Deogratias by J.P. Stassen

Once you pick up the graphic novel Deogratias by J.P. Stassen you will not be able to put it down. Now, I realize that it sounds like a cliche and many people say it but it definately rings true with this book. I was sitting at a boring office for five hours while my mother was in a meeting and my laptop ran out of battery. The only thing I had in my backpack was the novel Deogratias, so I started reading it; and from the beginning to the end you just want to read the next page. The main charcter in the book, Deogratias, is a young boy living in Africa during the genocides in the 1990s. He has many struggles in his life: living in a catholic missionary, dealing with the Tutsi and Hutu fighting, and wooing the girl he likes. One problem with the girl is that she is a Tutsi and he is a Hutu. Everything seems to be going good until the other Hutu in the village become apart of the rebellion and pressure Deogratias into joining them. Many of the Tutsi during the genocide were killed by the Hutu, so one can see the conflict that Deogratias faces. The novel's storytelling goes from present to flashbacks that Deogratias has. The illustrations are impeccable and enhance the story by really helping you get an idea of what is happening. If you enjoyed the movies Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond there is no doubt in my mind that you will absolutely love this graphic novel.