1) What had become a bigger conflict than the war against Iraq? How does this manifest itself?

2) In front of the hospital on page 120, what request is made of the Iranian people? What is the double meaning here?

3) How did the government delegate positions of power? Describe the encounter between Marji’s aunt and the director of the hospital.

4) Why is Marji’s aunt so angry at Dr. Fathi’s explanation of the war?

5) Why did Marji’s dad visit Khosro? What was Khosro’s motive for assisting him?

6) Where is Khosro’s family? Why does he help Miloufar?

1) When did Marji’s parents receive their passports? What was one provision listed?

2) What problem do Marji’s parents face as they return from their trip to Istanbul? How does Marji’s mom show her ingenuity?

3) How would you describe the mood at the airport?

4) How had Iran’s food shortage been resolved? What was appealing about Gandhi Avenue?

5) What was the purpose of the Guardians of the Revolution? What happens when they encounter Marji? How does Marji respond?

6) Analyze Marji’s behavior when she returns home.

1) What did the sirens signify? What did Marji realize for the first time? What does this show?

2) How does the picture on the top of page 137 reflect the mood?

3) What motivated the Baba-Levy family to stay in Iran? Why is this so unusual?

4) What happened to Iran’s economy during the war? Is this unusual?

5) How does Marji’s mother attempt to protect her daughter? How does Marji discover the truth? What does the last panel on page 142 reflect?

1) How did Marji’s life change after Neda’s death? What happened at school?

2) How does Marji’s dad respond to her behavior at school? Her mom? Why? What is Marji’s reaction?

3) What happened to Niloufar? Why? How do you know? What is Marji’s reaction?

4) Where do Marji’s parents decide to send their daughter? Why?

5) What is her grandmother’s advice to her?

6) Who made up a large segment of those leaving the country?

7) What is Marji’s last memory of her parents before leaving?

1. What is Marji’s reaction to Shirin? Do you think it’s fair of Marji to think this way?

2. Why do Houshang and Zozo fight so frequently?

3. What does their experience reflect about the challenges associated with immigrating to a new country?

4. Comment on Satrapi’s use of black and white backgrounds in the panels in the middle of page 157. What do they tell us about how the transition from Iran to Austria has affected Zozo and Houshan?

5. What was Marji’s reaction to the supermarket and what special thing does she buy? Why?

1. Marji’s first friends in Austria are much older than her. Why do you think that is?

2. Why does Marji go to Tyrol with Lucia?

3. What was Marji’s reaction to the Midnight Mass?

4. For Marji, what is the biggest difference between spending time with Lucia’s family and spending time with her school friends? Why might that be important?

5. How did Marji feel about Lucia’s parents at the end of the visit?

1. Why does Marji decide to educate herself?

2. What do Marji’s interactions with Momo and the nun in the TV room tell us about Marji’s personality?

3. What does Marji mean when she says: ‘In every religion, you find the same extremists’?

1. How does Julie seem different to Marji?

2. What does Marji have in common with Armelle?

3. Comment on the use of colour on page 185. How does it highlight Marji’s mood in this panel.

4. Marji has been trying hard to fit in while living in Austria. What was her first big step towards assimilating into western culture? Why do you think this was so important to her?

1. Why does Momo refer to the other school students as ‘peons’?

2. Look at the panels on page 193. How is Marji’s growing distance from her culture portrayed?

3. What might the visual imagery in Marji’s dreams reveal about her deepest feelings toward Iran?

4. What does Marji lie about when a boy asks where she is from?

5. How does Marji ‘redeem’ herself? How does it make her feel?

1. Why does Marji abandon her punk identity?

2. Why doesn’t Marji’s mom ask Marji questions?

3. Why is Marji’s uncle in Germany depressed?

4. On page 204 Marji’s mother asks her for a cigarette. In this book cigarettes can be seen as symbolic of independence, freedom, and/or rebellion. Can you find at least 2 other places in the book where cigarettes appear and explain what they symbolize (and why)? Please give page numbers in your answers.

1. What upsets Marji about her new living quarters?

2. What is Marji expecting at the anarchist’s party? How does this compare with what really happens?

3. Comment on the panel at the top left of page 215. What conflict is it illustrating?

4. What instances of racism does Marji encounter in this chapter?

5. What does Marji become at the end of the chapter?

1. Do you see any connections between how women are treated in Iran and how they are treated in Austria? Why do you think the author wanted to criticize the ways in which women are treated in both countries?

2. What did the principal want to discuss with Marji?

3. What political system was there a return of?

4. Why do Marji and Markus get into a fight?

5. What does Marji find when she brings Markus croissants?