Guantanamo Voices
A New York Times pick for the Best Graphic Novels of 2020.
A Young Adult Library Services Association 2020 pick for top ten graphic novels for teens.
Winner of the 2021 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize.
Guantanamo Voices is an illustrated oral history that shares the stories of 10 people who are connected to the world’s most infamous prison. Each chapter explores one person’s story and is illustrated by a different artist.
Publishers Weekly says the book “disturbs and illuminates in equal measure.”
A starred review in Kirkus described Guantanamo Voices as “an eye-opening, damning indictment of one of America’s worst trespasses that continues to this day.”
Guantanamo is a place is was built to be kept out of sight—literally and legally. In the tradition of comics journalism established by authors like Joe Sacco, Art Spiegelman, and Congressman John Lewis’ March, the comics in this book make this place visible and centers history on human narratives. Guantanamo Voices documents a history that’s happening right now, creating a deep, dynamic, and sincere understanding of how Guantanamo shapes our world. Together, these voices create an honest portrait of a place that’s often obscured, misunderstood, and reduced to political talking points. Because it doesn’t feel right to financially profit from this history, I will be donating all of my future royalties from sales of Guantanamo Voices to groups that work the end Islamophobia and unjust incarceration.
I started reporting on Guantanamo after becoming friends with Guantanamo veteran Chris Arendt. We met in 2008 while making zines. A few months later, I tagged along on a speaking tour with Arendt and a group of former Guantanamo detainees, documenting their stories on a blog I called Guantanamo Voices. The book is a culmination of over a decade of thinking about Guantanamo and developing my skills as a comics journalist.
Read an excerpt of Guantanamo Voices in the Spring 2020 issue of World Literature Today.
The artists involved in the book are: Nomi Kane, Hazel Newlevant, Gerardo Alba, Alexandra Beguez, Omar Khouri, Maki Naro, Jeremy Nguyen, Tracy Chahwan, Kane Lynch, Kasia Babis, and Chelsea Saunders. The cover is by Maria Nguyen and the color palette was developed by Kazimir Lee. The book also reprints original drawings by Guantanamo prisoner Abu Zubaydah.
You can order the book from any of these booksellers:
For international orders: Book depository, Indigo (Canadian), Waterstones (UK), Booktopia (Australia)
Publicity information
If you are writing a review of Guantanamo Voices, please feel free to use images and cover photos from this publicity dropbox.
If you’re interested in talking to me about this or want to interview me about the project, feel free to email me at mirk.sarah@gmail.com.
Reviews
• KQED: A new graphic novel makes the stories of Guantanamo Bay visible
• Oregonian: Stories from Guantanamo get compelling comic-style treatment from Portland journalist
• Portland Monthly: This new graphic novel looks at Guantanamo with clear eyes and a sunset palette
• Oregon Public Broadcasting: Portland author Sarah Mirk on Guantanamo Voices
• SOLRAD: The prison built to be forgotten
• Propeller: The stories we tell about Guantanamo
• Kirkus (starred review)
• Publishers Weekly
A page from Guantanamo Voices depicting the story of Moazzam Begg, drawn by Omar Khouri.