What do you think?
Rate this book
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War
Explore A Tale of the Nepali Civil War, a poignant graphic novel following a girl's journey to reclaim her life amidst conflict, unveiling deep truths amidst rich settings and diverse characters.
Picture "It was a simple life; a peaceful life," muses Tara, the vibrant narrator of Ram Khatri's graphic novel. But hold on, buckle up, because Justice takes you on an emotional roller-coaster through her Nepali farming family, flipping her innocent childhood upside down. We're talking about early 2000s chaos, where Nepal became a battleground between Maoist revolutionaries and government forces. Tara's dad? Pressured to pick a side. Neighbors? Turning on each other. Young folks? Dragged away to fight. Tara's parents? Trying to dodge the drama, until Maoist rebels and government soldiers visit their home one after another, turning their barn into a hiding spot. And when the worst happens, Tara's left blaming herself. But here's the twist - the storytelling in Justice isn't your typical tearjerker; it's a tense, heartfelt saga casting shadows over what was once a sunny childhood. This isn't just any story; it's a unique tale standing tall in the mainstream book market, rooted in the Nepali Civil War with characters and settings that pop off the page. Let's talk about Tara's family, living the farm life during the Maoist armed conflict (1996-2006). Her elder brother? Abducted by Maoist rebels and disappeared. Cue the upheaval - threats, blame, and beatings from government soldiers. The family becomes the village outcasts, and they've got no choice but to ditch their cozy village home for a safer spot with relatives. Amidst all this, Tara and her sister, Maya, still hit the books as tensions soar. But wait, there's more! Tara's parents, hungry for justice, head to Kathmandu, and spoiler alert - it's not a smooth ride. Dad passes away, Mom continues the hunger strike, and Tara spills all the feelings - sentiments, tensions, and worries about what the future holds for her family. Oh, and Tara's brother, Sudeep? He makes a mysterious comeback to their abandoned house, leaving us all on the edge of our seats, wondering what went down. In Justice, you're not just reading a story; you're diving into a roller-coaster of resilience, complexities, and a few good plot twists. So grab a seat, because this graphic novel isn't just a page-turner; it's a heart-pounder, a tearjerker, and a jaw-dropper all in one.
Picture "It was a simple life; a peaceful life," muses Tara, the vibrant narrator of Ram Khatri's graphic novel. But hold on, buckle up, because Justice takes you on an emotional roller-coaster through her Nepali farming family, flipping her innocent childhood upside down. We're talking about early 2000s chaos, where Nepal became a battleground between Maoist revolutionaries and government forces. Tara's dad? Pressured to pick a side. Neighbors? Turning on each other. Young folks? Dragged away to fight. Tara's parents? Trying to dodge the drama, until Maoist rebels and government soldiers visit their home one after another, turning their barn into a hiding spot. And when the worst happens, Tara's left blaming herself. But here's the twist - the storytelling in Justice isn't your typical tearjerker; it's a tense, heartfelt saga casting shadows over what was once a sunny childhood. This isn't just any story; it's a unique tale standing tall in the mainstream book market, rooted in the Nepali Civil War with characters and settings that pop off the page. Let's talk about Tara's family, living the farm life during the Maoist armed conflict (1996-2006). Her elder brother? Abducted by Maoist rebels and disappeared. Cue the upheaval - threats, blame, and beatings from government soldiers. The family becomes the village outcasts, and they've got no choice but to ditch their cozy village home for a safer spot with relatives. Amidst all this, Tara and her sister, Maya, still hit the books as tensions soar. But wait, there's more! Tara's parents, hungry for justice, head to Kathmandu, and spoiler alert - it's not a smooth ride. Dad passes away, Mom continues the hunger strike, and Tara spills all the feelings - sentiments, tensions, and worries about what the future holds for her family. Oh, and Tara's brother, Sudeep? He makes a mysterious comeback to their abandoned house, leaving us all on the edge of our seats, wondering what went down. In Justice, you're not just reading a story; you're diving into a roller-coaster of resilience, complexities, and a few good plot twists. So grab a seat, because this graphic novel isn't just a page-turner; it's a heart-pounder, a tearjerker, and a jaw-dropper all in one.
124 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2023
4 people are currently reading
561 people want to read
About the author
Ram Chandra Khatri
6 books6 followersTranslator of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in Nepali, Ram has worked as the managing editor and publishing manager for academic and commercial publishers in the United States.
He holds an M.S. in publishing from Pace University, New York, and an M.A. in English literature from Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu. Ram is always fascinated by truly diverse, unrepresented, and heartwarming stories that touch lives. His latest work Justice is a graphic novel based on the Nepali civil war.
". . . Khatri’s poignant graphic novel brings to life, vividly, the journey of a young woman to reclaim the traumatic landscape of her past."—Samrat Upadhyay, Author of Arresting God in KathmanduAdvanced Reader's Copies Available
—NetGalley: https://shorturl.at/awyS5
Sign Up and Read Sample
—Author website https://ramckhatri.com/
Social Media
—Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/books.ramckh...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 1, 2024
In a Nutshell: An OwnVoices graphic novel telling us about the Nepali Civil War and its impact on innocent lives. I appreciate the intent and the effort, especially as this is an indie work. However, the book needs finetuning to deliver a greater impact. Informative but to a superficial level.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Nepal is the immediate neighbour of India, sandwiched between India and China, with the Himalayas passing between the Sino-Nepal border. In my school years, I knew of it only as the country where Mount Everest is situated. I had not been aware of the political situation of Nepal until the year 2001 when the then-King Birendra and his entire family were massacred at the hands of his son Prince Dipendra, who then turned the gun on himself, and was in coma for three days, during which he was still the de-facto king until his death made a surviving uncle inherit the throne. It was a story too crazy to seem real. Even then, I hadn’t heard about a civil war. So when I saw this graphic novel, I knew I had to give it a try.
The book begins with a brief note on Nepal and its geographical and cultural diversity. While I liked the information (So surprised to see this small nation have more than 100 ethnicities and 90 languages!), the introduction could have done much better by informing us of the socio-political situation in Nepal and the events that led to the civil war. There’s no mention of the reasons behind the conflict in this note, in the book, and in the author’s parting note.
