Aya

I found Aya by Marguerite Abouet to be a wonderful addition to teen graphic novels.

Aya is set in the Ivory Coast in 1970, and basically chronicles the life of Aya, a 19 year old girl who wants to be a doctor, and her friends as they navigate the pressures and pleasures of being a young woman in a man's world. Light, humorous, but also culturally enlightening, Aya is a counterpoint to the usual girlfriends stories because it speaks so frankly and unromantically about love, marriage, and sex. Aya seems to be the only girl in the story who is not partying every night, dallying with multiple boyfriends, and getting caught in awkward situations. In one instance, one girl's father discovers her out dancing-- with her best friend's father. The father scolds her, but it is clear that HE is also with a young woman who is not his wife. This sort of thing appears common-place in Aya's world.

I loved being able to read about Africa without the war and famine. Yay.