forced into a marriage where she must obey her husband’s every word, or live freely and away from Pakistan, and away from the one man who truly loves her and took her in: Quasim. Bapsi Sidhwa is a Pakistani native and shows the difference in power between men and women. Overall, Sidwah’s message is clear but the writing is choppy. It takes a while for the story’s plot to begin and the main characters lack personality. The vocabulary in the book is understandable, but the names of the characters are all native names which take a while to become accustomed to. The book was interesting, but could have been shortened into a smaller novel; the book would be much more powerful and easier to read if it were shortened into a 175 page story. This book is mainly written to an audience of girls in high school. Although boys could read this book, girls can appreciate more the hardships Zainood is going through. The reader needs a high maturity level and education about Pakistan and religion. Another difficulty about the book is the reader’s need for a slight background knowledge about the Islam religion, such as knowing Allah is the Islamic God. __The Pakistani Bride__ serves as a good resource for learning about different cultures and religions, but isn’t a light story one would want to read for fun. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">~Daryl F. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> By Khaled Hosseini June 2003. Penguin Group. $15.00 ISBN 1-57322-245-3 __The Kite Runner__ explores the life of a young boy, Amir, as he comes of age just before the Russians invade Afghanistan. Hosseini's novel is a story of salvation, redemption, and betreyal. Amir's story starts off in the 1960s in Kabul. His father is very powerful and wealthy; he is able to give Amir a very privileged childhood. The beginning of the book follows Amir and his best friend, and servant, Hassan (a Hazara boy, the Hazara race is treated as a low class in Afghanistan), through adventures, games, fighting off the neighborhood bullies, and taking care of the other when he is in need. In a way, they are more like brothers than friends. But the good times do not last for long A fateful decision leaves Amir disgusted with himself right around the time of the arrival of the Russian soldiers. Driving the wedge in deeper, Amirs father, Baba, decides to flee the country to America. In America, Amir's life changes. Once a privileged young boy, Amir is now living in the poor Afghan section of a city. There, his father does everything he can to give Amir the best opportunities for a better life. He works full days and many jobs just to get Amir through high school and on to college. While in America, Amir meets his bride to be, Soraya. She is also from Afghanistan; her father and Baba knew each other back when they all lived in Kabul. When finally things seem to be going back to normal, Amir recieves a call from the past that has him venturing back to Afghanistan to "become good again". By now, the Russians are out of Afghanistan and Amir travels to what is more like present-day Afghanistan with The Taliban in power. I would recommed brushing up on your knowlege of Afghanistan's history from the 60s until now so that you may better understand why certain things happen in the book. __The Kite Runner__ has many themes. The themes that stand out the most are: living with your mistakes, karma, and self approval is more important than the approval of anyone else. Due to the intense graphic scenes I would only recommend this book to readers who are able to deal with mature themes, or able to stomach gruesome descriptions. This book is filled with moderatley advanced vocabulary that will be easy for anyone in high school to understand. The flow of the book is a bit difficult to understand due to the constant switching of dates and locations, but Hosseini does a good job of making the transitions smooth and understandable. I enjoyed reading this book because it gives the reader a realistic view of the world. Not only does it show the reader these situations, but it gives the reader a first hand account allowing them to empathize with the main character. __The Kite Runner__ is a very enjoyable read that will keep you captivated from the moment you open the book. -Emily M.
 * __ The Kite Runner __**

