Aya

Edition excerpt from Aya: Aya of Yop City (2008): The original Drawn & Quarterly volume of Aya debuted last year to much critical acclaim, receiving a Quill Award-nomination and praise for its accessibility and for the rare portrait of a warm, vibrant Africa it presents. This continuation of the dynamic story by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie returns to Africa's Ivory Coast in the late 1970s, where life in Yop City is as dramatic as ever. The original cast of characters returns in full force, with a case of questionable paternity fanning the flames of activity in the community. New mother Adjoua has her friends to help with the baby, perhaps employing Aya a bit too frequently, while a new romance leaves Bintou with little time for her friends, let alone their responsibilities. These characters find their way in the world, brining Africa to rich and vibrant life.