120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Come visit us this weekend! Our New Bookshop is open 8:30am-5:00pm Sat & Sun 🎉

Papaya Salad

By Elisa Macellari
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.97 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 1,461 ratings, 188 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Papaya Salad by Elisa Macellari is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that weaves the story of a young man named Sompong. Set against the backdrop of 20th-century history, Sompong embarks on a journey from Thailand to Italy, facing the challenges and adventures life presents. The narrative offers a blend of personal reminiscences, cultural insights, and the delicate bond of family across continents.
Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Papaya Salad. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this graphic novel if you appreciate a beautifully illustrated and deeply personal story that intertwines history and family. The narrative offers a unique perspective on significant historical events through the eyes of a family from Thailand, bringing together cultural richness and personal reflection. It's perfect for those who admire stories that blend personal history with broader historical themes.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

An award-winning Italian graphic novel makes its English-language debut.

The debut graphic novel from Thai-Italian illustrator Elisa Macellari, Papaya Salad tells the story of her great-uncle Sompong who found himself in Europe on military scholarship on the eve of World War I

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Papaya Salad is the debut graphic novel from Thai-Italian illustrator Elisa Macellari. It tells the story of her great-uncle Sompong who found himself in Europe on a military scholarship on the eve of World War II.

A gentle and resolute man in love with books and languages, in search of his place in the world, Sompong chronicles his life during the war and falling for his wife, finding humour and joy even as the world changes irrevocably around him.

This winner of the 2019 Autori di Immagini Silver Medal in the Comics category tells the human story of the War from a perspective not typically seen.

"An historical and emotional journey through my family and my roots that are grown between Europe and Asia. A personal narrative that needs to be shared and hopefully arouses empathy in the reader." -- Elisa Macellari

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Papaya Salad by Elisa Macellari is praised for its stunning and expressive artwork, which beautifully captures a personal and historical narrative. Reviewers admire the way it intertwines a family's journey with broader historical events, offering a poignant, immersive experience. The storytelling is noted for its sensitivity and charm, making it both educational and emotionally resonant.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781506719139

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics,U.S.

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 November 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Dark Horse Comics,U.S.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 185.0mm

Height: 260.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 232

Collections

Elisa Macellari Fiction Graphic Novels

About the Author

Elisa Macellari is an Italian illustrator with Thai roots, born in Perugia and based in Milan. She likes colorful things, wild animals, jungle, mysterious creatures, strange objects and papaya salad. She graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia. She formerly worked as assistant and graphic designer at Galleria Suzy Shammah in Milan. In 2012 she started to work as a freelance illustrator.

Also by Elisa Macellari

View all
  • Kusama
    Kusama by Elisa Macellari is an enthralling graphic biography that captures the extraordinary life of acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama. The narrative begins in rural Japan, offering a glimpse into Kusama's early years, marked by her struggle against societal norms and her determination to pursue a career in art despite the odds. The story vividly chronicles Kusama's bold decision to leave...
    By Elisa Macellari
    Hardback
    (1)
    Sold Out

