Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1)

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Answered Questions (11)

Rachelle Tyrrell As an experienced teacher of 12-17 year olds, I can definitively say "It depends!" Because it does depend on the teen, and on the circumstances in whi…moreAs an experienced teacher of 12-17 year olds, I can definitively say "It depends!" Because it does depend on the teen, and on the circumstances in which they are reading it. There are some pretty deep and dark (albeit very important) themes, including detailed descriptions and illustrated depictions of non-fictional violence and torture.
For some younger teens, this might be disturbing, depending on what they have already been exposed to in their culture and environment. For others, who have already learned about certain of the harsher realities experienced by those in different cultures and societies to their own, it may be easily digestible.
With parent or teacher guidance on hand to facilitate important conversations on some of the more mature themes and topics raised in this memoir, a mature young teenager could both benefit from and enjoy reading this coming-of-age memoir. As always, books can provide a valuable source of dialogue between kids and their parents. I only wish more parents would take a genuine and enthusiastic interest in what their kids were reading. (less)
Kevin Wright While the original French series was published in 4 volumes, the Pantheon English translation is only 2 volumes. Pantheon combined volumes 1 & 2 in bo…moreWhile the original French series was published in 4 volumes, the Pantheon English translation is only 2 volumes. Pantheon combined volumes 1 & 2 in book 1 and volumes 3 & 4 in book 2. Now the whole thing is available as a single volume, called The Complete Persepolis.(less)
isa_reads Yes! It’s a memoir about her life and experiences in Iran. The sequels to Persepolis 1 include more of her life.
James (JD) Dittes I'm not sure I can best answer this question because I remember the Islamic Revolution--primarily through the lends of the Hostage Crisis as most Amer…moreI'm not sure I can best answer this question because I remember the Islamic Revolution--primarily through the lends of the Hostage Crisis as most Americans of the time understood it--growing up. But I teach young people, and I do plan to recommend this book to them.

I think the most relevant topic would be girlhood. How similar Marjane's interests--pop music, dancing, dressing in stylish clothes--would seem to kids from America, Hong Kong, Japan, or South Africa. How weird the veil felt to her. How bullying the religious police seemed. How tragic the imprisonment and death of people she knew. The book punches a hole in a wall between the West and Iran that somehow still stands almost 40 years after the events she described in the book.

One can be ignorant of the Islamic Revolution or the history of Iran and still like the book. An ignorance of foreign cultures (nations, religions), though, would probably cancel out interest on the part of a reader. (less)

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