Tiananmen 1989: Our Shattered Hopes

Lun Zhang was an active participant during the Tiananmen Square protest. Tiananmen 1989 is the first time he’s telling his story. China was going through some reforms after the end of the Cultural Revolution and following the death of Hu YaoBang. Tired of the corruption, nepotism, and many years of economic failures, students demanded changes and fought for democracy. A million people joined the protest, which led to a hunger strike. The Chinese government refused the students’ demands and declared martial law in Beijing. Told in sepia-toned illustrations, Zhang recounts his experience of the days leading up to the Tiananmen Square protest and what happened during the horrific massacre. There were a number of key people involved in the protest, so it was helpful that the book included a brief history and list of the key people. I had to constantly refer to the list to look up certain key people. After reading this book, I only wish Zhang spent more time discussing how he escaped China to Paris. I think his experience would make for a great story. I highly recommend this graphic novel to readers who enjoy non-fiction, especially historical non-fiction.