Next up comes a comprehensive characters’ list. This is erroneously titled “Major Characters” when it actually compiles every single character from the story with a one-liner caption introducing them. Minor characters such as those who appear only on a single page could have easily been left out from this list. But the biggest issue for me was that the captions reveal major plot spoilers, including character deaths that occur in the final section. So disappointing!
Tara narrates the story from 2009, but she begins her reminiscences from 2003. The civil war started in 1996. So we don’t get any idea about what led to the rebellion and what happened in that period of eight years. The focus stays on Tara’s family, and as she is just a teenager when the incidents affecting her family occurred, we get to see what happened but get no analysis of why it happened. The overall effect is hence very shallow. Simply knowing the whats of history without the whys is useless.
The lack of depth is not just in terms of actual facts but also in terms of plot points. Sudeep is a crucial character as his experience after his kidnapping would have offered more first-hand insight into rebel thinking. But we simply don’t get to hear his side of the story. At one point, Tara’s parents leave their children with some relatives and stay in the capital for an extended period to seek information about their son. How do these poor farmers sustain themselves in a city for such a long time without any source of income? No information.
All this doesn’t deny the sadness of the plot and of what happens to an innocent family because of some misguided rebels. Political upheavals affect everyone, even families that are far away from central locations or, as in this case, a poor farming family whose only material wealth is their transistor radio.
The book ends with a glossary of Nepali words, which, to my exasperation, I discovered only after I completed the whole book. When the list of characters was at the start, the glossary also should have been at the start! It took me ages to realise that “Luri” wasn’t the name of a different character but a form of addressing a thin girl, and hence a pet name for Tara.
The simplistic story flow might have worked well for older middle-graders and young teens, had it not been for one shocking scene where a character attempts to hang themselves to death. This should have come with a trigger warning at the start as it’s quite troubling to see. Then again, we already know the character’s future thanks to the story being narrated in retrospect, so the suspense about whether the character survives the suicide attempt is also spoilt prematurely.
Somehow, a sixth sense told me that the art wouldn’t be to my taste, and sadly, that spidey-radar turned out to be accurate. It is not just that the art style is simplistic, befitting a children’s story than an adult graphic novel. But the nuances that make a graphic novel striking are missing. The colouring style is too straightforward. The captions don’t always match the panels, sometimes coming before or after the particular action occurs in the illustrations. The facial expressions seem a bit off at times, not matching the tone of the lines. Some of the characters are sketched in the same outfits throughout, even though the story takes place over years. That said, art is subjective, so this feedback won’t be applicable to all readers.
This book was originally conceived as a trilogy, and the first volume was released in 2023. However, the author subsequently decided to release this complete version in a single book. I think this is a good call, because the story is too brief to merit three separate volumes, and at just 120-odd pages, can easily be read at a go. The three chapters in this book flow well from each other. However, the QR-code adverts in between the chapters were distracting and annoying. This content should have been at the end of the book.
All in all, I expected to learn a lot more from the story than I actually did. I admire the sincere efforts put into bringing this OwnVoices story about a rebellion that we have barely heard about to the public eye, but perhaps a little tweaking would have helped it deliver a greater impact.
As I have specified before in my nonfiction/semi-fiction reviews, my ratings are always for the content and not for the intent. I find myself torn over this rating as I want to support South-Asian and indie literature, but if I still don’t know what exactly led to and conspired during the Nepali Civil War, the book didn’t meet its purpose.
To readers looking for a simplified narration of a historical event and to those seeking to embrace diverse literature from the smaller nations of the world, this could be a good starting point.
2 stars.
My thanks to Restart Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the DRC of “Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
2003. Young Tara lives with her family in a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas. Her father is a farmer, and her mother, elder brother and younger sister help with the multitude of chores typical on a small farm. The “People’s War” instigated by the Maoists had already begun in 1996, but the lives of those in the hinterland was largely untouched by the war until then. However, soon both factions come knocking at their door with various demands, and the lives of all the family members change forever, especially after Sudeep, Tara’s elder brother, is taken by the rebels.
The story is narrated retrospectively in Tara’s perspective from 2009.
Nepal is the immediate neighbour of India, sandwiched between India and China, with the Himalayas passing between the Sino-Nepal border. In my school years, I knew of it only as the country where Mount Everest is situated. I had not been aware of the political situation of Nepal until the year 2001 when the then-King Birendra and his entire family were massacred at the hands of his son Prince Dipendra, who then turned the gun on himself, and was in coma for three days, during which he was still the de-facto king until his death made a surviving uncle inherit the throne. It was a story too crazy to seem real. Even then, I hadn’t heard about a civil war. So when I saw this graphic novel, I knew I had to give it a try.
The book begins with a brief note on Nepal and its geographical and cultural diversity. While I liked the information (So surprised to see this small nation have more than 100 ethnicities and 90 languages!), the introduction could have done much better by informing us of the socio-political situation in Nepal and the events that led to the civil war. There’s no mention of the reasons behind the conflict in this note, in the book, and in the author’s parting note.
Next up comes a comprehensive characters’ list. This is erroneously titled “Major Characters” when it actually compiles every single character from the story with a one-liner caption introducing them. Minor characters such as those who appear only on a single page could have easily been left out from this list. But the biggest issue for me was that the captions reveal major plot spoilers, including character deaths that occur in the final section. So disappointing!
Tara narrates the story from 2009, but she begins her reminiscences from 2003. The civil war started in 1996. So we don’t get any idea about what led to the rebellion and what happened in that period of eight years. The focus stays on Tara’s family, and as she is just a teenager when the incidents affecting her family occurred, we get to see what happened but get no analysis of why it happened. The overall effect is hence very shallow. Simply knowing the whats of history without the whys is useless.
The lack of depth is not just in terms of actual facts but also in terms of plot points. Sudeep is a crucial character as his experience after his kidnapping would have offered more first-hand insight into rebel thinking. But we simply don’t get to hear his side of the story. At one point, Tara’s parents leave their children with some relatives and stay in the capital for an extended period to seek information about their son. How do these poor farmers sustain themselves in a city for such a long time without any source of income? No information.
All this doesn’t deny the sadness of the plot and of what happens to an innocent family because of some misguided rebels. Political upheavals affect everyone, even families that are far away from central locations or, as in this case, a poor farming family whose only material wealth is their transistor radio.
