My job at the public library where I work is to take care of everything interlibrary loan related. I've always enjoyed knowing what other people are interested in; I love helping people find similar titles and of course, discovering many interesting titles for myself along the way. I've been very interested in graphic novels from different cultures lately, and one that I picked up for myself through interlibrary loan recently was Aya written by Marguerite Abouet and illustrated by Clement Oubrerie.

Aya takes place in the formerly French colony Ivory Coast in Africa in the 1970s. The story revolves around Aya and her two girlfriends Adjoua and Bintou and their teenaged lives. Aya is studious and wants to be a doctor (to the dismay of her father) but her two girlfriends would rather sneak off and party any night of the week. The book tells of their escapades; Bintou and Adjoua sneaking out to meet with different boys, Aya warding off the boys who seem to flock to her. As you can imagine, it isn't long before one of the girls gets some news that will change her life and the life of those around her due to her careless decisions.

Illustrator Clement Oubrerie fills the pages with beautiful, colorful illustrations that depict the African nation and its people's lives very accurately but also humorously. Many of the girls seem to have a little bit of attitude, the guys seem to have an air of feeling superior around them, the "hang-outs" seem to have a constant, musical beat and low-key atmosphere. I live in Indiana, the who-knows weather state where it's currently very cold- reading this book made me feel like I was enveloped in African warmth whenever I opened. Oubrerie uses different color tones for different scenes in the book: in one part a character is raging mad, running through the town and the pages all have a reddish tint to them, the world seeming angry along with her; in another part of the book a man comes stumbling home half drunk, trying to sneak in the house and the pages are filled with a bluish, overcast, mysterious feeling. These illustrations have a relaxed feeling to them, but they pack a punch: I really love the style and how they match up with the African story.

Marguerite Abouet did the writing for this story, and a fantastic job she's done. The font looks hand-written, adding to the relaxed, mellow vibe the story and illustrations seem to have. Abouet does a great job of accentuating the story with cultural words, phrases, events, details... you name it. The characters constantly seem to add the word "deh" to their conversation (from the background information included at the end, I learned "deh" is a word used to add emphasis to a statement), and they call each other cultural, affectionate (or not!) nicknames. At first I was annoyed with this book, because I couldn't understand some things that were going on or being said-- At one point, Aya tells someone "Don't say that!" and I couldn't help but counter her myself with "Why not? What does it MEAN?" Lucky for me the back of the book has several pages devoted to Ivory Coast culture. There is a listing of several phrases and words and their meanings, there are instructions on the various ways (and what they say to the observer) to wrap a "pagne" (the skirt wraps many females wear), there are a few recipes (I'd really like to try peanut sauce!), and instructions on how one of the girls rolls her "tassaba" (her hiney) to attract the boys.

At first I didn't like this book very much- it didn't seem to be going anywhere, and I wasn't sure why it was called Aya. Aya seems to have action all around her; the book is about the goings-on of her and her friends and family, but its definitely not centered on her. I was irritated at how much I didn't understand, but also very much enthralled with it. I read the book in little more than an hour total (of course I had to put it down ocassionally to play the part of Laura in my own real life). I enjoyed the inclusion of the terms, recipes, and information at the back of the book, but as was the case with Pascal Croci's Auschwitz, I wish it wasn't necessary to completely understand the story.

Overall I really enjoyed Aya. Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie teamed up to create a fun, interesting, enlightening cultural novel about life in Cote d'Ivoire, or, the Ivory Coast in Africa in the 1970s. This is a fun, quick book to read, and it comes highly recommended from me.

As I said earlier, this is a book I interlibrary loaned from my local library. I'm lucky because interlibrary loans are my responsibility, and while this book took two attempts (and one attempt at ordering a copy for our library... it was out of stock!) before it finally arrived through our courier service, I'm incredibly glad I took the time to get it. Most libraries offer interlibrary loan (or ILL) as a service to their tax payers. If your library doesn't own this book, ask your favorite librarian to ILL it for you. I'm sure they'd be glad to do it (I know I would!). Now move your tassaba and find a copy now!

This is an entry into my own National Library Week Write-Off. Click the link and check it out (no pun intended!) libraries are a great place for entertainment, information and relaxation. I encourage YOU to participate!

Other Cultural Graphic Novels You May Enjoy:
Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan
Auschwitz by Pascal Croci
Paul Moves out and Paul Has a Summer Job both by Michel Rabagliati
American Born Chinese by Gene Yang
Embroideries and Persepolis both by Marjane Satrapi

Recommended: Yes