Siberiak tells the story of a trip the author took to the USSR in 1988, where she was part of the group of American teenagers who joined a group of Russian teenagers for a camping expedition which was intended to foster peace and mutual understanding. It is an interesting snapshot of an important point in history, when the Cold War was ending. It's a good story, though it focuses on the author's personal story without too much about the larger context. ( )

Siberiak is one American teenage girl's adventure on a cultural exchange "peace" tour to Russia in the 1980s. This sounds like a great premise to what could be a very insightful graphic novel, but in the end, I was left a bit conflicted.

The artwork is cute, but it's too simplistic for me. Some pages/panels have nicely drawn images with more detail, so I'm sure that Jaeckel has plenty of talent, but mostly the drawings here look like someone's early unfinished sketches. I did think using one animal for the Americans and another to represent the Russians, in the vein of Maus, was a good way to go; however, it was difficult to tell the characters apart from one another.

As for the story, it was very simply written, I think it could have benefited from some editing to make it flow better. But it feels genuine, like a young girl's journal that's been illustrated (which, essentially, it is), so that's kind of touching, as are the things that young Jenny feels and the realizations she comes to. How in the end, everyone is human; cultural divides and differences may exist, but all of us have things in common, ways we can relate to each other -- if we're just open to it. ( )

This graphic novel appealed on several levels, beginning with the fact that the author self-published her book, and it did so well that it was picked up by Raincloud Press. An impressive feat in this era of tsunamis of self-published material. I was also intrigued because it is the account of her participation in a grassroots mission of peace to the Soviet Union in 1988 when she was seventeen. I was in college then, studying Russian literature, and the memories of nuclear bomb scares were still fresh in my mind. So her descriptions of growing up with Cold War fears resonated on a personal level.

The artwork is a blocky black and white style with hand-drawn lettering. Americans are depicted as rabbits and Russians as mice, which reminded me a bit of [Maus]. The story is a combination travel memoir and coming of age story. The author grew up on a commune, so she was a bit of an outsider, even with the other Americans. Her trip to the Soviet Union, then participation in the building of a Kon-Tiki type raft, and subsequent float down the River Ob is described with a shy, innocent voice presumably reminiscent of the author's younger self. Although there are no grand conclusions, I enjoyed sharing this unusual journey at a familiar point in history. ( )

Jenny Jaekel's graphic novel takes us on a trip to 1980s Russia, seen through the eyes of an American teenager on a cultural exchange tour. The most striking thing about this book is the technique borrowed from Art Spiegelman's Maus of making the different cultures visually distinct by drawing them as different animals. It makes it easier to tell the Russians and the Americans apart, although it almost makes it seem like a picture book for small children. It definitely does not have the impact or significance that Spiegelman achieved. I enjoyed the story itself. The characters and their interactions are described authentically, and Jaekel's reflections are candid and interesting. She does a good job of describing the different expectations and resulting misunderstandings between the visiting Americans and their well-meaning hosts. The usual trials and tribulations of teenagers are also showcased in this unique, fish-out-of-water scenario. Of course, not every historical graphic novel can be Maus or Persepolis, but I think a lot of young readers will relate to the characters and be drawn in by the story.

I read a lot of graphic novels. I love graphic novels. This was not a good one.
The art is bad. And I don't just mean in terms of technical skill - there have been plenty of talented artists who lack a fair bit of technical skill - but it's flat. Motionless. Completely un-evocative. The characters are depicted as animals (a clear nod to Art Spiegelman's Maus) but there's no need for it here. The characters are difficult to tell apart. The art doesn't beg for me to look at - it makes me want to ignore it. Also, even though the comic is largely a 3x2 grid layout, the panels aren't always arranged correctly for reading in a standard 3x2 layout. And this is clearly done by accident, not an intentional subversion of the medium. The lettering is also way, way too small for a comic this size.
For a medium which relies so much on form, the form of this is so off-putting that it's difficult to get past it and see the story. But once you do, the story isn't so great either. It's a plodding account of a teenager's un-interesting trip to Siberia. Very little happens. Characterizations aren't clear and there's no growth throughout the story. Just as the art is flat and motionless, so is the writing.
This has the beginnings of a decent book but would benefit from some much heavier-handed editing. ( )