Aya

Goodreads. (n.d.). Aya (Aya #1)
[digital image]. Retrieved
November 8, 2016 from
https://www.goodreads.
com/book/show/308424.Aya

YA READS:

Abouet, M., & Oubrerie, C. (2007). Aya. Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly. ISBN: 978-1-894937-90-0, $19.95 (hardback). 

For many people, Africa is a faraway place full of turmoil and poverty. Likewise, the 1970s are a bygone era of polyester and disco. However, this graphic novel (or bandes dessinées) by Marguerite Abouet beautifully captures the 1970s in Côte d'Ivoire in such a way that it is real and vibrant and current for readers today. Aya is a young girl living in Abidjan, and she and her friends all long for independence and a taste of adulthood. She tells her friends, “I don’t want to wind up in the ‘C’ series… combs, clothes, and chasing men,” and admits to her father, “I want to be a doctor!” Sliding back and forth between the lives of three different girls, and covering such topics as young love, teen pregnancy, female empowerment, education and cultural taboos, this story will resonate with teen girl readers around the globe. Aya’s problems and aspirations are juxtaposed with the exciting opportunities for and great struggles of the residents of Jop City, and turning the pages through colorful images of the Ivory Coast and its diverse characters is a delightful experience. Don’t miss Aya!

AWARDS according to Drawn & Quarterly:
* 2006 Best First Album - Angouleme International Comics Festival

HOMEMADE TEES:

Aya is very proud of her African heritage, and the author, Marguerite Abouet is as well.  You, too, can rock a shirt to show the pride of Côte d'Ivoire!

YeOldeShirtShop. (n.d.). Ivory
Coast Cote d'Ivoire soccer futbol
world cup [digital image]. Retrieved
November 8, 2016 from http://tinyurl.com/
pw6sg88