The book ends with a glossary of Nepali words, which, to my exasperation, I discovered only after I completed the whole book. When the list of characters was at the start, the glossary also should have been at the start! It took me ages to realise that “Luri” wasn’t the name of a different character but a form of addressing a thin girl, and hence a pet name for Tara.
The simplistic story flow might have worked well for older middle-graders and young teens, had it not been for one shocking scene where a character attempts to hang themselves to death. This should have come with a trigger warning at the start as it’s quite troubling to see. Then again, we already know the character’s future thanks to the story being narrated in retrospect, so the suspense about whether the character survives the suicide attempt is also spoilt prematurely.
Somehow, a sixth sense told me that the art wouldn’t be to my taste, and sadly, that spidey-radar turned out to be accurate. It is not just that the art style is simplistic, befitting a children’s story than an adult graphic novel. But the nuances that make a graphic novel striking are missing. The colouring style is too straightforward. The captions don’t always match the panels, sometimes coming before or after the particular action occurs in the illustrations. The facial expressions seem a bit off at times, not matching the tone of the lines. Some of the characters are sketched in the same outfits throughout, even though the story takes place over years. That said, art is subjective, so this feedback won’t be applicable to all readers.
This book was originally conceived as a trilogy, and the first volume was released in 2023. However, the author subsequently decided to release this complete version in a single book. I think this is a good call, because the story is too brief to merit three separate volumes, and at just 120-odd pages, can easily be read at a go. The three chapters in this book flow well from each other. However, the QR-code adverts in between the chapters were distracting and annoying. This content should have been at the end of the book.
All in all, I expected to learn a lot more from the story than I actually did. I admire the sincere efforts put into bringing this OwnVoices story about a rebellion that we have barely heard about to the public eye, but perhaps a little tweaking would have helped it deliver a greater impact.
As I have specified before in my nonfiction/semi-fiction reviews, my ratings are always for the content and not for the intent. I find myself torn over this rating as I want to support South-Asian and indie literature, but if I still don’t know what exactly led to and conspired during the Nepali Civil War, the book didn’t meet its purpose.
To readers looking for a simplified narration of a historical event and to those seeking to embrace diverse literature from the smaller nations of the world, this could be a good starting point.
2 stars.
My thanks to Restart Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the DRC of “Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
April 21, 2023
3.5 stars
A story not to be missed! This is the first part of three of a historical graphic novel series for children (8+) and teens about a small farming family during wartime in Nepal. The people are fictionalized but the story is based on true events from the Nepali Civil War in the early 2000s.
We see the events unfold through the eyes of the family's middle child, Tara, who doesn’t understand everything as a child but we also see her walking through their partially destroyed house after the war, thinking about the past. Tara's father refused the Maoist rebels' demands, and he and his wife had to live with the fear that their son could be taken as a child soldier ‐ as had happened in neighboring villages. As a reader you understand that life will only get worse for the family, and it’s heartbreaking knowing that this was reality for so many ordinary people in Nepal not that many years ago.
In this book, the same exact events unfold twice but in two different art styles (you can read both or choose one style). Illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra and in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani. Personally I preferred the black and white version, which I found very dynamic, detailed and expressive! The colored version might be most appropriate for children and the black and white for older teens.
The story is told with great pacing and choices of what to include without going into too many facts, which can otherwise drag down the enjoyment of this genre of graphic novel. On the contrary, this felt a bit like the start of a movie! Very enjoyable despite the heavy subject matter. The ending made me want to continue this series to learn more about the fate of the family and about this part of Nepali history.
Thank you to the author, to Restart Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
A story not to be missed! This is the first part of three of a historical graphic novel series for children (8+) and teens about a small farming family during wartime in Nepal. The people are fictionalized but the story is based on true events from the Nepali Civil War in the early 2000s.
We see the events unfold through the eyes of the family's middle child, Tara, who doesn’t understand everything as a child but we also see her walking through their partially destroyed house after the war, thinking about the past. Tara's father refused the Maoist rebels' demands, and he and his wife had to live with the fear that their son could be taken as a child soldier ‐ as had happened in neighboring villages. As a reader you understand that life will only get worse for the family, and it’s heartbreaking knowing that this was reality for so many ordinary people in Nepal not that many years ago.
In this book, the same exact events unfold twice but in two different art styles (you can read both or choose one style). Illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra and in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani. Personally I preferred the black and white version, which I found very dynamic, detailed and expressive! The colored version might be most appropriate for children and the black and white for older teens.
The story is told with great pacing and choices of what to include without going into too many facts, which can otherwise drag down the enjoyment of this genre of graphic novel. On the contrary, this felt a bit like the start of a movie! Very enjoyable despite the heavy subject matter. The ending made me want to continue this series to learn more about the fate of the family and about this part of Nepali history.
Thank you to the author, to Restart Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2024
There are certain elements that I pay attention to when I read a graphic novel - illustrations, lettering and the text itself. I personally enjoy graphic novels and I often use them in my classroom to engage my all of my students, especially my reluctant readers.
One of the first things that I noticed was Sandipan Santra's illustrations. They were vibrant, clear, and really brought the story to life. The characters were drawn in a realistic way and the emotions expressed on their faces makes you sympathise with their plight. Even if I were a child who did not enjoy reading, I could tell what this story was about from the pictures.
The lettering was just right. I have seen some graphic novels where the text boxes take up too much of the panel space or the fonts make it difficult to read. That is not the case in Justice. The captions were well-placed and clear enough that the reader gets the information they need and can continue on with with the story. Shahab Khan does a great job ensuring that the text is easily seen and read and Blake Hoena and Rachel Slaiman edited the text well. As for the story itself, I think it's a great introduction to Nepal's Civil War. I enjoyed the background given at the beginning of the novel including mini descriptions of the characters.
Justice is told from the perspective of a young girl, Tara, who lived a peaceful life in a village with her family until the ugliness of war appeared at her doorstep. Rebel forces took her brother and her parents continually searched for him. The story follows the family through the aftermath of Sudeep's kidnapping. The content of this book could be a bit heavy for children, especially as there is an attempted suicide. However, I think Ram Khatri's choice of writing about it in a graphic novel strikes the right notes to make it a valuable addition to a classroom library and makes it accessible for a wide audience. The conversations that could emerge from this book are important and I believe, beneficial to all students. I could see this book in a middle or high school classroom, but adults would also find it interesting as this war wasn't reported in the US News.
