About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like their anger is justified but their actions have led to trouble, or when they are struggling to process subtle experiences of exclusion. Enlighten Me follows Binh, a boy who is punished after retaliating against a bully who mocked his Vietnamese heritage. His parents take him on a silent meditation retreat, which feels like a nightmare for a video game loving kid. However, through the shared storytelling of the Jataka tales, Binh begins to find a new perspective on his own emotions and identity. This graphic novel is ideal for ages 8 to 12. It offers a gentle but profound way to discuss how we react to unfairness and how we can find inner strength without resorting to aggression. Parents will appreciate how it bridge the gap between traditional cultural values and the modern pressures of growing up as a minority in America.
