Aya

"Ivory Coast, 1978.

It s a golden time, and the nation, too an oasis of affluence and stability in West Africa--seems fuelled by something wondrous.

Aya is loosely based upon Marguerite Abouet s youth in Yop City.

It is the story of the studious and clear-sighted 19-year old Aya, her easy-going friends Adjoua and Bintou, and their meddling relatives and neighbours.

It s wryly funny, breezy account of the simple pleasures and private troubles of everyday life in Yop City.

Clément Oubrerie s warm colours and energetic, playful line connect expressively with Marguerite Abouet s vibrant writing.

This reworked edition offers readers the chance to immerse themselves in the lively world of Aya and her friends, bringing together the first three volumes of the series in Book One.

Drawn & Quarterly will release volumes four through six of the original French series (as yet unpublished in English) in Book Two.

Aya is the winner of the Best First Album award at the Angouleme International Comics Festival, the Children s Africana Book Award, and the Glyph Award; was nominated for the Quill Award, the YALSA s Great Graphic Novels list, and the Eisner Award; and was included on best of lists from The Washington Post, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. "