Pride of Baghdad

Title	Pride of Baghdad
Author	Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon
Call Number	PN6727.V387 P75 2006
Location	1st Floor Graphic Novel
Rating	Highly Recommended
Book Review	This is a gorgeous and heartbreaking tale inspired by the true story of several lions who escaped from the Baghdad Zoo when American forces began bombing Iraq in 2003. The four lions are highly anthropomorphized in personality, and each comes to adopt a different philosophy toward the humans who cared for them and the few they run across as they explore a Baghdad that’s rapidly being destroyed around them. The story both works to heighten the reader’s emotional investment by giving human thoughts, emotions, and relationships to the lions and showcasing their awed reactions to the bombed-out city around them (even changing history a bit by making one of the lions a cub for extra tugs at the heartstrings), while simultaneously gently chastising the reader for pitying a small group of animals over the thousands of affected humans in the war, who remain largely off-page save for a few scenes. Yet in the end, the book isn’t preachy, but rather a nuanced reflection on war that shows all the attendant issues from many sides. In addition, the artwork is gorgeous, but be forewarned that it does not shy away from scenes of graphic violence and rape.
Submitted By	Kristin Laughtin-Dunker
Department or Major	Leatherby Libraries
Status	Staff
Chapman Email	laughtin@chapman.edu