Persepolis

An unforgettable, beautiful, and powerful book. I first read Persepolis when I was probably 11 and knew close to nothing about Iran. Learning about the country's history through the story of a girl my own age growing up during the Iranian Revolution was revelatory. At a time when Iran was presented in US media almost exclusively through the lens of conflict, Persepolis offered a completely different perspective that was smart, funny, feminist, and human. I've reread it several times and it still makes such an impression. The animated film is also great. Illustrator and author Marjane Satrapi passed away this week, and I'm reminded of how formative her work was for me and my understanding of the world. She was absolutely brilliant.