I Remember Beirut by Zeina Abirached

Grades 6 and up--

This stunning graphic novel is compact, but powerful. The artwork is similar to the stark black and white drawings of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and illustrate the divided world in which she lives: Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980s and 1990s. Written like a list poem, with each page or so beginning with “I Remember,” Abirached tells the story of her life growing up in a war zone.

Intended audience: Young adults interested in history.

Audience to whom it may appeal: I think this book could appeal to upper elementary students to grandparents, of all genders, races and religions. Its universal themes of memory and perseverance through struggle have the potential to provide connections for many.

Strengths: The artwork is visually very appealing. The solid black and white images are simple but captivating. The poetic style and repetition makes it accessible for a wider variety of audiences.

Weaknesses: Without much historical context, this book might be hard to understand, but it can also stand on its own as a story of a young girl’s life and all of the things she experienced. Although the prose and dialogue are relatively simplistic, there are historical and cultural references that will likely be missed by students with little background knowledge.

Special considerations: The book is a companion to A Game for Swallows which focuses on one particular night during war time.

VERDICT: This book would make a great addition to either the graphic novel or history section of any upper elementary through high school media center. The accessible format will appeal to lower readers, while the historical content might entice higher level readers to try a new format: graphic novel.