A new graphic novel that tells the story of Singapore through the eyes of a fictional cartoonist has many layers to wrap your mind around. In “The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye’’ (Pantheon) by Sonny Liew, the titular character looks back on five decades of his career and on Singapore’s turbulent history. He is critical of the nation’s emphasis on keeping order even at the expense of freedom of expression. It’s a lesson the cartoonist learned firsthand: Singapore’s arts council took a dim view of the book and withdrew a grant for publishing it. The decision raised the profile of this inventive work, and sales rose. JAN GARDNER