Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey

Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey by Ozge Samanci

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, NY (2015); Paperback, 190 p.

Ages: Upper Grades (9-12)           Lexile: 570

Geographical Setting: Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey

Time Period: 1980s and 1990s

Awards:

• Amelia Bloomer Lists - Young Adult Nonfiction (2017)

• Middle East Book Award - Youth Literature (2016)

• YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens (2017)

Summary:

In this erratic, quirky, and laugh out loud graphic memoir the author narrates her formidable years in Turkey.  Both parents are teachers and want something better for Ozge and her older sister.  But her father won’t listen to what she wants.   While trying to listen to her own voice, and those of her parents and teachers, Ozge has to balance the religious and militaristic tensions of Turkey and frictions between the outgoing secular government with the incoming conservative one. She describes how she tried to listen to all the voices to please everyone, while it gets harder and harder to silence her own voice.  What will she end up doing?  Will she follow her inner voice?

Ozge’s graphic novel is set very differently from others. The first thing the reader will notice is the absence of panel borders;  the drawings seem to float on bright white pages. But it still captures the eye because of its various layouts.  The illustrations are cartoonish in a frivolous way which merged into elements of a collage.  Ozge rarely uses color, except for her bright blond hair and some other instances she wants to stand out.  She uses a small quick-witted bird to make puns or explain something in depth.

Through her constant failures and persistence to learn from her mistakes, both Ozge and the readers will discover what she wants to do with her life.  Due to the content of the memoir (a life alternating attempted rape (dealt very subtlety) and some political violence), this is a great book for middle and high schoolers.  While Ozge reflects on her personal life, she also depicts the larger issues that transformed her world, like the governmental elections, the subsequent political and economic turmoil, and the school system.

Ozge snuck into her sister's class and
her mother taking her home. (p. 10)

School Stencil showing the importance of
Kemal Ataturk and how he must be shown. (p. 40)

Class survey showing the students' mothers' occupations.
At this young age, Ozge was impressed with 'artist'. (p. 16)

Buying Corn Flakes off the black market
and keeping it a secret.  Only one TV
channel with very few children program.
(p. 60)

By the time she graduated from college,
Ozge decided what she needed to do. (p. 189) 

Nonfiction Read-a-Likes (Coming of Age, Turmoil, and Graphic Novel):

• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.  The author depicts her early years in Iran at the start of the Islamic Revolution until her parents send her to Europe.  Volume II is about the author’s years in Europe and her return to Iran.   (Grades 9-12)

• I Remember Beirut by Zeina Abirached. Growing up in war torn Lebanon during the 1980s and ‘90s, the author depicts her life in black and white illustrations.  (Grades 9-12)

• The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984 by Riad Sattouf. In his own unique style of illustrating, the author describes his early years of traveling back and forth from France, Libya, and Syria following his father’s whims and dreams. (Grades 9-12)

• Marzi by Marzena Sowa.  Through the humorous illustrations, the author describes her life in 1980’s Poland towards the end of Communist rule. (Grades 9-12)

Nonfiction Read-a-Likes (Coming of Age, Turmoil, and Female Protagonist):

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodsen. A memoir in verse about growing up in the South during the 1960s,  dealing with racism, divorce, religion, sickness, and death. (Grades 6-8)

• I am Malala: How One Girl Stood up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai. The Pakistani girl who fought for her and other girls’ education against the Taliban resulting in getting shot in the face.  She later went on to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. (Grades 6-8)

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. An eye-opening autobiography about the racial prejudice in America during the 1930s and '40s. (Grades 9-12)

• Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-Li Jiang.  The author depicts a direct and crippling portrait of the violent political movement that ruined many lives, including hers, as well as the profound effect on her family. (Grades 7-9)

For more Information:

• Digital Media Interview with Ozge Samanci

• WTTW's Chicago Tonight's Interview with Ozge Samanci

• Ozge Samanci's Website

Lesson Plans Materials:

This would be great to use in a Culture, Political Science, or Comparative Governments class in high school or college.  Students can compare and contrast their (or their parents’) lives growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s in America and Turkey.  This book can also be compared and contrasted with the read a likes mentioned above.  It was difficult to find actual lesson plans, but those for Persepolis can be adapted and adjusted.  Below are two activities I did find for Dare to Disappoint.

• Crosswords and Word Searches

• English Plot Diagram and Project

Works Cited:

Samanci, Ozge. (2015). Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey. New York, Farrar Straus Giroux.