Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Clever, heartfelt graphic memoir great for girls and boys.
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What's the Story?
Growing up on Turkey's Aegean Sea, Ozge has plenty of love and attention from her mother, father, and older sister. But the family has little money, and her father worries about what will happen to her if she doesn't go to the right school and become an engineer. Ozge attempts to follow in the footsteps of her successful sister, but she's more interested in art and theater than in mathematics. The political situation in Turkey makes life even more difficult, as secularism and fundamentalism cause deep rifts in the country and the military runs the "democracy." As Ozge struggles to define her own talents and dreams, she must fight against those who want her to take the supposedly safe, stable path in life.
Is It Any Good?
With loose, funny, expressive art that captures the main character's many moods and enthusiastic outlook, this autobiographical coming-of-age story has lots of heart and plenty of universal appeal. Ozge Samanci's DARE TO DISAPPOINT: GROWING UP IN TURKEY meticulously depicts a specific time and place, but it will speak to anyone who marches to the beat of a different drummer. Samanci isn't afraid to admit her flaws, but she also has the bravery to stand up for the attributes that make her unique. Dare to Disappoint is a clever, well-observed coming-of-age tale suitable for both girls and boys.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why comics are such a popular and powerful medium. What kinds of stories are best suited for comics?
What happens when parents and children have different ideas of what success means? Does following one particular course of education guarantee monetary reward and happiness?
What happens when you disappoint other people or when you disappoint yourself? How can you find a way to be proud of yourself and your talents?
Book Details
- Author: Ozge Samanci
- Illustrator: Ozge Samanci
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, High School
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date: November 17, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 200
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Kindle
- Last updated: February 6, 2020
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