Squire

by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh (Illustrator)

Overview

From two incredible rising talents comes the fantasy graphic novel Molly Knox Ostertag calls “instantly compelling.” A New England Book Award and Harvey Award winner!

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. 

It’s not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the “greater good” that Bayt-Sajji’s military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.

In this breathtaking and timely story, Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062945846
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	03/08/2022
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	11,641
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Nadia Shammas is a Palestinian American writer from Brooklyn, NY. She’s best known for creating CORPUS: A Comic Anthology of Bodily Ailments as well as being the writer of Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin. Her work often focuses on identity, memory, and decolonizing genre tropes. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to perfect her cold brew recipe and win the love of her cats, Lilith and Dash. Visit her online at www.nadiashammas.com 

Sara Alfageeh is a Jordanian American illustrator and creative director from Boston. She's passionate about history, nuances in visual storytelling, and the spaces where art and identity intersect. She’s known for her work for Marvel Comics, Star Wars, and children’s publishing. While that’s cool and all—she really just wants to draw girls with swords. Visit her online at www.sara-alfa.com 

Sara Alfageeh is a Jordanian American illustrator and creative director from Boston. She's passionate about history, nuances in visual storytelling, and the spaces where art and identity intersect. She’s known for her work for Marvel Comics, Star Wars, and children’s publishing. While that’s cool and all—she really just wants to draw girls with swords. Visit her online at www.sara-alfa.com 

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/04/2022

Shammas and Alfageeh draw inspiration from their respective Palestinian and Jordanian backgrounds in this epic fantasy graphic novel. The Bayt-Saiji Empire is recruiting soldiers from among the peoples of conquered territories to fight ongoing wars at the empire’s expanding borders. Lured by the promise of escape from her dull life—and of citizenship and glory should she rise through the ranks—Aiza enlists, concealing her Ornu heritage to avoid discrimination. Enduring grueling squire training under charismatic General Hende, the teen grows stronger while making friends from across the empire. But when a training mission goes wrong, she must reconcile her dreams of acceptance within the empire and the reality of its treatment of its citizens. Alfageeh’s arresting visuals conjure a richly detailed, sun-drenched world in which impressive architecture fills open landscapes populated by visually diverse and complex characters. Shammas uses Aiza’s determined voice to examine themes of assimilation and passing privilege through the ways in which the Bayt-Saiji Empire simultaneously divides and homogenizes its peoples. Aiza’s pursuit of her goal, along with her genuine struggle to overcome the cycle of violence into which she has unknowingly entered, carries the reader to the story’s cathartic resolution. Ages 14–up. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Squire is the fantasy epic we need right now—something wildly new that still manages to feel like an old favorite. Put simply, Shammas and Alfageeh are the bright future of comics.

Saladin Ahmed

04/01/2022

Gr 7 Up—In a Middle Eastern fantasy setting, this is the story of a young Ornu girl growing up in the Bayt-Sajii Empire. Aiza and her family are forced to live in a community for the marginalized Ornu people, which provides them safety within the Empire but not much more. She dreams of leaving her small farming community to become a hero, and when an opportunity arises to join the army in hopes of becoming a squire (and eventually a knight, which would grant her citizenship), she is eager to serve the Empire. Yet almost immediately, she begins to question the history being taught to the new recruits: that the Empire is at war only because other nations refuse to return to the golden age, when all nations flourished as one. Over time, Aiza learns what it truly means to be a hero and the ways in which historical narratives are used to manipulate people. Alfageeh's artwork is stunning, with inspiration taken from Middle Eastern countries, specifically Turkey and Jordan. The recruits train in a place reminiscent of Petra, with buildings carved into red-toned cliffs, and Aiza and the majority of characters are depicted in various tones of brown skin and hair. Extensive author and artist notes on the process of creating the book are included. VERDICT An action-packed graphic novel in a beautifully depicted world, sure to inspire and engage young audiences.—Amanda Melilli

School Library Journal

"Instantly compelling. I want to live in this story forever." — Molly Ostertag, author of The Girl From the Sea

