#13 Read a comic that has been banned.

It is always worthwhile to examine why book become banned. The best way to judge a book is not by its cover but by reading it yourself. This is not the first banned book I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Persepolis is a graphic novel memoir. It follows the childhood of the author who grew up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The artstyle is very well done and conveys its subject matter unflinchingly. The approach to the subject matter is one of the reasons it has been banned. There are panels depicting torture. There is also some language.

The book was banned in Iran.

The book was temporarily banned in Lebanon.

Illinois, Oregon, Texas, California, and Pennsylvania have all banned, attempted to ban, or challenged the book’s inclusion in the classroom.

This is what happens when real life is portrayed. People don’t always use what would be considered family-friendly language. People don’t always treat others well.

Persepolis is a well-written and beautifully drawn window into the history and culture of Iran. The author provides a front row seat to her family’s struggle to survive and adapt to the changing world around them.

This is a great read, and one that you should definitely check out.