Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, ill. Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007.

ISBN: 1-894937-90-2

This fictional graphic novel is set in the Ivory Coast during the 1970s and shows a side of Africa not often seen in the media. Rather than portraying famine and AIDS victims, Aya shows the everyday life of middle-class African teenagers.

Rating: 4Q/5P

Posted by LA 4/5/8

Aya, by Marguerite Abouet, ill. Clement Oubrerie; trans. Helge Dascher. Drawn & Quarterly

Summary: This tells the story of Aya, a teenage girl, growing up in the Ivory Coast 1970s (I think? Sometime during its "belle epoque", so 60s-early 80s.).

Analysis: This is very well-done. You're thrown into Aya's life without any attempt to explain her culture, but her struggles are so universal that the only confusing part is the slang (defined in a helpful and amusing appendix). There is a forward explaining the historical context and an appendix with definitions, recipes, and other useful information, narrated by the author. The only criticism I have is that it goes over a fairly long period of time quickly, not giving the reader much time to get to know the characters. But on the other hand, this could lead to excellent discussion questions in a class setting, with students trying to fill in the sparse scenes and motivations. Issues that would be shocking in an American novel, like teen pregnancy and parents beating their children, are just a way of life for Aya and are narrated completely matter-of-factly without asking for pity or alarm. As one of the reviews on the back of the book comments, it's very nice to see a view of Africa that isn't starving children or political upheaval.

Illustrations: Pen-and-ink with watercolor fill -- beautifully illustrated with one color predominating in most panels, which nicely ties plot threads together by mood. The wavy borders and matte paper give a playful, intimate feel.

Rating: 4Q/4P

Curricular Connections: 9-12th grade unit on African history or teen issues. 

-- SLH