Mis(H)adra- unexpected depth and color ;)




Mishadra .. It took some looking around to understand the parenthetical title (H). In Arabic misadra = "Seizure" and mishadra = "I cannot"

A fitting and incredibly nuanced title for Iasmin Omar Ata’s deep dive into pain and despair felt when a person perceives themselves as alone, burdensome, and dismissed by the medical community.

Phenomenal Graphic Novel

Isaac, an Arab American college student, is five years deep into his new norm with epilepsy. Each day he gets further and further removed from his friends and family.

Isaac’s epilepsy is visualized as strings of pearls with knives and eyeballs. Anytime he is triggered (dehydration, exhaustion, stress) the blades come out in a menacing, but pseudo protective way. Early in the book, the implied violence gains a footing as Isaac loses an eye during a seizure.

Mishadra follows the mental turmoil of Isaac as he struggles to cope and pushes to retain his new friendship with Jo, the only person he has ever honestly opened up to.













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