Jean-Philippe Stassen
Deogratias (2006)
Author: Jean-Philippe Stassen
Genre: Graphic Novel (Historical)
Plot Summary:
Deogratias, a young Hutu in Rwanda, roams through his village in ragged clothes looking for Urwagwa, a banana beer. He appears in a daze and often mutters about being a dog and eating the bellies. As he approaches men from his past and asks for beer we see flashbacks of Deogratias's life. As a school boy we see his crush on Tutsi sisters Benina, independent and hoping to go to college, and Apollinaria, who wants to stay and serve her church. From the teacher's propaganda to the hatred spewed on the radio the division between Hutus and Tutsis grow. SPOILERWhen the genocide begins Deogratias has just made love for the first time to Benina and he tries to hide her as he is gathered into a Hutu group from his village. She manages to hide for two weeks with her sister but finally starvation causes them to leave their latrine pit and they are found by Deogratias's group. The girls are shown their beheaded mother before they too are slaughtered as Deogratias watches.
Geographical Setting: Rwanda, Africa
Time Period: 1994-1995 with earlier flashbacks
Appeal Characteristics:
Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda, listed on the best books list by the ALA's YALSA for 2007, is a powerful story with tragic characters. We see Deogratias as both the horney young boy who is loyal to his Tutsi friends when locals turn hostile and also the young man driven mad by his actions as he sees himself turn into one of the dogs that fed on the dead bodies. The secondary characters are also strong including the independent Benina, who struggles to go to college, and the white sergeant, who buys Deogratias beer and talks about his sexual exploits with young Rwandan women. The setting, in Deogratias's Rwandan village, is brought to life through the art work. In early flashbacks we see scenes of lush greenery and well dressed school children. Later we see the village from bars and streets populated by ragged citizens. The tone is dark even before the killing starts and the artwork with its dark blacks and blues adds to the overall dark feel of the story. The art is central to the story with its depiction of Deogratias's fall into madness as we see him physically turn into a dog. The pace is quick as we move toward the impending genocide. The flashbacks keeps us morbidly rushing ahead to see what has affected Deogratias so severely. The writing style is creative through flashbacks and a mixture of seeing things from Deogratias's head as well as how others react to him. Even though we know what is coming the ending is a surprise. On a side note, for those unfamiliar with the Rwandan genocide, the translator, Alexis Siegel, offers a 14 page introduction that tells the history of Rwanda and puts the actions of some of the characters in historical perspective.
Read-alikes: For readers looking for another graphic novel whose storyline deals with a tragic childhood try Blankets by Craig Thompson. This memoir relates Thompson's life as he grows up in a rigidly fundamentalist Christian home where he is abused and his love of drawing is dismissed. His friendship with Raina shows him a new life as he falls in love and becomes an independent adult. The dark tone and occasional nightmarish images give this story a similar feel to Deogratias. For readers that enjoyed the insight into another culture try American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Lang. Here we see three interrelated stories about young Chinese Americans and their problems when they try to participate in American popular culture. The art work uses vibrant colors which are similar to the feel of Deogratias's homeland before the genocide. The characters are also strong as we see how the three deal with racism in their school and community. Another story that uses an international storyline is Garage Band by Gipi. Here we see four troubled boys in Italyform a band in one of their parent's garages. When their amp blows right before the deadline for their demo tape they end up in serious trouble. Once again the characters are key as we see their troubled lives and watch them make moral decisions when they need a new amp. The art is atmospheric and filled with anxiety making it a good read-alike for Deogratias. For readers who want to explore historical genocides Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia by Joe Sacco will be a good choice. Sacco's art work, while more detailed, is expressive in telling a story, as is Stassen's. The character's faces often mirror the anger or the loss in their words. The setting of Bosnia will feel familiar to Deogratias as we see the horrors of a war torn nation. For the reader who wants to explore the issues of loss but in a less serious tone they should try Gray Horses by Hope Larson. Noemie has just arrived in Paris, France and deals with loneliness and loss in both her dreams and in her attempt to make friends in a new city. The art form is simple but very expressive, particularly in the character's faces. Like Deogratias's character Noemie is strong as she deals with her lonliness through her dreams and shows the courage needed to make friends.
Red Flags:Graphic violence, torture, murder, sexual language and actions, use of racial slurs, storyline involved sexual relations of a priest
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