**__ A Thousand Splendid Suns __** ** By Khaled Hosseini ** 2007. 372p. Riverhead Books. $25.95 US (978-1-59448-950-1) __ A Thousand Splendid Suns __, by Khaled Hosseini, is a book that takes place in Afghanistan a few decades back. This book tells two stories, each about one girl. However, these stories end up coming together when the two girls meet. One girl is Mariam, who has a rough childhood, with her mother dying when she is young and her father never being there. She gets married to a cruel, older man named Rasheed, who despises her, because she can not have children. The second girl is Laila, who has a pleasant childhood, but it is quickly taken away when both of her parents sadly perish. She ends up becoming the second wife of Rasheed, with Mariam still living there as a servant. Laila is able to have children, but gives Rasheed a horrible surprise when the baby is a girl, Aziza. As she, Mariam, and the children struggle with the harsh abuse from Rasheed, they find a way to overcome it with their willpower and love for one another. Author Khaled Hosseini uses this book to teach every reader some very important lessons. First, he focuses on the fact that it is important to be determined to succeed, no matter what position any one person faces. He also emphasizes that staying strong throughout a whole journey lowers the bar of any dangerous situation. In addition, he shows that it is very important to stay true to oneself. The women, Mariam and Laila, follow these themes throughout the book. This book is written with fantastic style. The words flow smoothly and are sophisticated but simple enough to understand. The use of foreign words and their meanings is a clever way the author educates readers on the Afghan culture. Boldly skipping to many different stories within the book, its various sections display a constant connection with one another in some way and maintain organization. With basic knowledge of Afghanistan’s history, readers can comprehend the entire story without hesitation. Khaled Hosseini writes this book with the greatest of taste. __ A Thousand Splendid Suns __ is a fabulous book in every way. It stays accurate in every aspect of Afghan history brought up in the story. It shows the struggle of those in poverty, as well as women living in those times. Learning about this time in history decades after it has occurred, readers have an opportunity to think individually about the issues Mariam and Laila face. It opens the reader's eyes to how lucky some people today are, what problems still exist, and what lies ahead for different people from across the world. Khaled Hosseini exhibits a true talent as he executes the story beautifully. This book is appropriate for high school kids anywhere. It is very deep and the reader should be able to stomach scenes of gory fights, bombings, and much pain and suffering, as well as death. The book is very realistic and will be a shock. The book is filled with a lot of sadness and will make readers see themselves in the story itself at the very least. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ is all about culture and reality, and will be highly recognized by anyone who reads this book. ~Julianna Q.

2004. 155-341p. Pantheon Books. $24.95 (978-0-375-71483-2)   Marji’s remarkable story continues in this sequel to her first graphic memoir   **__ Persepolis __**. In **__ Persepolis __****__ 2 __**  she has been sent from the revolutionary Iran to Vienna, Austria by her activist parents to lead a safer and better life. Using her black and white drawings, Satrapi illustrates the feelings and experiences of her childhood. Upon her arrival, Marji is placed in a boarding house run by German-speaking nuns. Her once cute, lovable, and rebellious personality quickly disappears as she starts to experiment with sex, partying, and drugs. She quickly finds herself living on the streets for a few months after being unable to cope with the end of a relationship. After waking up in the hospital one morning, Marji’s homesickness gets the best of her, and she decides to return to Iran in hope of starting over fresh. Upon her return to Iran, she realizes that readjusting to her life at home is almost as difficult as it was in Vienna four years earlier. She readjusts to the Islamic laws and hides herself once again behind the veil. Marji studies hard in pursuit of an education in a university and finds Reza, the man she later marries. After three years of marriage the couple notice that their marriage isn’t true because the fundamental laws keep them apart. The two agree on moving out of Iran permanently and decide to go to France to start a new life together in which religious laws cannot keep them apart. Satrapi depicts the struggles of growing up and the difficulties we face within our world’s society through her simple yet profound illustrations. This eye-opening story of a young teen turning into a young adult is certainly a bildungsroman. I enjoyed this graphic autobiography because Marjane Satrapi reflects on her overwhelming teenage life. Like all teenagers, I experience the struggles and confusion of the adolescent world. I find it intriguing for Satrapi to amplify such a serious and somewhat depressing story through comical illustrations. Satrapi’s comic scrapbook targets a mature high school aged group. One of the wonderful aspects about this novel is that it does not solely focus on the life of a teen girl with raging hormones, but also the flaws in society and importance of history. I personally believe that either gender with a liking for any genre of reading would enjoy this coming-of-age graphic memoir. Casey S.
 * The Complete Persepolis: Persepolis 2 **
 * By Marjane Satrapi **

Persepolis  2: The Story of a Return <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">By Marjane Satrapi 2004. 186p. Random House, $12.95 U.S.A/$16.00 Can. (0-375-71466-9)

__Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__, by Marjane Satrapi, is the story of a teenage girl struggling through the difficulties of adolescence and discovery in the midst of two very different worlds. __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__ starts off in Austria where Marjane, the main character, attempts to start a new life away from her old war-stricken home of Iran. Despite her excitement of no longer having to wear a veil and conform to the daily rules and hardships of Iranian life, Marjane soon discovers that life in Austria is vastly different than in Iran. Marjane finds herself conforming to western ideas and attempting to hide her Iranian heritage after discovering that many Europeans have a harsh and prejudice view of Iran. Despite making new friends in Austria, she soon feels home sick and alone. She feels constant discrimination and exclusion in Austria because of her Iranian background, but when she visits home, her friends and family see her negatively because of her new "Western" ways. Marjane soon feels like she will never be accepted anywhere. __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return__, a graphic novel, excellently portrays Marjane’s feelings and emotions, and also her surroundings, through simple but moving black and white images. It also accurately depicts life and hardships of Iran and the Middle East during a difficult and revolutionary time. This graphic novel also puts out a strong theme of anti-prejudice and self-discovery, that is likely relatable to anyone struggling through a difficult time. Marjane Satrapi genuinely knows how to hook a reader in from the very first word. The illustrations are straightforward, yet intriguing, and put a crisp and clear image of Marjane’s emotions and surroundings in the reader’s mind. Not only do the illustrations portray beautiful imagery but also compliment Marjane Satrapi’s writing and captions perfectly. The graphic novel shows not only a young girl adjusting to a completely new world and culture, but also struggling through every day difficulties of being a teenager: difficulties and choices with drugs, smoking, and sex, that are relatable to many young people today. The thems speak to anyone currently struggling to fit in, discovering themselves, adapting to a new culture, learning new languages, or simply just growing up. Marjane Satrapi has brilliantly created a story intriguing and interesting to any reader no matter their gender or personality. This graphic novel is perfect for anyone looking for a quick and easy read that is not only enjoyable but memorable. __Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return,__ is the sequel to Marjane Satrapi’s first graphic novel, __Persepolis__, and is probably most enjoyable after reading the prequel. This book is best recommended for readers aged 14 and up. // Madison A. //

__A Thousand Splendid Suns__ By Khaled Hosseini 2007. 372p. Riverhead Books, $25.95 __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ is a story of two women living in the midst of Afghanistan and it’s becoming. Mariam is one of the daughters of a very successful businessman but lives with her mother in almost poverty. Every Thursday her father would come to visit and fill Mariam’s spirits with joy. She loved him. She goes too seek her father and when, to her surprise, she is declined by him and sent off to be married to a successful shoemaker named Rasheed. Mariam is only a young teen at the time and is scared of what’s happening to her, and the thoughts of a man so much older scare her. The marriage starts off slowly, until when they try to have a child, Mariam fails and Rasheed is outraged. This is when Laila comes into the story. She is the second wife of Rasheed and they,too, try to have a child but this results in a girl. Rasheed is once again outraged for he desires a boy. Through all of his anger he abuses his wives. Mariam and Laila work as a team to survive this abusive marriage. Through the eyes of these two Afghanistanian women, __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ shows the ups and downs of Afganistan during the Islamic Revolution and what you need to do to survive. As the story comes to an end, so does the Islamic Revolution and so does Mariam and Laila’s bad luck. This book is sad and will most definitely get to you, but it opens your eyes to the world around you and just exactly what is accepted out there. This book is recommended for ages 14 and up because of its maturity. Avery R.

