I was amazed by the power of this graphic novel. I finished it within one afternoon; I was completely hooked after the first page. The style of the illustrations and the storyline surrounding major historical events happening to one family unit reminded me a lot of Art Spiegelman's "Maus I" and "Maus II" (also excellent and powerful reads). But this novel has its own message and voice, that are clear and eye-opening. I loved how the author, Marjane Satrapi, presented a view of Iran's Islamic Revolution through the eyes of a young girl, and ably painted a picture of how the girl's perspective changes as she ages and her ideals and feelings shift and grow. The seemingly simple (and beautiful) black and white illustrations convey the story with much more feeling and power than words alone ever could. Though it is gritty and grim at some points, I would absolutely recommend this book for older teens and adults who would like to understand a child's experience of the turmoil in Iranian society during the 1980s.