We did some talking in our Light Years group about how much Light Years is like Persepolis. Both Marjane and Maya grew up knowing war. Maya's family seems a little more easygoing though, as opposed to the opposition the Satrapi's often show. They also both grew up living in fear. There were often bombings, and whenever it happened they were worried it was someone they knew. I think it would be very difficult when you saw a person to not know if you'd see them the next day, or if they'd be killed. Whether it was your family, or just someone you knew, it would be hard to have life in in a state of constant uncertainty. They must have found some way to cope with it, but it doesn't seem easy.
Another similarity is that both make an escape, but never fully get away from their homeland and culture. Maya finds refuge at college in Virginia, while Marjane leaves for Austria (most of this is in the second half of the book, for those who haven't read it.) The difference between the two girls is that Maya tries her best to stay distanced from everyone while Marjane works to fit in and be accepted. Although that part is different, they are united in that they are both haunted about events from the past, and worried about those they left behind. Also the same is that they both go back in the end. Neither can stay away forever. I think that says a lot about the love one can have for home and the people there. Nothing seems to be able to stop them from getting back.
That's funny, because I was about to parallel the coming of age during wartime my choice novel, the Book Thief, too. Although the main character does not leave until the end of conflicts in ours, it seems to me like the choice assignments may have had this included element on purpose. (you sneaky little devil Kunkle) But at any rate, it sounds like an interesting story, and as I already greatly enjoyed reading Persepolis I might have to get a hand on Light Years sooner or later as well.
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