Retro Friday Reviews are hosted by Angieville. Basically you review an older or under the radar book on Fridays. Today’s review is Aya by Marguerite Abouet.
Graphic novels are the best late night readathon material EVER. My memory on Aya by Marguerite Abouet is a little fuzz, but rest assured, I am trying to clean out the need to be reviewed queue, HOLLA! I do remember vividly liking Aya.
Aya
The media presents the image of Africa as a poverty stricken continent which isn’t necessairly true. I mean, we don’t really see a hopeful Africa on TV a whole lot. In 1978, the Ivory Coast was rather prosperous and hailed as a second Paris. I was actually surprised to read that. I think the truly awesome element of Aya is that it doesn’t ‘other’ Africans, but portrays Aya and her friends in a positive manner. They want the freedom to go out late and dance. Aya wants an education. People keep trying to hook Aya up with guys, but she knows she’s better than that.
Aya by Marguerite Abouet is mostly lighthearted. It is very much focusing on the every day bits of life. Sure there’s some sex and a pregnancy but for the most part, I found myself getting in a few chuckles.
I felt that reading Aya was a valuable learning experience for a bit of history that I knew nothing about. It’s written in a way so that I could connect with the characters while learning what life was like on the Ivory Coast- my impression is that it’s mainly fun with lots of dancing and making out on tables. Aya is 96 pages and obviously a quick read. I think this book could totally enhance a global history classroom library and be a way to engage reluctant students.
Disclosure: Won from the PoC Reading Challenge
Other reviews of Aya by Marguerite Abouet:
The Book Nest
The Boston Bibliophile
Purchase Aya by Marguerite Abouet here.*Clicking the link will take you to Amazon where I am totally an affiliate. If you buy things after clicking the link a super small portion of the proceeds will benefit Good Books & Good Wine at no extra cost to you. It’s totally win/win, you get to order new products AND help this rockin’ blog. Holla!
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Sounds like a book that may go on my TBR list; sounds like a fascinating book!