Staff Picks (Dec13): Aya — Life in Yop City

Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly

There are many things that make Drawn & Quarterly’s Aya: Life in Yop City a great book, but what is truly beautiful about this graphic novel is that although it takes place in West Africa — specifically the Ivory Coast in 1978 — this is a story that everyone can relate to. With Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie’s full-bodied and compassionate cast of characters readers cannot help but become absorbed in this fun, charming, and deeply personal story about a young girl growing up in Yop City.

Upon reading Aya: Life in Yop City and then the sequel Aya: Love in Yop City, I felt enriched in way only a graphic narrative that touches on the incredible simplicity of the human experience can. This book is as perfect for public libraries and comic shops as it is for one’s personal library. And with Black History month coming up in February, the Aya series is the perfect selection for readers looking for a fun book that gives the reader a fantastic glimpse into the lives of an average, everyday West African family.

~ Caitlin McCabe