حاملة الدرع

by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh, Eman Herzallah (Translator)

في حاملة الدرع يعتبر التاريخ سلاحًا مثل خنجر إيزا. قصة إمراطورية شهيرة سابقًا، طموح ما لتبرير التوسع واحتلال بلدان مجاورة متنوعة، اللاجئون مواطنون من الدرجة الثانية يطمحون إلى الاندماج في الإمبراطورية بخدمتها، وإن كنت تعيش في قلب الإمبراطورية، فأنت تخدمها بطريقة ما أو بأخرى، الضرائب، مقابل أمان نسبي مقارنة بأقاريك في الوطن، لو كنت عربيًا آمریکيًا، فستعرف معنى هذا، ستعرف معنى أن تسمع عن هجمات جوية وتتساءل متى ستسمع عن وقوعها بالقرب من بيت أجدادك هناك؟ ستعرف ما هو الشعور بأن تراقب البلد الذي نشأت فيه في صراع دائم مع البلد الذي جئت منه. ستعرف ماذا يعني أن تشعر بغربة نحو وطنك ومستقرك أيضًا، لكنك ستعرف أيضا روعة أن تكون عربيًا أمريكيًا، هذه السعادة جزءٌ من تاريخك الشخصي أيضا كتبت حاملة الدوع بأمل أن أكتب شيئا لا يخصني وحدي، بل يعكسني ومن حولي أيضًا قصة شخصية تواجه صراعا وجوديًا. لتدرك أن الإمبراطورية لا مكان فيها الأهل البلد المحتل. تتعلم أن تستجوب التاريخ الطلاقًا من الحاضر، لأن التاريخ، في الحقيقة، شخصي جدًا، يجوز التساؤل عن كل السيناريوهات بما في ذلك هذا. لكن لا تدعوا قصة أي أحد تخبركم بذواتكم أنتم. لا مزيد من المسوخ، ولا سحرة مصطّفون. مجرد ناس يتعلمون كيف يفندون مبررات الاستعمار ويشقّون طريقهم. على كل فرد منا أن يشق طريقه هناك، آمل أن تجدوا شيئًا ما في هذا الكتاب يعينكم في رحلتكم. نادیا شماس

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

340 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2022

About the author

Nadia Shammas is a Palestinian-American comics and games writer from Brooklyn, NY now living in Toronto, Canada.

She is best known for being the writer and co-creator of Squire (HarperCollins), a Harvey Award winning YA Middle Eastern fantasy graphic novel co-created with Sara Alfageeh. Her other original work includes Where Black Stars Rise (Tor Nightfire), an adult eldritch horror graphic novella co-created with Marie Enger.

She is also known for her work on Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin (Scholastic). Her clients include Marvel, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, First Second, Tor Nightfire, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins.

Reviews

[Alix Harrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

the graphic novel that has it all: girls + swords, girls + swords realizing their heroes were manufactured imperial propaganda, girls + swords fighting their way toward a different kind of heroism alongside a ragtag band of empire's exiles. i read it out loud to my 5yo. twice. in one day.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘-This isn’t the way the world works, girl.
-Maybe not. But the world is only how we make it. How will you make it?’

If you are looking for excellent adventure, look no further than Squire from author/illustrator team Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas. This is an exciting fantasy in an absorbing world detailed through it’s intense political climate and features a lot of women with swords battling for truth and justice. All of this is brought to life through Sara Alfageeh’s really lovely artwork and lush colors. Squire tackles a lot of really important and complex issues of colonialism and the propaganda that perpetuates imperialism, as well as the struggles for identity living under a conquering empire, but the excellent storytelling and engaging narrative make this a fast, fun and really rewarding experience.


Nadia Shammas dedicated Squire to the great Edward Said, whose books such as Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism are foundational texts critical of Western depictions of ‘The East’ and shows how empires persist through colonizing stories as well as land. The influence of his work is present here and Shammas and Alfageeh are able to tell their own stories of their own culture—the world of the war-torn Bayt-Sajji Empire in Squire is heavily influenced by Arabic nations and history—instead of being told through the white gaze. In this way they are able to not only tell and celebrate cultural heritage but also critique politics of war without it being written for the purpose of weaponizing the stories for the sake of Othering Islamic nations, as Said explains the history of literature tends to do.



