Reading graphic novels on an iPad isn't the same in book format. The drawings always feel too cluttered to appreciate at full value. There were many positive elements on this book, and I'm sure I would more to say about those elements had I read the book in print.

This is a very intense story about epilepsy, coping, and healing. The story itself is told by an Arab American living with epilepsy. The artwork adds a completely different layer. His condition is also rendered as a character. I'll definitely be recommending this for my library.

Mis(h)adra is a graphic novel about a college student named Isaac who has epilepsy. The comic illustrates the feelings of different kinds of epileptic seizures. Additionally, the comic shows how epilepsy effects Isaac's daily life, job, school work and friendships. Through out the comic you also see Isaac's struggle with hospitals and doctors to believe that what he is experiencing is more than just anxiety. This comic is a beautifully drawn comic about Isaac's journey to the edge and back.

I greatly enjoyed this comic, the artwork is incredible and the story is an eye opening tale of epilepsy. Even though this is not an experience I have, I still found the comic and Isaac easy to relate to. I am glad I had an opportunity to read this.

Very cool way to depict epileptic seizures and what it was like for the author to come to terms with his disorder and how his culture impacted his family's reaction to the illness.

This is the story of an Arab-American college student, Isaac, who struggles with living his life with epilepsy which is represented in the story by a chain of knives constantly pointed at him, ready to strike at any moment. Balancing the weight of an unsupportive family, a college courses, disbelieving doctors, and day-to-day responsibilities, Isaac is constantly under stress and feels at the end of his rope. The title, Mis(h)adra, is a play on the Arabic words “misadra,” which means “seizure,” and “mish adra,” which is slang for “I can not.”

The art in this was absolutely perfect. I think it honestly may be the best art I’ve seen in a graphic novel ever, and I bumped this book up to 5 stars for that alone. The story pacing was a bit off in some places and the ending didn’t strike as hard as the rest of the story, but the overall message and plot were solid.

+ The color scheme is gorgeous. The pinks, purples, and blues worked well together, and I really like how the shade of color shifted to show different scenarios. (e.g. When Isaac experiences one type of attack, the shades got lighter, but a different type of attack and the shades became very saturated.)
+ The art is really well done. The text becomes part of the story. The angles are fresh and interesting. If Ata needed to show flashbacks or time jumps or relay the
+ Great commentary on mental health as well as invisible illness.


Triggers: detailed suicidal thoughts, condescending doctors, some graphic medical situations

I love the the art in this graphic novel. Using the art to convey epilepsy is really cool.

Oh my gosh. This book was beautiful, gritty, and heart choking. Iasmin Omar Ata certainly has the great gift of tapping into his own experience to truly bring out some very raw, very needed, understanding of what an experience with his type of seizures can feel/look like. I hope to see many more books like this one.