Dare to Disappoint

November 9, 2015
Turkish artist Samanci's graphic memoir tells many stories. It's a simple collection of her childhood memories (sent out to buy milk, she instead sneaks into the local school to find her sister); a description of life under a military government ("Every Turk is born a soldier!" her textbook declares); and a fearless examination of her struggle to escape her father's expectations. If teenage Samanci doesn't gain admission to Turkey's finest university and become an engineer, her father worries that she'll die penniless. (Meanwhile, she idolizes Jacques Cousteau.) Year after year, she takes exams, tries to keep up with her academically talented older sister, and wrestles with a crushing sense of inadequacy. It's only when friends tutoring her admire the doodles on her math notesâ"I love the coffee-stain people," one says. "You can be... an artist!"âthat her true self is revealed. Samanci's caricatures of herself and the people around her, often drawn wide-eyed with surprise, make the sporadic episodes of political strife and urban violence oddly incongruous. But they're a crucial component of the story, one that resounds with honesty and humor. Ages 14âup. Agent: Jason Yarn, Jason Yarn Literary Agency.

Starred review from October 15, 2015
Humor and youthful angst lighten this graphic memoir of life in a country pulled strongly in different directions by conflicts between Western and conservative Muslim values.Samanci looks back on her youth and schooling with a dual perspective: as a middle-class child caught up in relentless family pressure to excel academically as the only route to a secure future and, in a broader context, as a woman in a country that was forcibly Westernized years ago by the revered Ataturk but is currently experiencing a cultural backlash abetted by a repressive and corrupt government. The mixed context results in some wrenching juxtapositions. Effervescent childhood memories include falling madly in love with a stylishly dressed teacher, the huge popularity of the TV show Dallas (this was the early 1980s), and, later, trying (and failing) to juggle drama classes at one university with math classes at another. These are punctuated by graphic scenes of executions, comments from hostile schoolmates about "westernized bitches," and a violent mugging on campus. Depicting herself with an unruly ginger mop that captures her character as well as making her easy to spot on the page, the author works dialogue and narrative around unframed, loosely drawn vignettes. These feature judicious spots of color, fluid lines, and occasional collage elements. A bright, perceptive bildungsroman with a distinctive setting. (Graphic memoir. 14 & up)

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Starred review from February 1, 2016

Gr 6 Up-Samanci's graphic novel memoir is a humorous and moving portrayal of coming-of-age in Turkey in the turbulent 1980s. The story makes the political personal in ways that are perfectly accessible to young teens. Samanci's narrative is peppered with engaging details of her childhood experiences, including her relationships with her parents, uncle, and sister; the grueling educational system; and the difficult reality of growing up female in a politically and religiously polarized society. Throughout it all, Samanci struggles with her conflicting desires for success, happiness, and, above all, the approval of her critical father. The style of cartoon illustration combined with mixed media is used to great effect. In several places, the author employs rubber stamps to create pictures of people and concepts that were important to her when she was a child. The muted color scheme and stark backgrounds evoke the political and cultural tone of Turkish society. While there is some violence, it is used sparingly and is presented as an integral part of the narrative. VERDICT In the growing body of graphic novel memoirs, this one is a standout.-Maggi Rohde, Ann Arbor Public Schools, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2015
Grades 8-11 Growing up, Ozge knew what she should do: study hard, get into a good high school, and become an engineer or a doctor. That was the only way her father believed she would have a good life, where she wouldn't have to worry about money or stability. Ozge's sister, Pelin, believed that, too, but when Ozge tried to follow Pelin down that steady, predictable path, she met failure, time and again. Ozge recalls her earliest memories of happily watching Pelin at school through binoculars from the balcony of her building and works her way through the turbulence of Turkey in the late twentieth century as she struggles to please both herself and her family. Her art is an intriguing mix of doodle-like line drawings and mixed-media compositions made of paper, rocks, stamps, and more to build a picture of a world where the politics might seem unfamiliar but the family dynamics and personal relationships are universally recognizable. The rather abrupt ending will leave budding artists and rebels hoping for a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)