The story follows Aiza, a girl from the recently conquered Ornu people, who enlists to train to become a Squire in order to gain full citizenship in the Bayt-Sajji Empire as well as to become a hero as she seeks adventure and glory. Having to hide her ethnicity, Aiza meets friends along the way in the grueling training camp and we see how complex identity is for each of these various characters in a world full of conquering and an insistence of patriotism and upholding honor. Yet deception lurks in every corner and while Aiza trains under the tutelage of a disgraced Squire now working as a one-armed janitor she also begins to understand how the stories of the Empire are just that: stories. The myth making of patriotism becomes a way to weaponize fear mongering against others—such as the Ornu—and keep an army ready to fight and die for the Empire at any costs. The book does well by looking into ideas of complicity and questioning the myths that we are told to instill pride in a ruling government.



This is an exciting book and many of the training scenes made me get that song from Disney’s Mulan stuck in my head. There is a lot of set-up which is really rich with lore and politics that I quite enjoyed, and though the second half of the book feels almost too quickly paced at times, it makes for a really action packed and fun read. I also enjoyed how long it was as I tend to fly through graphic novels too quickly and this made for a multi-sitting read to be more immersed in the world. Plus this is a great book for those hoping to have a more inclusive reading list with a predominantly brown-skinned cast of characters and cultural references based in the Middle East. The illustrator writes that the color palette, which is extraordinary, is influenced in the colors she saw in Turkey and Jordan and there are some phenomenal shades of blue used to great effect here. This is a wonderful book and I would love to see a sequel.

4/5

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars. This was a well done graphic novel. I’m a graphic novel fan, but with so many books on my to read list, I don’t find the time for as many graphic novels as I would like. When I saw this particular new graphic novel, it immediately caught my attention and I knew I would happily make time for it. I love fantasy stories about young women who are underdogs in training to become squires and knights. And of course seeing the tittle of Squire, caused me to instantly think of a favorite series of mine, Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce. I was hoping for a similar feel with this comic and I did get a little of that.

I must admit that I was not crazy about the art in the first few panels. I don’t know if overdone is the right word, or not, but something wasn’t clicking for me. However, that soon changed and I found myself really enjoying the art, especially the colors. The color choices are wonderful and this graphic novel really stands out because of it.

I enjoyed the story and found it very easy to get sucked into this world. If I am totally absorbed by any type of story, my reading pace picks up. That is not always easy to do with graphic novels since you have to be more careful how you read them. In this case, I was happy that the bubbles were easy to follow so I didn’t find myself reading text out of turn, and it kept the story flowing and allowed me to read at good speed.

My only slight issue is that I was not crazy about the ending. Not the actual story, but that I felt like the ending was a bit too rushed. There is a lot going on in this graphic novel, so I get it, but I feel like the climatic ending wasn’t as exciting as it should have been for me, since certain things felt like they were happening too quickly. It did not ruin my overall enjoyment, but it’s why I didn’t give this a full 4 stars.

TLDR: A beautifully colored graphic novel. I’m a YA fantasy fan, so this was right up my alley and I enjoyed the story. The ending was a tad rushed, but everything else was well done and I would absolutely read another volume if there is one in the future.

P.S. Since I read a lot of LGBTQ+ content, I just want to mention that while I wondered about one character, this graphic novel has no obvious LGBTQ+ characters.

An ARC was given to me for a review.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visually stunning and emotionally resonant graphic novel, Squire grabs you with its lush, sunbaked art and holds you with its powerful themes. Every panel is saturated with warmth, tension and cultural richness, capturing not just the Middle Eastern inspired setting but also the emotional weight of the story. Sara Alfageeh’s art is reason enough to pick this up but Nadia Shammas’s storytelling gives it staying power.

Aiza is a dynamic and deeply compelling protagonist. Her journey is one of ambition, identity and hard truths. She doesn’t just want to belong, she wants to prove herself in a world that’s rigged against her. Her struggle between complicity and conviction, between surviving the system or challenging it, feels urgent and real. Especially for younger readers navigating their own questions about justice and identity.

The story leans on familiar narrative scaffolding: the scrappy underdog, the military training camp, the last minute moral reckoning. These devices serve as an accessible vehicle for the deeper themes using the comfort of a known arc to smuggle in timely sharp critiques of propaganda, nationalism and systemic violence. But they also make parts of the story feel predictable and the ending a touch abrupt. It feels intentional and it's a fair tradeoff but keeps the story from fully breaking new ground.

A bold, beautiful work that speaks clearly and urgently. Squire is a powerful read especially for younger audiences ready to question the systems around them.

[CW ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the gorgeous illustrations and a story about knights, stay for an incredible story about a young girl confronting the fact that her dream of becoming a knight is built on imperialism and subjugation of the oppressed (and yes, do stay for its gorgeous illustration too).