"An utterly gorgeous and heartfelt adventure that examines the roots of empire and the fables invented to maintain it."  — S.A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

"A sweeping, gorgeous tale of tenacity and friendship, Squire makes you want to fight for a better world."  — G. Willow Wilson, author of The Bird King

"Loving families, conflicted loyalties and fierce hope animate this warm, tender exploration of friendship and belonging within the devouring bounds of empire, by two wonderfully talented creators."  — Amal El-Mohtar, author of This is How You Lose the Time War

“Squire is the fantasy epic we need right now—something wildly new that still manages to feel like an old favorite. Put simply, Shammas and Alfageeh are the bright future of comics.” — Saladin Ahmed, author of Throne of the Crescent Moon

“Deftly tackles complex subjects such as war, loyalty, and imperialism, all made humane and relatable through a young, compelling protagonist.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

“Stands out in a graphic novel field long dominated by white authors and protagonists. Aiza’s journey will leave readers with much to contemplate long after they close the book.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“Epic. Shammas uses Aiza’s determined voice to examine themes of assimilation and passing privilege through the ways in which the Bayt-Saiji Empire simultaneously divides and homogenizes its peoples.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A fantasy adventure filled with poignant illustrations, silly banter between friends and fast-paced battle scenes. Worth lingering over.” — BookPage (starred review)

“An engaging graphic novel that examines the nature of prejudice and the cost of imperial expansion.” — Kirkus Reviews

“With its high stakes and robust characters, Squire feels like a new take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, minus the magic.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Stunning. An action-packed graphic novel in a beautifully depicted world, sure to inspire and engage.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

A fantasy adventure filled with poignant illustrations, silly banter between friends and fast-paced battle scenes. Worth lingering over.

BookPage (starred review)

Deftly tackles complex subjects such as war, loyalty, and imperialism, all made humane and relatable through a young, compelling protagonist.

ALA Booklist (starred review)

"Instantly compelling. I want to live in this story forever."

Molly Ostertag

"An utterly gorgeous and heartfelt adventure that examines the roots of empire and the fables invented to maintain it." 

S.A. Chakraborty

"A sweeping, gorgeous tale of tenacity and friendship, Squire makes you want to fight for a better world." 

G. Willow Wilson

Stands out in a graphic novel field long dominated by white authors and protagonists. Aiza’s journey will leave readers with much to contemplate long after they close the book.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

"Loving families, conflicted loyalties and fierce hope animate this warm, tender exploration of friendship and belonging within the devouring bounds of empire, by two wonderfully talented creators." 

Amal El-Mohtar

With its high stakes and robust characters, Squire feels like a new take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, minus the magic.

Horn Book Magazine

2021-11-16
Teenage Aiza hungers for adventure and hopes to become a Squire in the Bayt-Sajji army, which would set her on the path to knighthood.

Being a Knight means heroism, glory, and—for those like Aiza who reside in conquered territories—the possibility of full citizenship. As an Ornu person, easily recognized by the tattoo on her right arm, Aiza faces discrimination from those who resent her people’s hesitation about integrating. Altering her identification papers and covering up her tattoo, she sets off and joins an ethnically diverse cohort that reflects the vast reach of the Bayt-Sajji Empire and the vision of unification held by Gen. Hende, the woman who oversees the recruits’ training. After Aiza fails the first set of Squire tests, she finds an unexpected mentor in groundskeeper Doruk, who helps Aiza improve her sword work but warns her about the violent realities of war; he lost his right arm in battle. History as a purposefully crafted narrative is a dominant theme throughout the story, underscored by calls for unity. The setting, which reads as a fantasy version of Jordan, is beautifully and luminously colored, with artwork that emphasizes the interplay of light and shadow. The characters’ expressions are another visual highlight, used to great effect for both comic and dramatic impact.

An engaging graphic novel that examines the nature of prejudice and the cost of imperial expansion. (character sketches, historical notes, creators' notes) (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews