Algeria Is Beautiful Like America

The title definitely needed to be Algeria is Beautiful. The “...like America” part is a red herring, as America is mentioned in exactly one sentence and has absolutely nothing to do with this story. I wonder if this was a weird publishing choice for an English speaking audience. That's really the only flaw with this book, though. Olivia Burton writes so contemplatively and vibrantly about her search for her family ancestral homes and history in her visit to Algeria. The art by Mahi Grand is vibrant and warm and the panels change and flow to match the feel and sweep of the story, with pops of color shown through photographs, such a great visual device. Burton doesn't shy away from mining her family's complex and problematic history, and the first few chapters showing her growing into questioning her family's beliefs and worldviews, with looming wars and deaths referenced through haunting skeletons, are exquisitely done and will resonate with teens grappling with the journey of their identity as they form their own personal beliefs. Would be absolutely great in an ELA or SS classroom, so much to discuss from a personal and historical/politcal standpoint. Her story exposed a massive gap in my own learning and I had to stop frequently to look up information about Algerian history and the war, making it a great pairing in SS classes learning about world conflicts and colonialism.