This graphic novel is absolutely brilliant and I loved this.

Read my full review on my book blog, The Quiet Pond.

I received a digital advanced readers copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[may ➹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art, meaningful story, but the execution fell a little short for me. Squire is a story of the horrors of war and colonialism, and the meaning of attaining glory at the cost of other people. As a reader, we can recognize the corruption of the empire and wonder how Aiza cannot realize that fighting for the empire means contributing to the oppression of her own people. But it is unfortunately a realistic depiction of the biased history that those in power can write and convince us is accurate.

Perhaps it is because I am older than the target audience for this, but I feel like the Moment of Realization did not have as much buildup as I wanted and felt a bit out of nowhere. While there were scenes where Aiza had inklings that something was off—recruits insulting her people, teachers telling inaccurate histories of her people—I found it a bit unrealistic how suddenly certain she was of the injustices that the empire was committing, after all this time believing in it and fighting for it. I wanted to see the struggle to come to the realization that not everything was as presented, because resisting the common narrative and seeing through lies is tragically difficult. I had other minor gripes (rushed ending, less developed side characters), but this one was the most grievous to me since I feel like the jump from 100% certain of the empire’s glory to 100% certain of their evil minimizes the impact of such a journey. Unlearning the oppressors’ beliefs is an arduous process, filled with countless doubts and internal battles. But again, perhaps I seek more nuance because I am not the target audience, and the authors wanted the “the empire is evil” realization to be quite explicit for younger readers.

Despite my complaints, I do believe that Squire is a worthwhile story to read. While I may have sought more from its execution, I think there is still much to learn and take away from Aiza’s arc. The story may be fantasy, but it is a very real reflection of the history and current reality of so many people in our own world.

:: content warnings :: war, violence, racism, depictions of blood

[aforestofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH HI THERE. THIS IS THE BOOK I DREAMED OF WHEN I WAS A WEE LITTLE THING DISCOVERING THE WORLD OF KNIGHTS THROUGH TAMORA PIERCE’S WORKS. NOW I GET TO SEE MYSELF IN A STORY AND MY HEART HURTS WITH HOW HAPPY I AM

This book really makes you think, and the entire time it kept reminding me of Palestine. I loved the illustrations the most and Aiza’s facial expressions were the best 😂 I wish it was longer though! Or hopefully we get a second book to see what happens. I think the one thing about graphic novels is that they feel so short and I always want more

[bri]

"Your silence was a lie. The stories left out the part where you hurt innocent people, civilians. The story left out the part where you trade your people for comfort."

I've had this one on my radar ever since Molly Knox Ostertag blurbed it, and I'm sad to finally be reading it under such atrocious circumstances, but I'm also glad to have a reason to finally get around to it. An unbelievably universal and yet hyper-specific tale. One that dissects empire, confronts propaganda, and asks its audience to notice the wheels of history that we've been trapped in and to stand up and tip over the cart.

I do wish this was a bit longer and we had more fleshing out of this world-building, and/or to have a bit more closure with our main character and her family and culture. It felt like it needed more of a button to end on to really show us the importance of standing up against imperialism, to show how much one group of people can make a change. (Especially because one character is worried that their actions won't make enough difference.)

But the work was lovely and I really enjoyed what it accomplished in its pages. I definitely recommend.

CW: war, blood, racism, violence, amputation, fire

[jenny✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

though the pacing felt a little rushed, and the narrative arc was somewhat predictable, there is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful graphic novels i've ever had the pleasure of reading. sara alfageeh and nadia shammas imbued such heart into this story, as it not only tackles important themes such as decoloniality and arab representation in western imagination, but also sources its colours and art and stories from the authors' travels and lived experiences as arab-american women.

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The creators of this book draw on their Arab roots to create a fascinating and rich world for the story to take place in. The story is about a young woman living in an empire that dreams of joining the army and becoming a knight. However, it is not an easy thing to do because she is a member of an ethnic group that the empire is in conflict with. This story explores the themes of imperialism, ethnic identity, the injustice of war, secrets, and heroism.

[Para (wanderer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from the publisher (Quill Tree Books) in exchange for an honest review.

I’m pretty sure I’ve been looking forwards to this graphic novel for a few years now, having first heard about it back in my webcomic-heavy era – the concept and the art were an immediate draw. I was delighted when I got a chance to give it a try.

Why did you come here? Money or food? Citizenship…or honor? They dangle the prize of status, mobility, a better life. They use your bodies and train you while their sweet rewards stay in the future while you toil here, now.