I was given access to this Advanced Reader's Copy by Restart Publishing, LLC and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you and I hope to read Sudeep's story soon!
One of the first things that I noticed was Sandipan Santra's illustrations. They were vibrant, clear, and really brought the story to life. The characters were drawn in a realistic way and the emotions expressed on their faces makes you sympathise with their plight. Even if I were a child who did not enjoy reading, I could tell what this story was about from the pictures.
The lettering was just right. I have seen some graphic novels where the text boxes take up too much of the panel space or the fonts make it difficult to read. That is not the case in Justice. The captions were well-placed and clear enough that the reader gets the information they need and can continue on with with the story. Shahab Khan does a great job ensuring that the text is easily seen and read and Blake Hoena and Rachel Slaiman edited the text well. As for the story itself, I think it's a great introduction to Nepal's Civil War. I enjoyed the background given at the beginning of the novel including mini descriptions of the characters.
Justice is told from the perspective of a young girl, Tara, who lived a peaceful life in a village with her family until the ugliness of war appeared at her doorstep. Rebel forces took her brother and her parents continually searched for him. The story follows the family through the aftermath of Sudeep's kidnapping. The content of this book could be a bit heavy for children, especially as there is an attempted suicide. However, I think Ram Khatri's choice of writing about it in a graphic novel strikes the right notes to make it a valuable addition to a classroom library and makes it accessible for a wide audience. The conversations that could emerge from this book are important and I believe, beneficial to all students. I could see this book in a middle or high school classroom, but adults would also find it interesting as this war wasn't reported in the US News.
I was given access to this Advanced Reader's Copy by Restart Publishing, LLC and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you and I hope to read Sudeep's story soon!
December 30, 2022
First of all, i want to say thank you to the author, Ram Khatri for giving me the opportunity to read and review this heartfelt story.
The story is about Tara and how the Nepali civil war gravely affected her family. The story begin in a fast forward to 4 years after the war started where Tara finally made a solo journey back to her old house where she reminisced on how happy and peaceful their lives were before the war with the scenic and lush countryside,tending to farm animals and doing their house chores together. In a spur of a moment,her happy thoughts was short lived when she recalled back on the fateful day where problem arises when the Maoists started coming to her house and disturbing her family lives.
This is an eye-opening story,illustrated beautifully by two illustrators who both did a great job in highlighting the impact of the war on the ordinary people/the civilians. The graphic novel however came with two distinctive illustrations both focusing on the same storyline. The first illustrations appear in colour while the second illustrations appear in black and white.
In my humble opinion, i think it would be even more interesting if the black and white illustrations were to be used to show after the war happened,highlighting on how greatly it impacted on the family,intensifying on how dark and bleak life has become to the family,with their home destroyed and a family member being abducted by the Maoist armies. And then the other colourful illustrations be used for portraying the before the war scenes on the happy times the family had together, tending to the farm work and doing the house chores, eating and playing together,etc.
As someone who isn't familiar with the Nepali civil war, i was hoping to find some more coverage or background information on how the war actually started and who are the perpetrators which to me is insufficiently covered in the story as the details given is too brief and everything happened too quickly. and too briefly.
Overall, kudos to the author for his great effort in highlighting about the Nepali civil war through this simple yet eye-opening short story. I am looking forward to see where the story goes next and what would happen to Tara and her family? Do they get to seek for justice and redemptions over their losses?. Hopefully book no. 2 would justify the things left unanswered in book no.1.
The story is about Tara and how the Nepali civil war gravely affected her family. The story begin in a fast forward to 4 years after the war started where Tara finally made a solo journey back to her old house where she reminisced on how happy and peaceful their lives were before the war with the scenic and lush countryside,tending to farm animals and doing their house chores together. In a spur of a moment,her happy thoughts was short lived when she recalled back on the fateful day where problem arises when the Maoists started coming to her house and disturbing her family lives.
This is an eye-opening story,illustrated beautifully by two illustrators who both did a great job in highlighting the impact of the war on the ordinary people/the civilians. The graphic novel however came with two distinctive illustrations both focusing on the same storyline. The first illustrations appear in colour while the second illustrations appear in black and white.
In my humble opinion, i think it would be even more interesting if the black and white illustrations were to be used to show after the war happened,highlighting on how greatly it impacted on the family,intensifying on how dark and bleak life has become to the family,with their home destroyed and a family member being abducted by the Maoist armies. And then the other colourful illustrations be used for portraying the before the war scenes on the happy times the family had together, tending to the farm work and doing the house chores, eating and playing together,etc.
As someone who isn't familiar with the Nepali civil war, i was hoping to find some more coverage or background information on how the war actually started and who are the perpetrators which to me is insufficiently covered in the story as the details given is too brief and everything happened too quickly. and too briefly.
Overall, kudos to the author for his great effort in highlighting about the Nepali civil war through this simple yet eye-opening short story. I am looking forward to see where the story goes next and what would happen to Tara and her family? Do they get to seek for justice and redemptions over their losses?. Hopefully book no. 2 would justify the things left unanswered in book no.1.
March 14, 2024
This book takes you to the time of civil war in Nepal when maoists were in full power against regime. This graphic novel is told from the perspective of a family which was affected due to the communism.
Tara is a young girl who was living with her family in a beautiful village of Nepal. She had her brother taken by Maoists to fight their cause against regime, which neither in family wanted. They wanted to save each other but those were the tough times in which even neighbors left support, same kind of condition we recently saw in CORONA times in 2020. It is a very gripping story that binds you with it but eventually shatter every hope you keep with it in terms of HEA.
There is a maoist named Kamal who was consistently threatening the family and wanted to take every young man in surrounding. Those nightmares that were haunting Tara even after so many years, taken us back to her childhood times when that all was so true and happening for real. She visited her old house in village, years later to reminisced the life she lived there. This book has shown 2 facades of Tara's life. One before and during the civil war and second after the war. There was a poor but joyful life of a farmer's family which was deeply ruined by maoism; and this is not just one but many in numbers.
For facts, This civil war lasted for 10 long years from 1996 to 2006. There were purgings, massacres, killings, mass-rapes and haunting sharia-inspired 'summary executions'.
