Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda

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Description

Now with a new introduction by Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse. The the harrowing tale of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda unfolds, as seen through the eyes of a boy named Deogratias. Stassen's tale takes us back and forth in time, showing only before and after the killings-and inexorably revealing the grip of madness they had on one boy and his country. Deogratias is difficult, beautiful, honest, and heartbreaking, this is a major work by a masterful artist. And now as a reissue, it's getting a second chance to impact new readers.

Reviews

"While Stassen's simple layout and spare images may appear static at first, the uncluttered art, reminiscent of jewel-toned woodcuts, serves to underscore the erupting brutality... the importance of the story and the heartbreaking beauty of its presentation make it an essential purchase. (Graphic novel. YA)" --Kirkus, starred review

" The lucid, sometimes-painful imagery--depicted in intense colors, with highly expressive faces--accompanying this story illustrates the ways in which the hierarchies besetting race and ethnicity, imposed by the sociopolitical climate, all come to bear on the decisions made by the characters...A graphic novel of regret riddled with inescapable grief, capturing attention from the outset, with a stinging and near-to-cathartic ending." --Kirkus

"...this book vividly shows the power of fiction to introduce fact." --Booklist

" Stassen is a journalist who lives in Rwanda, and his art is bold and clear, using different color palettes to seamlessly shift between before and after. There is no catharsis, only the realization that even justice turns its champion into a monster.
" --Publishers Weekly

" A masterful work with vibrant, confident art, this book will stay with and haunt its readers," --Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY, School Library Journal

" This graphic novel's worldview is bleak: Deogratias is a tale with no heroes. The full-color art can be both brutal and beautiful, and is extremely effective. " --George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale PL, Montvale, NJ, KLIATT

"The lust, saturated beauty of Stassen's artwork provides a stark contrast with the brutal world he's recording." --BookPage

" The natural world is turned upside down in this book, the subject matter brutal. Deogratias is worth a look, especially for readers who wonder about the literary value of graphic novels." --Michigan Reading Journal

Author Bio

J.P. Stassen was born and raised in Belgium. His books have been published in multiple languages, and his remarkable artistry has won him many awards. After living in various places including Latin America, Mozambique, and Rwanda, he settled in Paris, where he lives today.