From the daughter of a French mother and Iraqi father comes a touching memoir of childhood in Iraq.
Writing with her husband, Findakly strings together memories and facts from her family’s past and present as well as from Iraqi culture, as if she is sharing herself with readers over tea. She begins with happy childhood moments in Iraq and her school days, her parents’ backgrounds and how they met, and introductions to other family members and neighbors. Especially poignant are the portrayals of her French mother’s successful adjustment to Iraqi society over 23 years and Findakly’s own process of growing apart from Iraqi society after her father decides they should move to France when she is a teenager. Trondheim’s charming cartoon drawings, colored by Findakly, help readers envision the worlds the family straddles, while occasional pages of family photographs remind readers of the author’s historical reality. Readers feel they are getting an inside look into an impenetrable world with cultural and historical notes on pages titled “In Iraq” interspersed throughout the book. This personal portrayal of the impact of war and societal upheaval on one family will help many Western readers to see how the past half-century of conflict has devastated a region rich in ancient culture.
Small in size but large in impact, this intimate memoir is a highly relevant and compassionate story of family, community, prejudice, and the struggle to love when the forces of the world push groups apart. (timeline) (Graphic memoir. 10-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-77046-293-9
Page Count: 120
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
Categories: GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS
Did you like this book?
Originally a webcomic, Minelli’s vignettes ruminate on life, love, and anxiety.
Black-and-white (with the occasional color accent), this anthology collects a series of mostly four-paneled comic strips (with the occasional six- or eight-panel length bits). Populated mainly by an unnamed female character and her similarly unnamed boyfriend, this bitingly observant collection depicts the most mundane aspects of everyday life and relationships—sharing a bed with a partner, feeling anxiety in a world seemingly overwhelmed with unending horrors—through an empathetically humorous lens. Most of the sketches examine more adult problems, however many, like those focusing on self-doubt or finding joy, are universal. In the wordless piece “Thank You,” the unnamed main character sits on her bed in a dark room and cries only to be comforted by the arrival of her dog. In another, “So Cute,” the male character reflects on how adorable his girlfriend is while sleeping—until she farts on him. The foreword by Jonathan Kunz and Elizabeth Pich explains their theory of #sadbutfunny and describes how Minelli strives to impart readers with a sense of hope. With a nod toward introversion, all things comfy, and love of geek culture, expect this to resonate with fans of webcomic “Sarah Scribbles” by Sarah Andersen or Book Love by Debbie Tung (2019). Both unnamed characters are white.
Delightfully snarky existentialism that reads like the millennial descendant of “Love Is.” (Graphic fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62010-715-7
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2020
Did you like this book?
The multicultural members of the hapless Jazz Pandas dodgeball team try to win while dealing with their personal issues.
New member Tomás, who is Latinx, is looking for a place to belong, but his athletic abilities are sorely lacking. Drew, the African-American female team captain, has skills but is under stress from all the extracurricular activities she is doing for her college applications. Elsie, an athletic white teen, wants to play well but misses the romantic relationship she once shared with Drew. East Asian Judith is a fierce competitor, while Huck, who is Deaf, communicates through his phone. Amardeep is Sikh and probably their best player, but he is often missing. In addition to their losing record and internal squabbles, the team has a reputation for cheating, something that led Judith’s brother to quit. Drew decides to give up being captain, and the role falls to Tomás as they head into the championship tournament a bit banged up and about to face their rivals, the Kettle Balls—but Chase’s return gives them a boost. This is an action-packed comic with vibrant, bright, full-color drawings in a style that highlights the constant movement of the sport. Multiple relationships and the team backstory are revealed without slowing down the plot, and the variety of ethnicities and genders apparent through the drawings also add to the appeal.
Readers will look forward to the next volume. (Graphic novel. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68415-247-6
Page Count: 112
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2019
Categories: GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | MANGA | GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS
Did you like this book?
© Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