About editing, I liked the B&W version by 2 different illustrationists as this showed the 2 different times in life of Tara and war happenings and its after-effects. This is heartfelt story and it will always remain in my mind. Hope to get its second part in series soon, to learn more about Tara's life further.
My NetGalley reviews
Tara is a young girl who was living with her family in a beautiful village of Nepal. She had her brother taken by Maoists to fight their cause against regime, which neither in family wanted. They wanted to save each other but those were the tough times in which even neighbors left support, same kind of condition we recently saw in CORONA times in 2020. It is a very gripping story that binds you with it but eventually shatter every hope you keep with it in terms of HEA.
There is a maoist named Kamal who was consistently threatening the family and wanted to take every young man in surrounding. Those nightmares that were haunting Tara even after so many years, taken us back to her childhood times when that all was so true and happening for real. She visited her old house in village, years later to reminisced the life she lived there. This book has shown 2 facades of Tara's life. One before and during the civil war and second after the war. There was a poor but joyful life of a farmer's family which was deeply ruined by maoism; and this is not just one but many in numbers.
For facts, This civil war lasted for 10 long years from 1996 to 2006. There were purgings, massacres, killings, mass-rapes and haunting sharia-inspired 'summary executions'.
About editing, I liked the B&W version by 2 different illustrationists as this showed the 2 different times in life of Tara and war happenings and its after-effects. This is heartfelt story and it will always remain in my mind. Hope to get its second part in series soon, to learn more about Tara's life further.
My NetGalley reviews
April 9, 2023
This is a common story for the 20th century global south: farmers caught in between governments and revolutionaries with their immediate survival on the line. I must not have read carefully enough, because I did not expect this to be the first installment of what must be many. This isn't a story I would expect to be serialized. It is a subject most people don't know anything at all about but should be more widely known. The illustrations are clear, even with the narrative technique of a daughter returning to her childhood home and telling the story in flashbacks. I likely won't pick up the next installment, but would rather wait for the complete collection to get the story all at once.
January 21, 2023
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is an important book that sheds light on a conflict that has been largely forgotten by the international community. The author, Ram Khatri, does an excellent job of providing an in-depth look at the causes and consequences of the war. He also provides a nuanced view of both sides of the conflict, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses.
The book is well-researched and draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with former combatants, government officials, and victims of human rights abuses. Jha also provides a detailed analysis of the socio-economic factors that contributed to the conflict.
Overall, Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is an insightful and thought-provoking read. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of this complex conflict.
The book is well-researched and draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with former combatants, government officials, and victims of human rights abuses. Jha also provides a detailed analysis of the socio-economic factors that contributed to the conflict.
Overall, Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is an insightful and thought-provoking read. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of this complex conflict.
July 5, 2023
Justice
The story of one Nepali family that was trying to avoid problems during the Civil War. Isolated from many others and living a simple life, they farmed their land and kept to themselves. But the two opposing sides kept threatening the family and tried to recruit the older brother. With increasing threats and not knowing who to listen to end up being costly.
#GoodreadsGiveaways
The story of one Nepali family that was trying to avoid problems during the Civil War. Isolated from many others and living a simple life, they farmed their land and kept to themselves. But the two opposing sides kept threatening the family and tried to recruit the older brother. With increasing threats and not knowing who to listen to end up being costly.
#GoodreadsGiveaways
December 26, 2022
अरुको खेतबारी अधियाँ लगाइ खाने साधारण किसानको परिवार समेत विस्थापित हुनु पर्ने गरी उठेको माओवादी द्वन्द्वको छेकलमा बुनिएको सम्बन्ध र सम्झनाको कोमल कथा हो जस्टिस । रामचन्द्र केसीले सशस्त्र द्वन्द्वका कारण विस्थापित भएका नागरिकको सामाजिक स्मृतिलाई कथानक शब्दचित्रले पुनस्थापित गरेका छन ।
January 23, 2023
Good work!
January 18, 2023
Justice is a non-fiction graphic novel that follows the journey of two brothers from rural Nepal who are engaged in a bloody civil war. It explores the conflict through the eyes of soldiers and civilians alike, as well as their families. Engineered as "a perfect start" for new readers, this book takes you on a journey that's both personal and universal, highlighting the role of family, faith, and friendship in times of strife.
December 19, 2022
The novel book 1 Justice, A Tale of the Nepali Civil War by Ram Khatri is a mesmerizing story of a family living in a beautiful Nepali village. The story is narrated through Tara, who takes the reader on a journey through her heart and her memories. Her feelings for her beautiful village, peaceful and simple life and her love for the family are heartfelt.
The graphical representation of the story by Sandipan Santra keeps the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. The representation is beautiful and simple. Like you are going through a reel of Tara’s memory. Language is very approachable and easily conveys the feelings of the narrator. The simple representation makes the reader appreciate the rural life of Nepal. The narration is powerful. It revolves around Tara's family’s daily life and chores.
How Nepal’s civil war affects Tara’s simple family life leaves the reader speechless. Kamal’s threats to the family and her brother Sudeep being gone take the reader to a level of serious thought over political issues that affect the people of a country.
All in all, Justice, A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a gripping story. It shatters the feelings of the reader in the end. Sudeep’s disappearance leaves a series of questions in one’s mind. What will happen next? Will Tara and her family ever see Sudeep again? Is he being abducted by the Maoist fighters? And so on and so forth. It raises the curiosity of the reader to continue reading.
The novel is recommended for the audience with an understanding of the effects of the civil war in Nepal. Ram brilliantly highlighted the suffering caused by the civil war for an innocent family. I highly appreciate Ram Khatri for bringing up a thoughtful subject to the reader’s attention.
The graphical representation of the story by Sandipan Santra keeps the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. The representation is beautiful and simple. Like you are going through a reel of Tara’s memory. Language is very approachable and easily conveys the feelings of the narrator. The simple representation makes the reader appreciate the rural life of Nepal. The narration is powerful. It revolves around Tara's family’s daily life and chores.
How Nepal’s civil war affects Tara’s simple family life leaves the reader speechless. Kamal’s threats to the family and her brother Sudeep being gone take the reader to a level of serious thought over political issues that affect the people of a country.