Aiza, a member of the oppressed Ornu people, captivated by propaganda pamphlets, dreams of joining the army of the Bayt-Sajji Empire occupying her homeland and becoming a knight. Dreams of adventure, glory, full citizenship. When she finally convinces her parents to let her join, she’s delighted. But of course, it’s not going to be as easy or clear-cut as that.

I absolutely loved how this graphic novel interrogates imperialism, militarism, and prejudice, the way different characters are shaped by their backgrounds, which influences their biases and opinions, it was all very well done. It reminds me a lot of The Unbroken, if YA and less dark. The basic plot is classic school setting coming of age with a plucky heroine, it’s fun and it works, but it’s the themes and the art and the setting that really make it shine.

However, there is one major flaw: the pacing is extremely rushed. It felt as if it should have been at least two, perhaps three times its length to give some events their proper weight. Especially near the end, too many things happen too quickly, with what feels like not enough reason. In particular when it comes to characters changing their minds. There is a good plot and a good ending, but with some more space to breathe it would have been an excellent one.

Regardless, I’d generally recommend it if it sounds good to you.

Enjoyment: 4/5
Execution: 3.5/5

Recommended to: those who want a story that manages to be fun and deal with some heavy issues at the same time, those looking for something without a romance subplot or fantasy without magic
Not recommended to: those easily bothered by pacing issues

More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set up like Mulan without the cross-dressing, Aiza is off to join the army in hopes of getting a better life for herself and her family. While she isn't hiding her gender, she is covering up that she is the same ethnicity as the people in the army she and her comrades will be fighting.

Basic training is engaging as she meets her fellow recruits and begins to improve on her underdog status, but the ending fizzles with a fairly generic conspiracy by a fairly generic villain. All the thoughtful stuff disappears into chaotic action for a big fight at the end. Unfortunate.

[Hannah (hngisreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel had me hooked IMMEDIATELY. I loved the characters (love me a scrappy kid / grumpy adult duo), the themes, and the message.

“History, altogether, is a tool, and tools are neutral until they’re wielded. When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.”

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. With breathtaking art and a much-needed twist on stores of chivalrous knighthood, Squire is an excellent graphic novel written by a Palestinian-American author that grapples with militarism and colonialism.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

2025 reads: 19/300

aiza has always dreamed of becoming a knight, the highest honor in the bayt-sajji empire and her only way to full citizenship as a member of the ornu people. when she arrives to squire training, though, it’s not like how she imagined it’d be. as she makes friends and learns more about the history and present state of the empire, she starts to realize why her parents told her to hide her ornu background. i loved the art in this; it was perfect for the medieval-ish vibes from the squires. i also loved how this graphic novel dived into themes of colonialism and imperialism, which is very relatable to our world today. aiza’s character growth excellently tied into these themes. i’d love to read more from nadia shammas and sara alfageeh!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful adventure about a girl who longs to be a knight like the great heroes she hears stories about, but discovers that being a hero isn't what she thought it would be. I loved the characters, and the art was gorgeous.

[aarya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated graphic novel set in a Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy world without magic. It's long (compared to most graphic novels), but I hardly noticed because I was so engrossed. The central idea of complicity in an empire's subjugation of oppressed populations, especially when you've been fed lies about so-called "greatness"... oof. Difficult (but necessary) to introspect, and the themes will resonate with folks.

One selfish request: I hope there's a sequel because Aiza's adventures seem unfinished.

[Hosein · Rating 1 out of 5]

عجب داستان مزخرفی بود. یعنی یک دیالوگ غیرکلیشه‌ای نداشت، داستانشم حتی سعی نکرده بود اورجینال باشه.
بیشتر شبیه همون "ما چه قدر بدبختیم، ولی اگه فرصت داشته باشیم بهترینیم" همیشگییه که توی ذهن خاورمیانه‌ایا هست. حالا این دفعه توی فرمت گرافیک ناول. حیف اون زمانی که گذاشتم تا اینو بخونم.

[Reading on Wheels · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 stars

I love the themes of colonialism and history being a tool. It's honestly a very poignant example of how people with the best intentions can do terrible things if they don't know what's actually happening because those in power have only given them selective information.

Also the art was beautiful and the characters were really loveable. I can really tell the writer and artist cared deeply about this and the representation of West Asian people.

