Tiananmen 1989: Our Shattered Hopes

Praise

2020 Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention recipient in the Young Adult category! 

“While ‘Tiananmen’ calls up the famous image of a single citizen facing down a tank, Zhang’s information-dense graphic memoir, cowritten with journalist Gombeaud, details the larger student-led movement for political reform behind the protest that culminated in the Chinese military killing hundreds, perhaps thousands, at Tiananmen Square.”  —Publishers Weekly

“Artist Ameziane’s noir-esque documentary style provides the ideal, dynamic complement to Zhang’s memories. Together, the auspicious quartet bears witness to more-crucial-than-ever protest history.” —Booklist

“A gripping account of an event that the China’s communist party has all but wiped from the history books… it is imperative to have cultural reference of oppression so that future generations never forget.” —The Beat

“The subject matter would probably appeal to high school students, as the power of youth movements has a timeless appeal. It’s also a good read for adults with an interest in history and politics, as it is a valuable eyewitness narrative of one of the most significant events of our time.” —ICv2

“It teaches anybody, if they needed telling, how graphic novels can at times be the perfect format for portraying such deathly serious subjects with emotional sympathy yet factual detail. And it certainly shows what happened thirty years ago, in that famous concrete public area. The author’s hopes of it being a suitable memorial have been superbly met.” —The Bookbag