Landing in Place

Hamdy (Lissa) and El Mir deliver a moving graphic novel that deftly explores a college student’s experience charting her own path while navigating a turbulent transitional period. Egyptian American artist Anisa, living in the U.S., struggles under the weight of her immigrant parents’ expectations: though she has no desire to become a doctor, Anisa dutifully enrolls in a combined undergrad-medical program. After a rough first semester—during which Anisa feels out of place and fails a class for the first time—she seizes the chance to spend a semester in Cairo with her beloved grandfather. While her family members cite myriad social and political reasons for not donning a headscarf in Cairo, Anisa opts to wear one, hoping it will help her blend in. Over the course of her stay, she finds that the garment soothes some of her appearance-related anxiety and offers other avenues for her to deepen her relationship to Islam. Additionally, the student begins an internship with a cartoonist at an Egyptian newspaper, an opportunity that allows her to hone her artistic storytelling. Layered explorations of complex intersections of identity, religion, and politics are accompanied by emotive b&w artwork, conveyed via impressively dynamic layouts with elaborate and immersive scenery. An author’s note and contextualizing information conclude. Ages 12–up. (May)