A review by mariebrunelm
Squire by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh

adventurous emotional funny reflective tense 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

5.0

In this visually gorgeous and sadly timely story, Aiza discovers that history is not, in fact, neutral. Born as a second-class citizen, Aiza dreams of becoming a squire, and then perhaps a knight, to wield a sword and become a hero, far from the limitations of her people. When she finally manages to enlist, she starts training with new recruits from all walks of life, and quickly makes friends — and enemies. But is she fighting the right enemy and for the right reasons?
I’m not sure I can praise this book enough. Friends, it is per-fect. From the anticolonial discourse and urge to question authority, to the swoon-worthy art style and colour palette, this graphic novel was very quick to capture my heart. Aiza is a stubborn character desperate to prove herself. Despite a rocky start, a few pages were enough to make me fall for her friend Husni who looks like a rich spoiled kid but has actually a good heart. I loved how nuanced the narration was, especially in the feeling of unease it creates as the grand military discourses fail to inspire Aiza as they should.
 Last but not least, the Palestinian-American and Jordanian-American authors masterfully weaved very current themes and situations in this fantasy setting to help us reflect on who gets to tell the story during a conflict.
 This book came with quite the hype after it was reviewed by people whose opinion I hold in high regard, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. 
Rep : diverse cast, no romance, and disabled representation.
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