Technolandy

Day 120 b (of 2025/26) a book suggestion: Persepolis 

Better commentary from my daughter: https://www.wpl.ca/blog/woman-life-freedom/

If you’ve read it, you know why I’m promoting this book right now – if you haven’t, it gives a first person experience of Iran and its changes back in the 1970 revolution… some people want it banned because it does describe some tough scenes.. but reality isn’t always the good parts version…. And a reminder that not all comics/graphics are for young readers….

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is one of the most powerful reminders that history is never just dates and headlines. Through stark black-and-white panels and the voice of a fiercely curious young girl, Satrapi tells the story of growing up during the Iranian Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War. What makes the graphic novel extraordinary is how it humanizes events that are often reduced to geopolitics, showing how war, ideology, and cultural expectations shape everyday life for ordinary families.

For students especially, Persepolis opens a window into perspectives that are often missing from Western textbooks. It invites readers to question stereotypes about Iran and the Middle East while exploring universal themes like identity, rebellion, family, and belonging. The graphic format makes complex historical and emotional moments accessible without diluting their weight.

In a moment when conversations about Iran and conflict in the region are once again filling our news feeds, Persepolis feels urgently relevant. Satrapi reminds us that behind every headline are young people trying to make sense of their world. That’s exactly why this book belongs in classrooms, libraries, and conversations today.