All in all, Justice, A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a gripping story. It shatters the feelings of the reader in the end. Sudeep’s disappearance leaves a series of questions in one’s mind. What will happen next? Will Tara and her family ever see Sudeep again? Is he being abducted by the Maoist fighters? And so on and so forth. It raises the curiosity of the reader to continue reading.
The novel is recommended for the audience with an understanding of the effects of the civil war in Nepal. Ram brilliantly highlighted the suffering caused by the civil war for an innocent family. I highly appreciate Ram Khatri for bringing up a thoughtful subject to the reader’s attention.
June 2, 2024
CW: War, guns, self harm, suicide attempt, abduction, grief
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a heartrending graphic novel of one farming family caught in the middle of the civil war in Nepal (1996-2006) . Told in flashback from the family's eldest daughter, Tara, this book details the harassment the family recieved from both Maoist rebels and government soldiers, as seen from a child's perspective.
its a powerful story that opens with an initial idyllic farming setting, before taking the reader through the appearance of Maoist leaders, the impossible position Punya (Tara's father) is placed in, the abduction of the family's eldest son by the rebels, the obstruction of justice, and the parents quest for justice in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. Being told from a childs perspective, we are not shown the intricacies of the situation or the bigger, political implications - rather we are shown the immediate effects of the civil war and how these machinations affect everyday folk. How can one stop farming in protest when one has a family to feed?
While the book is listed as "fiction" it is clear the events detailed in it are the lived experience of the real "Tara", and her family, and many, many other Nepali families.
I generally do not care for graphic novels, but this one was recommended to me by another reader. The illustrations are clear and accessible for younger readers (although due to some of the content, I wouldn't recommend it for children younger than 12), with clear, uncluttered text. It is a powerful tale that brings these events into the foreground, and in this current global climate of war and injustice, these stories need to be told so they are not forgotten.
~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a heartrending graphic novel of one farming family caught in the middle of the civil war in Nepal (1996-2006) . Told in flashback from the family's eldest daughter, Tara, this book details the harassment the family recieved from both Maoist rebels and government soldiers, as seen from a child's perspective.
its a powerful story that opens with an initial idyllic farming setting, before taking the reader through the appearance of Maoist leaders, the impossible position Punya (Tara's father) is placed in, the abduction of the family's eldest son by the rebels, the obstruction of justice, and the parents quest for justice in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. Being told from a childs perspective, we are not shown the intricacies of the situation or the bigger, political implications - rather we are shown the immediate effects of the civil war and how these machinations affect everyday folk. How can one stop farming in protest when one has a family to feed?
While the book is listed as "fiction" it is clear the events detailed in it are the lived experience of the real "Tara", and her family, and many, many other Nepali families.
I generally do not care for graphic novels, but this one was recommended to me by another reader. The illustrations are clear and accessible for younger readers (although due to some of the content, I wouldn't recommend it for children younger than 12), with clear, uncluttered text. It is a powerful tale that brings these events into the foreground, and in this current global climate of war and injustice, these stories need to be told so they are not forgotten.
~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
March 19, 2023
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a compelling and enlightening book that brings to light one of the most overlooked conflicts of recent times. Written by Ram Khatri, this book is a thought-provoking exploration of the causes and consequences of the Nepali Civil War.
Khatri's extensive research is evident throughout the book, as he expertly weaves together a wide range of sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the conflict. The author's in-depth analysis of the socio-economic factors that fueled the war is particularly noteworthy, shedding light on the complex web of issues that contributed to the conflict.
What sets Justice apart is Khatri's balanced and nuanced view of both sides of the conflict. The author offers a deep and empathetic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each party, helping readers to better comprehend the motivations and actions of those involved.
Through interviews with former combatants, government officials, and victims of human rights abuses, Khatri creates a powerful narrative that captures the human toll of the conflict. His vivid descriptions of the violence and suffering endured by Nepali citizens bring the conflict to life in a way that is both emotionally compelling and intellectually enlightening.
And of course, we cannot forget to mention the beautiful art!
Khatri's extensive research is evident throughout the book, as he expertly weaves together a wide range of sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the conflict. The author's in-depth analysis of the socio-economic factors that fueled the war is particularly noteworthy, shedding light on the complex web of issues that contributed to the conflict.
What sets Justice apart is Khatri's balanced and nuanced view of both sides of the conflict. The author offers a deep and empathetic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each party, helping readers to better comprehend the motivations and actions of those involved.
Through interviews with former combatants, government officials, and victims of human rights abuses, Khatri creates a powerful narrative that captures the human toll of the conflict. His vivid descriptions of the violence and suffering endured by Nepali citizens bring the conflict to life in a way that is both emotionally compelling and intellectually enlightening.
And of course, we cannot forget to mention the beautiful art!
May 20, 2023
With his book "Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War" Ram Khatri proves that every story, no matter how difficult, if presented in a proper way, can and should be told to the youngest readers. This beautifully illustrated book seems to be a result of a collaboration of very passionate people, committed to introduce young Nepalis to this decade-long, painful chapter of their country's history. It is worth stressing that the author's decision to break with the typical image of Nepal as a land of the Himalayas and breathtaking landscapes was courageous. The natural beauty of Nepal is as undeniable as it is reductive. Ram Khatri goes beyond this cliche and offers much deeper look into his country of origin. Nepalese civil war (1996-2006) remains almost a taboo; this period has not been addressed nor accounted for. Its consequences of different nature (social, psychological, political etc.), although tangible till this day, are not understood well as they are not a topic of national debate. The author faced this long-overdue issue and made it more accessible for the young generation by looking at it through an infant's perspective. Furthermore, with this book the author makes an important and clear statement: justice is not too big of a concept at any age. I very much recommend this insightful read.
Read
July 11, 2023this is definitely one of the most powerful books i’ve ever read!! it told a story based on a real event that i fear many are not aware of. and it does so in a beautiful, emotional, and powerful way!
this is easily the most unique graphic novel i’ve ever read! this novel is set up with two variations of the story. by two illustrations, i mean that two different illustrators completed an interpretation of this novel, and it was so cool to see their different adaptations of the novel!
overall, this is a must read! it’s a quick read, but it will leave a lasting impact!!
this is easily the most unique graphic novel i’ve ever read! this novel is set up with two variations of the story. by two illustrations, i mean that two different illustrators completed an interpretation of this novel, and it was so cool to see their different adaptations of the novel!
overall, this is a must read! it’s a quick read, but it will leave a lasting impact!!
