Persepolis

Citation:

Sartrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. NY: Pantheon


Summary:

Depicted through only black-and-white images, this autobiographical graphic novel tells the story of Marjane Satrapi’s childhood, growing up in war-torn Iran during the 70’s and 80’s. Her story illuminates the country’s division amongst itself as Iranians began attacking other Iranians in the name of politics or religion. She also captures how war transforms people and places, including her own transformation as she grows older and begins to develop opinions about what is going on in her world. Though the war is central to everything in the story, the focal point is how her childhood, education, and relationships are impacted affected by the violence and unrest.

Response:

This book tells a sad history about Iran that most young students are simply unaware of. Since this book includes swearing and heavy topics like violence, death, war, and torture, it should be reserved for more mature adolescents. Since this book is a graphic novel, students may incorrectly assume that it is an easy read, but it packs a lot of history within its few pages. Readers who are interested in the history of Persia/Iran or in Middle Eastern politics can glean a lot of information about the political history of the country. Students interested in the effects of war can also gain a better understanding of its impact through this novel. It is both a wonderfully told and a tragic story that pulls on the heartstrings of its readers.

Textbook Connections:

Genre: Nonfiction

Subgenre: Autobiography

Format: Graphic novel

This book is the first in a two part series.

The author's credibility is established by her writing about events that happened in her own life. There are a lot of historical and political events and figures that are mentioned in this novel. An interested student could use this book as a launch point to research a multitude of historical occurrences that relate to what happened between 1978-1984, the setting of this story, as well as the ancient history of Persia which is also referenced in the novel.

Other Resources:

IMDB page for film based on the graphic novel 

Ancient History Encyclopedia on Persepolis, ancient capital of Persia 

Publisher’s Website including Reading Guide 

Author interview