A review by starrysteph
Squire by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Squire is a beautifully crafted graphic novel for young readers – with a sharp look at imperialism & colonialism, and resisting propaganda and biased history.

“​​When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.”

We follow Aiza, a young girl who dreams of becoming a Knight for the Bayt-Sajji Empire (and therefore getting full citizenship as a subjugated Ornu person). She is determined & fierce, and as war comes creeping ever closer, the Squire training program opens up.

But once she’s accepted - and has to hide her Ornu background to be treated as an equal - Aiza realizes that Bayt-Sajji may not truly be fighting for the “greater good”, or ever accept her. She must navigate new friendships, her gut, and her expected loyalty to the Empire. And both her people and her new companions are in grave danger. 

The art style was beautiful – and the characters really leapt off the page. I could almost hear the words and feel the energy. And I love Aiza’s scrappiness and sweet relationship with her older mentor. 

Squire tackles some pretty big themes, and not every arc is as clear as I think it perhaps should be for a young audience. But overall – I thought this was an engaging and poignant read. 

CW: war, racism, xenophobia, violence, colonization, fire, blood, death, classism, gaslighting, genocide, grief

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