January 31, 2023
'Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War' has unique story-line, characters, and setting. This book will be an interesting read for those who are looking for diverse stories.
June 20, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) by Ram Khatri is based on actual events that occurred during and after the Civil War era in Nepal. The people and places mentioned are fictional, but the story shows the magnitude war has on a country and its people despite using a fictional cast of characters.
Before the graphic novel began, I read “A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR.” In it, the author informs the reader the book is divided into two sections. “The first section was illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra while the second was illustrated in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani. The purpose is to show how different artists from diverse backgrounds visualize the unique Nepali settings, characters, and its historical events.” As an avid reader of comics and graphic novels, this unique feature intrigued me because I have never witnessed any other book mimicking this setup.
Going into the reading, I was unfamiliar with Nepal and enjoyed the brief overview of it. I learned many new facts. For instance, the currency is the Nepalese Rupee. Since geography is not my strong suit, I liked the zoomed-in image of Nepal on the map.
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) shows war’s effects on a country. It affects every component: economy, citizens, and livelihood. Both illustrators did a lovely job of making the reader feel the family’s fear, sorrow, and regret. As the illustrated story demonstrates, no matter how hard you try to avoid getting involved, often, there’s no hiding from the battle.
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War ends on a cliffhanger, making any reader eager to read what happened next for the major character.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading comics and graphic novels. I would also recommend this book to those who want to share the effects of war with their children (elementary age and older)
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
January 21, 2023
"Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War" book is a work of fiction which is based on the Nepali Civil War. The story of a young girl's journey to reclaim her life during the civil war, set against the backdrop of the conflict, can be a powerful and emotional narrative. The use of "sublime settings, diverse characters, and riveting narrative" in the book can offer an in-depth look at the human cost of the war, and the impact it had on individuals and communities.
January 19, 2023
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is a non-fiction graphic novel by Ram Khatri. It follows the journey of two brothers from rural Nepal who are engaged in a bloody civil war. The story is told through the eyes of both soldiers and civilians, and their families. The novel explores the devastating effects of the civil war on the Nepalese people, highlighting the struggles and consequences faced by innocent people caught in the crossfire. The novel is beautifully illustrated by two illustrators, Sandipan Santra and Ingrid Lilamani.
July 16, 2023
great short story . I recommend this book
Won this on goodreads giveaways. It’s a sad book . How hard about people , a different culture. In a different part of the world . What they go through . How hard war destroys people’s lives. I recommend this book .
Won this on goodreads giveaways. It’s a sad book . How hard about people , a different culture. In a different part of the world . What they go through . How hard war destroys people’s lives. I recommend this book .
March 10, 2023
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War
The Graphic Novel Part 1
By Ram Khatri
In all honesty, I don’t know much about the country of Nepal. When I saw this book I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about their history. This graphic novel follows the story of Tara and her family members as they deal with Maoist rebels during the beginning of the Nepali Civil War. The rebels would come by their home telling them to stop growing their crops and trying to recruit Tara’s older brother. The story ends with Tara’s brother going missing when some “friends” show up to talk to him. I look forward to reading Part 2 as I want to know more about what happened to the family and more about the civil war in general.
An interesting note about this graphic novel is that it has two illustrators. I thought that meant that part of the story would be in one style and another part of the story would be in another style. Instead both illustrators illustrated the entire story in their own style. You can essentially choose to read this book in color or in black and white. I liked both styles, but did enjoy the colorful version more.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Ram Khatri, Sandipan Santra (Illustrator in Color), Ingrid Lilamani (Illustrator in B&W), and Restart Publishing for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Justice: A Tale of the Napali Civil War. I definitely recommend checking it out if you are interested in learning about recent world history.
The Graphic Novel Part 1
By Ram Khatri
In all honesty, I don’t know much about the country of Nepal. When I saw this book I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about their history. This graphic novel follows the story of Tara and her family members as they deal with Maoist rebels during the beginning of the Nepali Civil War. The rebels would come by their home telling them to stop growing their crops and trying to recruit Tara’s older brother. The story ends with Tara’s brother going missing when some “friends” show up to talk to him. I look forward to reading Part 2 as I want to know more about what happened to the family and more about the civil war in general.
An interesting note about this graphic novel is that it has two illustrators. I thought that meant that part of the story would be in one style and another part of the story would be in another style. Instead both illustrators illustrated the entire story in their own style. You can essentially choose to read this book in color or in black and white. I liked both styles, but did enjoy the colorful version more.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Ram Khatri, Sandipan Santra (Illustrator in Color), Ingrid Lilamani (Illustrator in B&W), and Restart Publishing for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Justice: A Tale of the Napali Civil War. I definitely recommend checking it out if you are interested in learning about recent world history.
February 8, 2023
Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) has two sections. The first section was illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra while the second was illustrated in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani. The purpose is to show how different artists from diverse backgrounds visualize the diverse Nepali settings, characters, and its historical events. While the people and places mentioned in Justice are fiction, the story is based on events that occurred during and after the Civil War era in Nepal.
May 4, 2023
I really appreciate this book for providing insight into a conflict that is little known in North America. I think readers of all ages would be interested to learn more about life in Nepal during the recent civil war. However, I felt like there wasn’t quite enough material in this first volume to really engage readers. Having the same text illustrated in two different ways is interesting, but also a bit confusing. I think the book would benefit from choosing one style and instead providing more plot. As it is, we don’t have much time to get to know these characters as people.
August 30, 2023
A wonderfully told story that conveys the essence of the Nepali civil war through this simple yet enlightening graphic novel.
This historical graphic novel is more tailored for children and maybe pre-teens. This specific book is the first in a trilogy.
The narrative centers around a modest farming family grappling with the challenges of wartime life in Nepal. Although the characters are fictional, the plot is rooted in actual events from the Nepali Civil War that transpired in the early 2000s.
We see the family’s lives change from a peaceful mediocre lifestyle to struggling through many ordeals as a result of the civil war. The story is told through the eyes of Tara, who as a child had a different perspective of what was happening around her. The story unfolds with a jump four years into the war, where Tara embarks on a solitary journey back to her childhood home and relives moments that during the war that ultimately drove their family out of their home. It was a very interesting perspective, as we forget that children are innocent and may not comprehend the extent of the situation, in this case, the war.