More from Graphic Novels

View all
  • New Release
    Heartstopper Volume 6
    Read it before you see it: Heartstopper Forever movie coming soon from Netflix Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The final installment in the bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel series about life, love, and everything that happens in between. Everyone in school knows Nick and Charlie. Everyone knows they're going to be togetherforever. But Charlie's busy with...
    By Alice Oseman
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Lightfall: A Place Between
    In the fourth installment of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Lightfall series, Bea, Cad, and their friends continue their quest to restore light on their dark world. Perfect for fans of Amulet and Avatar, this next book dives deeper into the magical world of Irpa, where ancient secrets and adventures abound.After surviving a shipwreck on the Fuerre Sea, Cad washes ashore on...
    By Tim Probert
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • One Piece Box Set 1: East Blue and Baroque Works
    A premium box set of the first two story arcs of One Piece, one of the most beloved and bestselling manga series of all time! As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. His life took a dramatic turn when he accidentally consumed the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that granted him the incredible...
    By Eiichiro Oda
    Paperback
    $31500
    Elsewhere:
    $41000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #1
    An instant New York Times bestseller! With more than 40 million copies sold, Erin Hunter's Warriors series has taken the world by storm and is now available in a full-colour graphic novel adaptation. The first book covers the first two original novels in The Prophecies Begin: Into the Wild and Fire and Ice. A perfect introduction to the world of...
    By Erin Hunter
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 28
    To gain the power he needs to save his friend from a cursed spirit, Yuji Itadori swallows a piece of a demon, only to find himself caught in the midst of a horrific war of the supernatural! In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and...
    By Gege Akutami
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Demon Slayer Complete Box Set
    Contains Volumes 1-23. Full colour. Double-sided Poster and Commemorative Mini-Book. Tanjiro embarks on the perilous path of a Demon Slayer, driven by a mission to save his sister and seek justice for his slain family! In the backdrop of Taisho-era Japan, we meet the compassionate Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who makes a humble living by selling charcoal. However, his tranquil...
    By Koyoharu Gotouge
    Paperback
    $29500
    Elsewhere:
    $41000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1
    One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1 by Eiichiro Oda invites readers on an exhilarating journey across the vast and treacherous oceans. Follow the ambitious young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, and his eclectic crew as they embark on an epic quest to uncover the legendary treasure known as the One Piece, a prize that will crown its possessor as the King...
    By Eiichiro Oda
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Long-Lived King: An Original The Owl House Graphic Novel
    Pre-order
    The Long-Lived King: An Original The Owl House Graphic Novel
    In an all-new adventure set in the world of Disney's The Owl House, Luz, Eda, King, and the gang return in The Long-Lived King, an original graphic novel co-written by series creator Dana Terrace. Set after the events of the series finale, dive deeper into the Boiling Isles than ever before. King has never fully considered what it means to...
    By Dana Terrace and Mikki Crisostomo and Daun Han
    Paperback
    $4500
    Pre-order
    Out 29 Sep 2026
  • MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live
    From the New York Times bestselling author and creator of the hit MrBallen Podcast and YouTube channel comes a vividly illustrated graphic novel featuring nine spine-chilling stories, based on real events, of the horror that lurks within the unknown. In MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live, John Allen, known popularly as MrBallen, returns with another heart-stopping collection of strange and mysterious...
    By Robert Venditti and MrBallen
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Fourth Wing The Graphic Novel: Volume One
    Pre-order
    Fourth Wing The Graphic Novel: Volume One
    The first volume of a stunning graphic novel edition of the no. 1 Sunday Times phenomenon, Fourth Wing, adapted by Rebecca Yarros herself!   This deluxe hardcover edition features a shimmering metallic, foil-stamped cover design, plus an exclusive art print of Violet and Xaden's first kiss, packaged in a stylish slipcase.  Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders as...
    By Rebecca Yarros
    Slipcase Hardback
    $11000
    Elsewhere:
    $12000
    Pre-order
    Out 6 Apr 2027
  • On Sale
    16% off
    Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat
    In this hilarious full-colour graphic novel, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen, readers are introduced to Cat Town's best kitten detective on a new and exciting adventure. When Detective Beans realises his favourite hat has gone missing, he quickly jumps into action to crack the case. Armed with his wit, determination, and a love...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Wings of Fire the Graphic Novel - The First Seven Books
    Not every dragonet wants a destiny . . . Clay has grown up under the mountain, chosen along with four other dragonets to fulfill a mysterious prophecy and end the war between the dragon tribes of Pyrrhia. He's not so sure about the prophecy part, but Clay can't imagine not living with the other dragonets; they're his best friends. So...
    By Tui T. Sutherland
    Paperback
    $9000
    Elsewhere:
    $11000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Graphic Novels lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all