This month’s FYA Book Club selection is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Check out the discussion questions below! (Slight spoilers ahead.)
P.S. If you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any other discussion questions of your own in the comments!
Icebreaker
Young Marjane has trouble understanding the turbulent political climate in Iran. What events or concepts did you have trouble grasping in your childhood?
Questions
1. Marjane is growing up in the middle of history being made. Did you have a similar experience of witnessing history in your youth? Did you realize the significance of the event as it was unfolding?
2. Marjane is often an ‘outsider’: not fundamentalist enough after the Islamic Revolution, and “a Westerner in Iran, an Iranian in the West”. Were you ever torn between identities as a YA? Or even as an adult?
3. Marjane is outspoken, to say the least. Did you find her to be brave or reckless? Or both?
4. How do you think you would have fared, if you were sent off to another country as a teenager like Marjane?
5. True or false: Marjane’s parents and grandmother are awesome. What did you like or dislike about them?
6. Since this is a memoir, do you think the author portrayed herself fairly? Was she too favourable? Too unfavourable?
7. In addition to Marjane’s story, we get snippets about people she knew, like Uncle Anoosh and Niloufar (the girl who was being hidden by the passport counterfeiter). Which of these side stories did you connect with the most?
8. After reading the graphic novel, are you interested in watching the movie adaptation?
- If you’ve already seen it, which version did you prefer? Did your favourite parts make it into the movie?
