Squire GN

This YA fantasy graphic novel follows fourteen year-old Aiza, who trains to become a knight for a war-torn empire while hiding her true background as a girl from conquered lands. Born a second-class citizen, Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. Its the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the Ornu people, her only path to full citizenship. Now, ravaged by famine, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again. This means Aiza can finally enlist to the competitive Squire training program. The camp is nothing like she envisioned. Hiding her Ornu status in order to blend in, Aiza must navigate friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the merciless General Hende. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the greater good Bayt-Sajjis military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in more danger than she ever imagined.

"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)

“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

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