Amazona // memoir-style fictional graphic novel about displaced citizens of stolen land

I selected this NetGalley “Read Now” graphic novel first because of the cover, but then because of its description…

Book review + thoughts

Amazona by Canizales
Published by Graphic Universe, Lerner Publishing Group on 3 May, 2022
Genre: Fiction, Graphic novels, New adult
# pages: 100
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman, has returned to the land she calls home. Only nineteen years old, she comes to mourn her lost child, carrying a box in her arms. And she comes with another mission. Andrea has hidden a camera upon herself. If she can capture evidence of the illegal mining that displaced her family, it will mark the first step toward reclaiming their land. This socially conscious thriller from graphic novelist Canizales examines the injustices of his home country in a stark, distinctive style.

• Trigger warning: Book contains rape attempts.
• “We’re people whose land has been taken from us.”
• Modern-day pop culture references, like IKEA, illustrate displacement, invoking empathy and compassion.
• Conservative audiences won’t appreciate the story, deeming it “too political”. They’ll say it’s what’s wrong with this country and spend the whole time hating it. I know, because I have family that thinks like this. I can’t fathom how or why they would think this way, given their attempts to prove their quantum cards worthy of benefits. That is what’s wrong with this country: indigenous culture is only accepted by the white masses when they can benefit personally.
• On the other side of my family is adoption. Digging deeper, though, and the way I was raised to appreciate the earth supports my heritage. It baffles me how my family is literally split in two, regardless of my parents’ separation when I was younger.
• I think that’s why Amazona means something to me. I connect with the story, in addition to empathizing with it.
• Despite the trigger warning, I do think this a book people should read. I think it is a great book for teens to read and discuss, but would also be great for adults.
• My only concern for this book is whether the typography will be too small for people without perfect vision to read. I’m giving it 5 stars regardless, however, because that is more a publishing thing, and the book deserves a chance not to be dismissed just because of this.