Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I didn't totally love this book but I liked it well enough. Having gone through similar situations at school, I understood why Binh internalized much of his anger thinking that no one would be able to understand or help. I liked how the stories of Buddha's lives were used to tie into how he dealt with his anger and frustration and ultimately helped him.

If you've ever wanted to read some Buddhist stories, this might be the book for you. It's framed as a kid dealing with racism and anger issues then presented with meditation and reflection. The stories take these concepts from a frustration and difficult endeavor to something is attainable and worth attempting. There isn't much plot but that isn't really the point. It's a way of making philosophy accessible to a young audience and helps a kids see the way of peace.

As anxiety rates increase among young kids, a book that shows them a path towards inner peace is a valuable book to have on the shelves. Although its written for middle grade level, older readers can find meaning in the lessons within its pages.

This book was very different than I expected, but not in a bad way. Binh Bui's family is going on vacation to a silent meditation retreat in the mountains. For the entire time, none of the visitors are allowed to speak and no modern devices are allowed -- including Binh's beloved gameboy. At first, Binh really struggles to meditate for as long as the retreat demands. He gets distracted thinking about how he wishes he had his video games and could move his legs, because otherwise all he can think about is the fight he got into at school that almost got him suspended. But as he learns more about the Buddha, and especially the Jataka stories, he discovers how to rely on himself, his community, and his family to navigate challenges.

This book moves quickly and covers a topic that doesn't get a lot of attention in children's lit and for that alone is a good recommendation. The art is engaging and a lot of fun with depictions of Buddha stories as video game references. The story is more streamlined and simplified than I expected, but offers good information about Buddhism and the Buddha while showing the benefits of meditation and enlightenment.

This is a great book to give to a teen who is dealing with stress in their lives. It does a good job of telling the stories of Buddha, more than teaching meditation techniques or solutions to bullying, but it would definitely be a good supplemental reading. The art is also really nice.

A sweet story about a young boy, figuring out how to deal with the challenges in life. The Buddhist teachings throughout help him to realize some important things that will help him deal with his struggles.

This was an interesting and unique short graphic novel. I enjoyed learning more about Buddhism and Vietnamese culture.

I read this as an ARC provided to me by NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The artwork was phenomenal and I loved how relatable it was. It was interesting to see and learn a bit about Buddha’s many past lives but even if you aren't religious, I'm sure that people of all ages can learn a thing or two when reading this book!

Interesting story about meditation and the importance of finding a community of friends to help you through challenges you may face.

I loved getting a preview read of this new graphic novel coming from @bottomshelfbooks

When Bình fights back against a bully who makes fun of his Vietnamese heritage, he expects to be cheered as the hero. He defeated the bad guy, right?

Instead, it gets him a stern warning from his vice principal and worried parents. Now he’s stuck on a family trip to a silent meditation retreat. That means no talking—and no video games!—for a whole weekend. Could things possibly get any worse?

However, when a nun gathers all the kids to tell them the Jataka tales—the stories of the Buddha’s many past lives—Bình takes a fantastical dive into his imagination and starts to see himself in these stories. Will he retreat further into himself, or will he emerge from the weekend open to change?

I think a lot of kids will be able to relate to Binh's situation and also be inspired by the journey into his imagination. Vivid illustrations means the book is fast-paced while also giving you something to ponder during.

It is a perfect sweet treat of a book that is sure to delight many readers of many ages, and I am glad I got to read it. Pre-order it now.

Let me start by saying that Minh Lê could illustrate the phone book and I would enjoy it. The art is super accessible with gorgeous jewel-tone colors of golds and teals running throughout. The stories are clearly applied to the main character's life and the book as a whole remains short and sweet with a solid message and clear teachings about Buddhism. Highly recommended for grades 4+

A lovely introduction to meditation and Buddhism for young people. Told with heart. Great illustrations!

Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Little Brown Ink, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this great book. This is a wonderful mindfulness and meditation graphic novel full of important lessons that explains Buddhism in easy to understand way. Beautiful artwork enhances the story. I was so immersed in the story that when it was over, I felt relaxed and re-energized, like I do after meditating. I can’t recommend this book high enough!

Thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Enlighten Me is a graphic novel by Minh Lê and illustrated by Chan Chau about a young boy who goes to a silent retreat with his family. This story follows young Bình, a middle grade boy, as he goes from having trouble talking about his problems or voicing his feelings to a silent retreat where he must sit with them. His story is interspersed with stories of Buddha and Buddhist teachings imagined (in his mind) as video games. I think this is a great graphic novel to get kids thinking about Buddhism, meditation, or just learning to voice their feelings.

Quick read with more guidance than answers, which is great for kids starting to develop their own problem solving skills. This is a story that provides almost a tool kit for young ones. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and bothered by problems at any age, and it's important to learn how to deal with them yourself. That said, this book is a great reminder that even though you are the one who has to solve your problems, others can still help you.

Additionally, this was a great way to introduce Buddhism that I would have appreciated as a kid living a different faith. The main lessons of the story can be applied to all kids in how to respond and grow with their problems, but it also would serve as a great teaching tool for non-Buddhist kids.

Some kids get to go camping during their school breaks. Others get to go to summer camps where they roughhouse and have fun. Still other children get to go to the most coveted place of all - Disneyland. Binh and his siblings get to go to a silent meditation retreat with their parents. They aren't allowed to speak, let alone to play. Instead, they have to spend their time in utterly silent contemplation trudging around the grounds. Fun, right?

Worst of all, they're leaving right on the heels of Binh nearly getting suspended after getting into a fight at school. This isn't like him, and he's shutting out both his parents and his siblings refusing to talk about what happened. All he's doing to cope is just playing his Gameboy and shutting out the rest of the world.

Maybe the retreat will help?

Minh Lê has written a graphic novel that has universal appeal, in spite of the book focusing upon Buddhist teachings. It was easy to relate to Binh's reticence to open up after what he went through, and to take away valuable lessons from the stories of the Buddha's life and past lives and learn to apply it to the world around him. Coupled with Chan Chau's illustrations framing various lessons through the lens of classic video games I can't imagine this book <i>not</i> appealing to just about anyone.

Reminiscent of SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, ENLIGHTEN ME has an appeal that will easily cross generations. There are some very valuable lessons within the book, and I am hoping readers will leave the book eager to grow their own communities and let others in rather than suffering in silence. After all, don't we all want to wake up?

This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

*reviewed from uncorrected eARC via netgalley*

fiction / teaching Buddhist concepts through graphic novel

Binh (who loves videogames and who has been in trouble at school for fighting with his bullies) and his family take a trip to a silent meditation retreat, where he learns a lot about himself and how to manage his feelings through Buddhist teachings.

This was ok, but is only of interest if your kid really wants to know more about Buddhism. Otherwise, they'll lost interest when it gets texty and dry. Otherwise, the art is appealing (by award-winning illustrator Chan Chau) and the video game dream aspects are fun.

This is beautiful graphic novel that packs a punch! When Binh fights a bully who is making fun of his Vietnamese heritage, the results are not what he expects. He's not the hero, but the bad guy. To make matters worse, he' now has to attend a silent mediation retreat. He has a difficult time remaining silent, and he misses his technology. But when a nun shares Jataka tales (the stories of the Buddha's past lives) , a change starts to take control over Binh as he begins to see himself in these stories. Will the lessons he learns translate to a new Binh outside of the retreat and back at school? The simple and beautifully illustrated lessons taught in this book are so important for my fifth graders and their ongoing friendship challenges!