__Blood Brothers__ By Elias Chacour 1984. 239p. Chosen Books (a division of Baker Book House Company), $12.99 (0-8007-9321-8). __Blood Brothers__ is the compelling true story about a Palestinian Christian minister and his life’s work. Elias Chacour grew up in Biram, Galilee. He lived a simple, quiet life until his whole world was turned upside-down. In 1947, many Jewish soldiers began entering Palestine, beginning the nation of Israel. Young Elias, who has always been taught that peace is the answer, is horrified when the Israeli soldiers suddenly seize his beloved village and throw out his family and friends. He seeks refuge in religion and follows that love of Christ through numerous levels of seminary school. __Blood Brothers__ tells a different side of the Arab-Israeli conflict while re-telling one man’s search for what is right and his impact on the world around him. __Blood Brothers__ is a truly excellent book. It is able to tell an extremely interesting and captivating story, while still being informative. The novel teaches a great deal about the Arab-Israeli conflict without feeling like a textbook. It also provides much more information about the Palestinian views than most people understand. There is a running theme that all problems can be resolved with faith and peace. The desire for the Jewish and Palestinian “blood brothers” to get along is also strongly emphasized. Because of this strong belief, Elias is not the common Palestinian that’s publicized. Most Palestinians do not agree with the actions of the PLO, even though we do not often hear stories about these more rational people. After reading this book, I realized just how ignorant I was. __Blood Brothers__ can really change your views about the entire conflict. Because it is a narrative, the novel flows quite nicely. The reader gets to observe Elias as he matures and begins his life as a Christian minister. You follow him from his epiphanies as a child to his adult life helping the many less fortunate. There are always connections between the major events and you can see the plot building. The reader is automatically pulled in by this inconceivably calm, kind, and generous man’s story. It is fascinating to hear all of the amazing and challenging tasks this one man has accomplished.

I really enjoyed the riveting tale of __Blood Brothers__ and would highly recommend it. This book would probably be most appropriate for high school age and above (or more advanced middle school students). The vocabulary is not extremely difficult but it mentions many names and places that kids may find tricky to keep straight. The themes are slightly more advanced and the overall message might be lost on younger ages. It is, however, not necessary to have prior knowledge of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Elias explains the history of the conflict as he discovers it for himself, and therefore the reader gains a deeper understanding of the problem. I would not recommend this novel for someone who is just looking to read a book because it is an assignment. This book will challenge readers’ views and force them to think about the world. It will make readers question their ideas. Although this book does center on religion, it doesn’t make the reader uncomfortable, no matter what religious affiliation they may have. This book is an excellent choice for anyone hoping to learn more about Palestinian beliefs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, or how much one person can make a difference. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">-Allison H <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">By Khaled Hossenini <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">2007. 372p. Riverhead Books, $25.95 <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">(97815494489501) <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Mariam lives with her mother, an ex-maid in Mariam's father's house, in a small house in Afghanistan. She lives for Thursdays, when her father, a successful buisnessman, comes to visit her and showers her with attention. When she turns fifteen, she decides to visit her father at his house, where he arranges a marriage between Mariam and a 40-year-old shoemaker, Rasheed. He becomes cruel towards Mariam as she fails to produce a child. Meanwhile, Laila, a bright young girl growing up in the same town, struggles with her dreams and feelings towards her friend, Tariq. However, rocket fire hits Laila’s house, killing her mother and father. With no other choice, she becomes the second wife to Rasheed, with the belief that Tariq is dead. At first, Mariam resents Laila. However, Rasheed’s beatings come with more force than before after Laila gives him a baby girl when Rasheed wants a son more than anything, and Mariam and Laila become friends and help each other as they struggle with a harsh marriage. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ shows the struggles of a woman growing up during the time of the Islamic Revolution and how many restrictions were placed on women during that time. The story flowed well, however it started off a little slow. The book changes perspective between Mariam and Laila, so the two different stories may get confused. Reading about the relationships Rasheed shared with Mariam and Laila was shocking and saddening, yet it was accepted in the society. Hossenini writes with such emotion, the reader will be sucked into the book after a few chapters. __A Thousand Splendid Suns__ is recommended for anyone ages 13 and up. ~Elise R. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">
 * A Thousand Splendid Suns **

**__Three Cups of Tea__** 2007. 331 p. Penguin Books. $15.00 (978014303825)
 * By: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin **

Greg Mortenson has a mission. His mission is a personal one, but also one that affects many people. In // Three Cups of Tea, // he fights terrorism, promotes peace, and helps education-deprived children all with one action. He builds schools for children in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. After a failed attempt to climb K2, the second biggest mountain on earth, and a failure to honor his recently deceased sister, Mortenson tries to honor her in a new way. He builds schools for villages as a tribute to her admiration of learning starting with the village that saved his life on K2. Over ten years of bitter, back and mind breaking work, Mortenson builds more than fifty schools, a network of helpers and friends that range from bedridden millionaires to humble, village farmers, and an entire organization, the CAI, dedicated to budgeting the hundreds of thousands of dollars that stream into Mortenson’s lap. Fear, violence, misunderstandings, war, and poverty stand in his way, but no matter what challenge he faces, he always takes it head on, without objection. This determination is a constant theme in // Three Cups of Tea. // The story of Mortenson’s wife, Tara Bishop, is an offshoot of this theme. That is, she has to endure three to four month periods of raising two children without any support from her humanitarian husband showing her determination and acceptance. This generally well-written book is appropriate for any middle or high school range student with a maturity level that reflects their age. Its dialogues are choppy and hard to follow at times, but are made up for with an engaging plot. Readers will enjoy Mortenson’s personal account of being taken captive and also the heart-warming stories of some of his first graduated students. Highlights of // Three Cups of Tea // include a heart racing firefight in the mountains of Afghanistan, the humorous dialogues between Mortenson and Jean Hoerni, a cynical, millionaire mountaineer who has a terminal illness, and (in the paperback version) photos taken of Mortenson, his family, and people who have felt the effects of his work. Lowlights are limited to an occasional monotonous section of facts and parts that skip over a year without warning. As said before, // Three Cups of Tea // is suitable for any middle school student or higher. A respect for hard work and appreciation for Pakistan and Afghanistan culture will give the book more meaning and significance. This book is a guaranteed two-thumbs-up. -Chris N

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> **The Kite Runner.** June 2003. Penguin Group. $15.00 (13: 978-1-59448-000-3)  __The Kite Runner__ is a book of redemption, remembrance, regret, and reverence. It should be said, first of all, that this book is meant for a very mature audience, and not for the faint of heart. The novel contains some very graphic and disturbing imagery. But it is not to say it is a bad book, in fact, the book is a very wonderful read, and manages to capture many of the things everyone feels at some point in their life. The novel takes place from the mid 1960’s to near present day, starting in the rich district of Kabul, Afghanistan, and it is a good idea to have some basic background knowledge on Middle Eastern culture before reading the book. Amir is the main character of __The Kite Runner__, along with many other likeable and dislikable characters. His best friend, Hassan, and he get into many interesting situation, which ultimately leads to the main theme: how tragedies and tragic events can change people forever. They can close the gap between people or they can widen the chasm already there. Another theme found in this novel is how cowardice and pride are the downfall of many people. Yet regardless of the taciturn themes, this novel is a high quality read. With challenging vocab and wording, this book has enough difficulty to joust with the mind, but still be easy to read. The flow of the writing is a tad difficult to grasp, with some jumping around and switching between characters, plots, time periods and maturities. Personally, I believe that this book deals with many things a child and young adult deals with. But then the novel suddenly shifts into the view of an adult, an adult shifting into a different life, adjusting, and marrying. Of this the author does a good job of conveying the quick transition, and still manages to keep it understandable to a younger reader. Many other reviews have sung praises of this novel, calling it everything from, “Extraordinary”, to “Astonishing… and Powerful.” I believe, as a young adult reader, that the book is definitely geared more towards an adult reader; dealing with things I have no relation to, and situations one my age will not encounter for many years to come. But I also believe that it can be read and enjoyed by most anyone. Unfortunately, I think this story suffers from an almost macabre backdrop, and illustrates more than a few unnecessary scenes for purposes of shock value. I also believe that this novel could be productive in illustrating a connection between a few characters, and it leaves a few things unexplained. Still, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading, or learning of the Middle East, and to anyone who liked reading “A Handful of Dates”, or __Persepolis__, and can handle more than a few disturbing images. –Samuel W
 * By Khaled Hosseini**

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini The Berkley Publishing Group 2003 $14.00 372 Pages 1-57322-245-3

