Scan barcode
breeads9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
achay91's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
choi_lacroix's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
mothmans_secretary's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
neilblahblah's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
fraxisle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
yentagon's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
spenkevich's review against another edition
4.0
‘-This isn’t the way the world works, girl.
-Maybe not. But the world is only how we make it. How will you make it?’
If you are looking for excellent adventure, look no further than Squire from author/illustrator team [a:Sara Alfageeh|18069028|Sara Alfageeh|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Nadia Shammas|18703435|Nadia Shammas|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. This is an exciting fantasy in an absorbing world detailed through it’s intense political climate and features a lot of women with swords battling for truth and justice. All of this is brought to life through Sara Alfageeh’s really lovely artwork and lush colors. Squire tackles a lot of really important and complex issues of colonialism and the propaganda that perpetuates imperialism, as well as the struggles for identity living under a conquering empire, but the excellent storytelling and engaging narrative make this a fast, fun and really rewarding experience.
Nadia Shammas dedicated Squire to the great [a:Edward Said|21570252|Edward Said|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], whose books such as [b:Orientalism|355190|Orientalism|Edward W. Said|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409777781l/355190._SY75_.jpg|2310058] and [b:Culture and Imperialism|22135|Culture and Imperialism|Edward W. Said|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345517972l/22135._SX50_.jpg|405774] are foundational texts critical of Western depictions of ‘The East’ and shows how empires persist through colonizing stories as well as land. The influence of his work is present here and Shammas and Alfageeh are able to tell their own stories of their own culture—the world of the war-torn Bayt-Sajji Empire in Squire is heavily influenced by Arabic nations and history—instead of being told through the white gaze. In this way they are able to not only tell and celebrate cultural heritage but also critique politics of war without it being written for the purpose of weaponizing the stories for the sake of Othering Islamic nations, as Said explains the history of literature tends to do.
The story follows Aiza, a girl from the recently conquered Ornu people, who enlists to train to become a Squire in order to gain full citizenship in the Bayt-Sajji Empire as well as to become a hero as she seeks adventure and glory. Having to hide her ethnicity, Aiza meets friends along the way in the grueling training camp and we see how complex identity is for each of these various characters in a world full of conquering and an insistence of patriotism and upholding honor. Yet deception lurks in every corner and while Aiza trains under the tutelage of a disgraced Squire now working as a one-armed janitor she also begins to understand how the stories of the Empire are just that: stories. The myth making of patriotism becomes a way to weaponize fear mongering against others—such as the Ornu—and keep an army ready to fight and die for the Empire at any costs. The book does well by looking into ideas of complicity and questioning the myths that we are told to instill pride in a ruling government.
This is an exciting book and many of the training scenes made me get that song from Disney’s Mulan stuck in my head. There is a lot of set-up which is really rich with lore and politics that I quite enjoyed, and though the second half of the book feels almost too quickly paced at times, it makes for a really action packed and fun read. I also enjoyed how long it was as I tend to fly through graphic novels too quickly and this made for a multi-sitting read to be more immersed in the world. Plus this is a great book for those hoping to have a more inclusive reading list with a predominantly brown-skinned cast of characters and cultural references based in the Middle East. The illustrator writes that the color palette, which is extraordinary, is influenced in the colors she saw in Turkey and Jordan and there are some phenomenal shades of blue used to great effect here. This is a wonderful book and I would love to see a sequel.
4/5
-Maybe not. But the world is only how we make it. How will you make it?’
If you are looking for excellent adventure, look no further than Squire from author/illustrator team [a:Sara Alfageeh|18069028|Sara Alfageeh|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Nadia Shammas|18703435|Nadia Shammas|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. This is an exciting fantasy in an absorbing world detailed through it’s intense political climate and features a lot of women with swords battling for truth and justice. All of this is brought to life through Sara Alfageeh’s really lovely artwork and lush colors. Squire tackles a lot of really important and complex issues of colonialism and the propaganda that perpetuates imperialism, as well as the struggles for identity living under a conquering empire, but the excellent storytelling and engaging narrative make this a fast, fun and really rewarding experience.
Nadia Shammas dedicated Squire to the great [a:Edward Said|21570252|Edward Said|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], whose books such as [b:Orientalism|355190|Orientalism|Edward W. Said|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409777781l/355190._SY75_.jpg|2310058] and [b:Culture and Imperialism|22135|Culture and Imperialism|Edward W. Said|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345517972l/22135._SX50_.jpg|405774] are foundational texts critical of Western depictions of ‘The East’ and shows how empires persist through colonizing stories as well as land. The influence of his work is present here and Shammas and Alfageeh are able to tell their own stories of their own culture—the world of the war-torn Bayt-Sajji Empire in Squire is heavily influenced by Arabic nations and history—instead of being told through the white gaze. In this way they are able to not only tell and celebrate cultural heritage but also critique politics of war without it being written for the purpose of weaponizing the stories for the sake of Othering Islamic nations, as Said explains the history of literature tends to do.
The story follows Aiza, a girl from the recently conquered Ornu people, who enlists to train to become a Squire in order to gain full citizenship in the Bayt-Sajji Empire as well as to become a hero as she seeks adventure and glory. Having to hide her ethnicity, Aiza meets friends along the way in the grueling training camp and we see how complex identity is for each of these various characters in a world full of conquering and an insistence of patriotism and upholding honor. Yet deception lurks in every corner and while Aiza trains under the tutelage of a disgraced Squire now working as a one-armed janitor she also begins to understand how the stories of the Empire are just that: stories. The myth making of patriotism becomes a way to weaponize fear mongering against others—such as the Ornu—and keep an army ready to fight and die for the Empire at any costs. The book does well by looking into ideas of complicity and questioning the myths that we are told to instill pride in a ruling government.
This is an exciting book and many of the training scenes made me get that song from Disney’s Mulan stuck in my head. There is a lot of set-up which is really rich with lore and politics that I quite enjoyed, and though the second half of the book feels almost too quickly paced at times, it makes for a really action packed and fun read. I also enjoyed how long it was as I tend to fly through graphic novels too quickly and this made for a multi-sitting read to be more immersed in the world. Plus this is a great book for those hoping to have a more inclusive reading list with a predominantly brown-skinned cast of characters and cultural references based in the Middle East. The illustrator writes that the color palette, which is extraordinary, is influenced in the colors she saw in Turkey and Jordan and there are some phenomenal shades of blue used to great effect here. This is a wonderful book and I would love to see a sequel.
4/5
kellyfables's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25