[b. ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bookseller i met raved so much about this graphic novel, saying it had incredible art, dynamic characters, and important social commentary (especially regarding biased history, colonialism/imperialism, and war), i knew i had to pick it up.

glad to report back and say he was absolutely right. also, while squire is an excellent standalone, i would not be opposed to a sequel or two :”)

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aiza has always dreamed of becoming a Knight for the Bayt-Sajji Empire. Also, as a member of the recently colonized Ornu people, its one of her only paths to full citizenship. Her parents don't want her to go, but eventually they allow to let her enlist, if she hides her race. Aiza befriends a dreamer who grew up on stories of heroes; a strong, practical, no-nonsense older girl; and a retired Knight with one arm who trains Aiza in secret. She is the runt of the trainee litter but she's determined to prove herself. What she didn't realize is that joining the army means joining the machinery of empire, conquest, and violence. As she rises in the ranks, she must confront what she is fighting for, and against. This is a very beautiful and richly drawn story, which reminded me of a childhood favorite, Alanna but from a refreshingly non-European perspective.

[lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

a bummer to read tbh. the art is good and i fully agree with its simple criticisms of empire and militarism, but the story itself was not enjoyable to be inside of and did not resolve into something meaningful to me at its end.

i found the moralizing dialogue too heavyhanded for the story to feel organic, and then it didn’t even lead to the characters achieving any systemic change, or give them hope of doing so in the future.

[dani ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a truly wonderful story, definitely one of my fave graphic novels now

[Sana · Rating 4 out of 5]

'History, altogether, is a tool, and tools are neutral until they're wielded. When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.'

Squire makes use of the one pairing I can never get enough of: an overly energetic kid relentlessly wanting a very unwilling and grumpy adult to teach them everything they know. Needless to say, I was hooked. This is young adult so some of the plot tends to move too simply but I didn't mind it.

But that's not all what Squire is about. It also asks the very important question of the degree to which one's complicity can extend in an oppressive and colonizing empire and of people who are knowingly willing to oppress their own kind for something as trivial as status and honor. But is their any honor to be gained if one's fight only served the oppressors in the end? Knowledge is truly power and knowing one's history is how Aiza is able to finally make informed decisions and not get lost in the grandeur of what the Bayt-Sajji Empire promises recruits just so they would fight their fight for them.

I do wish there's a sequel down the line because Aiza's story seems to have just begun. I just love how she's unafraid to ask questions and equally willing to learn. I just want more of her and her crew of misfits wreaking havoc across Bayt-Sajji, heh.

The art is obviously inspired by Arab culture and the tatreez pattern between each chapter serves as a reminder of Squire's inspirational roots in Palestinian culture as well. I wholly loved every single panel but all the panels featuring nighttime scenes were easily my favorite. There's just something about all the hues of blues that come together to create breathtakingly beautiful scenes in a desert land and there are so many of those here.

[mads]

TW: blood, death, injury/injury detail, racism, violence, war, xenophobia.

The landscapes in here were gorgeous. I also loved how it managed to be both devastating and hopeful.

I don't rate graphic novels, but this was a good one

[Mackenzie (mackenziespocket) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was amazing. the art was beautiful, i loved the coloring so much. i feel like the story is one that everyone should read - how colonizers use history as a weapon, what it's like to live an oppressed person/people/culture, etc. would love to see more from this author/illustrator duo

REP: BIPOC main character [Jordanian-American author, Palestinian-American author]

[Noel نوال · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Squire' is definitely immigrant kid vibes and a love letter for Arab-American kids and the confusing complex feelings of diaspora. This book is beautiful in its art and in its story and had my heart from the very first panel. Badass sword fighting and the suspense of a bubbling empirical war. My baby sister got me this as a present and said "you gotta read this, it's legit Arab-rep written and drawn by two Arab women in a beautiful comic" knowing that was right up my alley and it totally ended up being my jam and a bag of chips.
I love this gorgeous book and I know I'll be coming back to it time and time again. Books like 'Squire' make me so excited for the younger generations being able to grow up with representations we didn't have and I love that for them so freaking much.

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Alfageeh's art, so I was really excited for this one and it took me ages to get a copy. I wasn't very impressed by the story though as I felt I have read similar stories dozens of times before. It just lacked creativity for me despite me understanding the messages. It also was too YA for me, I think younger me would have enjoyed this more.

[bweadbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In many ways, fantasy and history walk hand in hand, but there’s an important thing about the way we view history in comparison: history is, above all else, neutral. If you are on the outskirts the empire’s convenient history, however, you know it’s anything but.”

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We saw what happened!”

“No. We saw what we were told to see.”