__The Kite Runner__ is a very deep, meaningful book, which takes place in the Middle East starting from Afghanistan, and moving across the globe to America. This being said, the book is recommended for mature audiences that can handle disturbing images, and a very unique writing style. It is also recommended for someone who can handle drastic changes, and a non-static plot in which there is constant change, and needs to be comprehended to understand well. The book is not recommended for those who don’t enjoy a book that reflects realistic views on the changes through a person’s life, and those who don’t like a very introspective read, in which the past is often looked upon and revisited during a chapter. The book is a great read, that instills the reader with emotion, and a great deal of reflection on the story after it is read. The book leaves several things unexplained, and also makes the reader feel that some “unnecessary” images and scenes were inserted. The story includes several scenes in which they change the character’s life forever, and render the reader full of questions, thoughts, and sometimes misery. The book is, without question, a buildungsroman. The story takes place from the1960’s to present time, and the book leads you through the life, and many events of the main character, Amir. Amir, who encounters many emotions that animmigrant and a friend would encounter has to deal with the fact that his friendship with his servant, Hassan, is not very well looked upon. Across the world,there are many disputes between social classes, and how the “upper” class should act towards the “lower” class. In the story, there are many conflicts in which Amir and his servant, Hassan, develop an unwanted friendship. An incident between Amir and Hassan occurs during the story that will change their lives forever, and is a huge part of the plot. The two characters play a key role in __The Kite Runner__, Amir is the narrator of the story, and he goes through many changes including change of country, change of emotion, and change of friendship. Amir grows, and he learns much about the culture of Afghanistan, America, and how the discrimination in America can be cruel. There are many aspects to this book including culture, society, friendship, and family. As Amir grows up, he learns a lot about his heritage and how being from Afghanistan will affect him while living in the U.S. Overall, the book is very gripping, compelling, and a graphic read. It is a highly recommended book. The book has won many awards, and is an overall well looked upon book. -Raihaan S.

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> 2006, 349 p. Penguin Books, $15.00 (978-0-14-303825-2) __Three Cups of Tea__ is a nonfiction book that chronicles the humanitarian Greg Mortenson’s journey as he journeys through the impoverished regions of the Middle East to build schools for poor Muslim children, especially girls. After an unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, Mortenson was brought to the village of Korphe, where the inhabitants gave him the best hospitality, despite their lack of money. Moved by this gesture, Mortenson promises to return to the village to build the village a school. Back in America, Mortenson unsuccessfully attempts to gain money for the school, appealing to many organizations and wealthy people asking for donations. Despite his hard work he garners barely any money, until one rich donor gives him a large amount of money. Using this money, Mortenson returns to Korphe and builds their school. He then decides to continue building more schools for the children of Pakistan, and returns to America once again. With continued support from his donor, Mortenson continues to build his schools; eventually his donor convinces him that he should create an organization, and so Mortenson creates the Central Asia Institute. He creates a staff for the CAI in Pakistan, builds even more schools. Though Mortenson’s work was viewed favorably by most of the Muslims he meets, a few extremists still oppose his work. He has obstacles such a // fatwa // put in his way by his opponents, but despite this, Mortenson is supported by very powerful authorities in both Sunni and Shi’ite sects. While he is working in the Middle East, America is struck by 9/11; when the Muslims who Mortenson works with hear of this they are horrified by the atrocity committed by Osama bin Laden and offer support to Mortenson. He is also conducting his work when America invades Afghanistan and then Iraq. At first, Mortenson supports the invasion until he sees how much innocent civilians suffer because of the invasion and bombing of these countries. Mortenson then goes on to passionately give presentations advocating that the best way to fight Islamic terrorism is not to invade, but to educate young Muslim children. He says that most Islamic terrorism occurs because the only way Muslim children can gain an education much of the time is through the fundamentalist // madrassas // that encourage extremism. The theme of the book is very apparent in these presentations as well as in the people who help Mortenson along the way. The book advocates looking upon Muslims not as enemies but potential friends. The book has excellent flow and is almost never confusing. Even though the book takes place largely in a culture that is unfamiliar to many readers, it is explained very well and does not leave the reader feeling confused. This book is a very good read for any reader who is mature enough to understand the implications of what happens and what Mortenson’s work is doing. -Joseph v d L
 * Three Cups of Tea **
 * By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin **

2003, 371 p. The Berkley Publishing Group, $14.00 (1-59448-000-1) Khaled Hosseini captivates readers in his first novel, // The Kite Runner //. The story follows the life of Amir, a boy born into a high class, and his servant, but loyal companion, Hassan. Although they are best friends their social classes set them apart. As they grow older, their friendship is tested in many ways. Eventually, Amir moves to America with his father in hopes of escaping the revolution in their country, Afghanistan. Throughout his life, Amir carries a secret; a regret that he has never been able to forgive himself for. When he has a chance at redemption, Amir is willing to do whatever it takes to cleanse his conscience. As young children, the boys didn’t recognize the differences in their social statuses, but as they grew into adulthood, their relationship became more limited. The story teaches readers that no matter what social class a person is in, knowing what’s really important in life is what counts in the long run. The reader will take away a deeper understanding of the power of love, friendship, and secrets. Khaled Hosseini’s writing style is very mature for a first time writer. Every scene of the book is described with such vivid imagery, the reader feels as if they are alongside Amir himself. Although the book has intense subject matter, it also has beauty. Hosseini describes Afghanistan as his beautiful homeland. Many may not think of Afghanistan as holding such beauty, but you see it through the main character’s eyes. I was able to look at his homeland. Also, the book flowed very well. There were few slow points in the book. The plot carried along nicely, and I was not confused or thrown off. Because the story was told throughout Amir’s lifetime, the reader can really feel for the main character. They will experience happiness, sadness, and regret for Amir. The one aspect of the book I loved the most was the moral. It is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. When I first finished the book, the story was on my mind for weeks to come. It was the most powerful book I’ve ever read. It is difficult for me to find anything that I disliked about the book personally, but I must caution readers that there is very intense and, at times, disturbing subject matter. However, I feel like the hope and inspiration of the book outweighed those very few negative parts. I would recommend // The Kite Runner // for readers ages 14 and up. If a reader is looking for a light and easy read, this book is not for him/her. // The Kite Runner // was a truly moving tale. It has changed the way I think about life, and therefore is most definitely worth reading. -Vanessa K
 * The Kite Runner **
 * By: Khaled Hosseini **

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return By Marjane Satrapi 2004. 186p. Random House, $12.95 U.S.A / $16.00 Can. (0-375-71466-9)    After reading  // Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, //  by Marjane Satrapi, I felt that there was a lot more to the story than was told in that first book. After hearing that there was a sequel, // Persepolis: The Story of a Return, //  I knew that I had to read it. In this second book, it is apparent that the cute humor and in many ways, the advantage of ignorance, is gone now that she is older and can truly see what is happening to her homeland. Soon after her departure from her homeland, Satrapi finds herself in a boardinghouse run by Austrian nuns. While there, caught up in her new world, she becomes involved with sex and drugs, and is eventually left out on the street. Once seemingly lost in a world of prejudice and all kinds of new people and friends, she decides to return to where her life began, back with her family in the now devastated country Iran, which is certainly different than the country she had left only some years ago. Once she returns, she now lives in an Islamist society that is incredibly strict in regards to things such as gender. After living a life in which she was homeless, heartbroken, and abusing drugs, she now finds herself in a veil, an obviously drastic change from the life she had been living only a short time ago. Throughout the story, I noticed that persistence was the main theme as shown in situations where she was seemingly lost and had run out of options, she was able to pick herself up and move forward with life, no matter how hard it was. I really did enjoy reading this book. I found that the story had many of the same characteristics from its predecessor, including the use of humor, strong emotion, and some very strong visualization that ampliphies the story much more than if it were a simple novel that only contained text, rather than pictures. I feel that with the “adult content” that is consistently used in the story and the overall feel of the novel, I would recommend this for high school aged students who would be able to put the story into context and be able to get over some of those themes. Overall, if given a letter grade, I would // Persepolis 2: The story of a Return //  a B+ because although this story is very well written, I almost got lost in minute details rather than focusing on the main themes and the major parts of the story. I feel that this appropriately ends the story of Marjane’s adolescent life and leaves the reader with a sense of closure on the series. Andrew B.