Graphic novels are becoming more popular with secondary teachers in order to appeal to students who may be less than excited about reading. Often, these artistic creations personify animals in order to tell a historically accurate tale. One such novel is Pride of Baghdad, by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon.
In this story, the reader is introduced to four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo during America's bombing of Iraq. We follow the lions as they compare their lives in captivity to what they know about being in the wild. The animals have different perceptions of freedom, which is viewed as liberating to the less experienced Noor, yet frightening and dangerous to the much older and partially blind Safa, who had experienced the cruelties of the wild in her youth. When the bombs strike, the lions are consumed with fear, confusion, and a false sense of freedom. They learn that few can be trusted in this time, and they must rely on each other despite their differences. As they struggle to find out what is happening, even the lions become victims of war.
This book is a valuable tool to teach students about real events taking place during the war in Iraq. Through the lions, the reader may become more aware of the feelings of many innocent Iraqis trying to live a peaceful life, with many hopes and dreams for the future, whose lives have been torn apart by a war that they don't understand and cannot escape.
In this story, the reader is introduced to four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo during America's bombing of Iraq. We follow the lions as they compare their lives in captivity to what they know about being in the wild. The animals have different perceptions of freedom, which is viewed as liberating to the less experienced Noor, yet frightening and dangerous to the much older and partially blind Safa, who had experienced the cruelties of the wild in her youth. When the bombs strike, the lions are consumed with fear, confusion, and a false sense of freedom. They learn that few can be trusted in this time, and they must rely on each other despite their differences. As they struggle to find out what is happening, even the lions become victims of war.
This book is a valuable tool to teach students about real events taking place during the war in Iraq. Through the lions, the reader may become more aware of the feelings of many innocent Iraqis trying to live a peaceful life, with many hopes and dreams for the future, whose lives have been torn apart by a war that they don't understand and cannot escape.
I just finished this -- again thanks to you! Some scenes are powerful and graphic. For me the most telling line is on the page near the end where the author says that it was more than animals that were killed in the invasion of Baghdad.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to make the conversation assessible to students who may not have the best reading skills.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a powerful novel. I loved the statement you made about "the feelings of many innocent Iraqis trying to live a peaceful life, with many hopes and dreams for the future, whose lives have been torn apart by a war that they don't understand and cannot escape." This couldn't be more true throughout the novel, and is an important piece of symbolism.
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