The comic is shown in two different graphic styles from two different illustrators. This is the first time that I have seen such a thing, where a graphic novel tells the same story twice with two artist renditions. The first interpretation is brightly colored and more childish and the second is in black & white with a more mature character illustration. It was interesting to view the different approaches the artists took to convey the story. I preferred the black and white version, as I felt there was more emotion and character behind the drawings, which might result from being a more mature reader while a child may prefer the colorful version. BUT I can also imagine that the black and white version could be used as a coloring book, which I’m sure any child would enjoy. They could read the first half with colored graphics, and then read it again with the opportunity to color in the pictures with their own colorful interpretation.
Although the premise is about the Nepali war, the novel is an easy read, focusing not too heavily on the facts but more on the emotions of the child living through the experience. For readers desiring more information, the author does provide more on his website: https://justicegraphicnovel.com/
He also provides a few quick facts about Nepal at the beginning of the novel with a map for geographical context.
He also provides us with a glossary of Nepali terms at the end, which I appreciate!
Final thoughts: The first book was very short and I wish there was more! But I have to remember that this is a Children's book, and taking that into account, it is perfect for their little minds.
Excited to see what happens in the next installment of the trilogy.
Thank you to the author Ram Khatri and the team for the physical book which I received in exchange for an honest review.
This historical graphic novel is more tailored for children and maybe pre-teens. This specific book is the first in a trilogy.
The narrative centers around a modest farming family grappling with the challenges of wartime life in Nepal. Although the characters are fictional, the plot is rooted in actual events from the Nepali Civil War that transpired in the early 2000s.
We see the family’s lives change from a peaceful mediocre lifestyle to struggling through many ordeals as a result of the civil war. The story is told through the eyes of Tara, who as a child had a different perspective of what was happening around her. The story unfolds with a jump four years into the war, where Tara embarks on a solitary journey back to her childhood home and relives moments that during the war that ultimately drove their family out of their home. It was a very interesting perspective, as we forget that children are innocent and may not comprehend the extent of the situation, in this case, the war.
The comic is shown in two different graphic styles from two different illustrators. This is the first time that I have seen such a thing, where a graphic novel tells the same story twice with two artist renditions. The first interpretation is brightly colored and more childish and the second is in black & white with a more mature character illustration. It was interesting to view the different approaches the artists took to convey the story. I preferred the black and white version, as I felt there was more emotion and character behind the drawings, which might result from being a more mature reader while a child may prefer the colorful version. BUT I can also imagine that the black and white version could be used as a coloring book, which I’m sure any child would enjoy. They could read the first half with colored graphics, and then read it again with the opportunity to color in the pictures with their own colorful interpretation.
Although the premise is about the Nepali war, the novel is an easy read, focusing not too heavily on the facts but more on the emotions of the child living through the experience. For readers desiring more information, the author does provide more on his website: https://justicegraphicnovel.com/
He also provides a few quick facts about Nepal at the beginning of the novel with a map for geographical context.
He also provides us with a glossary of Nepali terms at the end, which I appreciate!
Final thoughts: The first book was very short and I wish there was more! But I have to remember that this is a Children's book, and taking that into account, it is perfect for their little minds.
Excited to see what happens in the next installment of the trilogy.
Thank you to the author Ram Khatri and the team for the physical book which I received in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2023
This is the first part of three of a historical graphic novel series for children (8+) and teens about a small farming family during wartime in Nepal. The people and places mentioned in the book are fiction but the story is based on real-life events from the Nepali Civil War in the early 2000s.
The story is written from the perspective of a middle child. She is telling her story of life during the Nepali Civil War, and how the war affected their lives. The same story is illustrated twice but by different people. The purpose is to show how different artists from diverse backgrounds visualize the event, setting, and characters. This story is not to be missed! It is an important book that sheds light on the events that might have been forgotten.
The story is written from the perspective of a middle child. She is telling her story of life during the Nepali Civil War, and how the war affected their lives. The same story is illustrated twice but by different people. The purpose is to show how different artists from diverse backgrounds visualize the event, setting, and characters. This story is not to be missed! It is an important book that sheds light on the events that might have been forgotten.
September 5, 2024
War story of a family
All wars are based on greed for power and money. Rich people in power take a backseat and let poor people fight for them. Anybody who starts a war would say they did it for justice, the future of their families, and they deserved to own extra land and people because of the race or caste they were born in making them feel superior to others. These people are cowards who sit behind safety nets and let so many families get destroyed. Innocent people who can't afford to fight against power often have to give in.
I liked both the illustrations for the story. They are both unique in their own ways while telling the same story. Stories like these are important to be told and shared with others.
All wars are based on greed for power and money. Rich people in power take a backseat and let poor people fight for them. Anybody who starts a war would say they did it for justice, the future of their families, and they deserved to own extra land and people because of the race or caste they were born in making them feel superior to others. These people are cowards who sit behind safety nets and let so many families get destroyed. Innocent people who can't afford to fight against power often have to give in.
I liked both the illustrations for the story. They are both unique in their own ways while telling the same story. Stories like these are important to be told and shared with others.
July 25, 2023
This isn't a bad story, it's just too short to be a very interesting one either. The author tries to make it end on a cliffhanger so draws it out to where not much happens until the every end and then we have to wait for at least one more book for the rest of the story. The story is only about 40 pages long too. The exact same story is told by two different illustrators. It's really odd. The only difference is one is in color and one is black and white. I'm not really sure why you'd do this or why someone would want to read the same story twice.
February 10, 2023
The Nepalese civil war has always been a topic of discussion for some decades. All thanks to Mr. Khatri, who came a long way from his ideas and shaped them in the form of this graphic novel. Apart from his past works, which were wholly inspirational ofc, this is a new take on his ability to write fiction. This not only shows his versatility as an author, but also his pliability as to what's going on in the international arena of books. I think he simply nailed this work. A must-read!!!
August 12, 2023
Thank you to Goodreads for this advanced Kindle copy! My two daughters who are 8 and 12 read this! My 12 year old loved how the story made her feel like she was telling the story and that it wasn't just happening at the time. She liked the color version part the best. She also enjoys graphic novels and said it was informative but enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews