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Enlighten Me
Award-winning author Minh Lê and New York Times bestselling illustrator Chan Chau team up for a fun and enlightening graphic novel about one kid’s journey to finding inner peace and belonging. Perfect for fans of Measuring Up and New Kid.
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?
With any luck, these next few days will prove more enlightening than he thought.
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?
With any luck, these next few days will prove more enlightening than he thought.
144 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2023
28 people are currently reading
4116 people want to read
About the author
Minh Lê
36 books230 followersMinh Lê is the author of Drawn Together illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat and Let Me Finish! (named an NPR Best Book of 2016) illustrated by Isabel Roxas (both published by Disney-Hyperion). He is also writing Green Lantern: Legacy, a graphic novel (illustrated by Andie Tong) for the new DC Comics middle grade imprint, DC Zoom. As a member of the kidlit consortium The Niblings, he writes about children's literature at Bottom Shelf Books and for a variety of publications, including the New York Times, The Horn Book, and HuffPost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
November 24, 2023
A very pretty graphic novel about a Vietnamese kid who gets in trouble at school for fighting his bullies and his family's weekend stay at a silent retreat at a Buddhist monastery. The narrative about the MC's bullies felt unresolved compared to the stories of the Buddha that are told to the kids over the weekend.
February 3, 2024
Minh Le is one of our favourite picture book authors (at home), so I was interested in his middle grade graphic novel (for school). It’s a cool mashup of intro to Buddhist thought and story of a kid dealing with bullies. Add in a dash of video games, and I think Le has made what might have been dull, really accessible. Super quick read with lovely illustrations by Chan Chau.
September 25, 2023
Sweet, concise, informative and powerful. Highly recommend!
November 25, 2025
Huh. Seems like it'd be wonderful but something was missing for me. Maybe it's because I still don't know what the boy should do about the racist bullies. Very quick read. Includes bibliography.
May 19, 2024
Picked this up from my library on a whim, but it was interesting to learn about some of Buddhism's main teachings!
The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and I easily finished it in one sitting - but I'm a little disappointed about the ending and how the main conflict was left unresolved. Whilst I realise that the main purpose of the graphic novel was likely to cover Buddha's teachings, I think they should have also covered how Binh dealt with his bullies in the end. I mean, they made some pretty trashy comments that are commonly directed at East Asian people..
But all in all, a decent read with some interesting teachings
Rating: 3/5
The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and I easily finished it in one sitting - but I'm a little disappointed about the ending and how the main conflict was left unresolved. Whilst I realise that the main purpose of the graphic novel was likely to cover Buddha's teachings, I think they should have also covered how Binh dealt with his bullies in the end. I mean, they made some pretty trashy comments that are commonly directed at East Asian people..
But all in all, a decent read with some interesting teachings
Rating: 3/5
March 8, 2024
4.25-4.5/5
November 13, 2024
yeah…. obsessed…. gorgeous art, the blending of meditation and buddhism and video games was so cool and well done. the golden deer story almost made me cry lol. lovely lovely!!
August 15, 2023
An intro to Buddhism missing any of the interesting conflict (Mara withstanding) that might have made this story sing to school-age non-practitioners.
January 18, 2024
Very relatable and pleasant progression of the story. Beautiful illustrations and vibrant characters!
March 29, 2024
Kid and his family goes on a silent meditation retreat!
Demystifies the experience and shows a kid learning to appreciate contemplation.
It's clearly from a Buddhism-centric perspective (which is refreshing representation to see in a graphic novel for kids), but the lessons around meditation and spirituality could translate to other religions and spiritual practice as well.
Real tempted to put a Short Story tag on there, bc it includes several fairly self-contained "Jakata" tales about the life of Buddha.
The main character here struggles to put down his Gameboy, but that's really the only thing that dates the story. I appreciated the connections to video games that are included - I think that will make it relatable to more kids.
Demystifies the experience and shows a kid learning to appreciate contemplation.
It's clearly from a Buddhism-centric perspective (which is refreshing representation to see in a graphic novel for kids), but the lessons around meditation and spirituality could translate to other religions and spiritual practice as well.
Real tempted to put a Short Story tag on there, bc it includes several fairly self-contained "Jakata" tales about the life of Buddha.
The main character here struggles to put down his Gameboy, but that's really the only thing that dates the story. I appreciated the connections to video games that are included - I think that will make it relatable to more kids.
January 29, 2025
A sweet graphic novel reminding us that there are some universal truths, whether you’re Buddhist or not: everyone needs some quiet time to think, everyone needs some quiet time to *not* think, and everyone needs community.
Beautiful art, humorously told for younger readers (9ish-12ish), and just a generally sweet book that could launch lots of conversations. I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to read it as a family or read in turns and then discuss.
Beautiful art, humorously told for younger readers (9ish-12ish), and just a generally sweet book that could launch lots of conversations. I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to read it as a family or read in turns and then discuss.
December 23, 2023
Story 5 stars
Artwork 5 stars
Color 5 stars
Lettering 5 stars
Overall rating: 5 stars
Finally a graphic novel that tells the story about buddhism. Binh uses his imagination playing with his Game Boy to reach his enlightenment.
Theme/genre: realistic fiction, religion (Buddhism)
Setting: Silent meditation retreat
Likeable characters: Binh
Artwork 5 stars
Color 5 stars
Lettering 5 stars
Overall rating: 5 stars
Finally a graphic novel that tells the story about buddhism. Binh uses his imagination playing with his Game Boy to reach his enlightenment.
Theme/genre: realistic fiction, religion (Buddhism)
Setting: Silent meditation retreat
Likeable characters: Binh
February 15, 2024
Enlighten Me
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
March 9, 2024
I love all of Minh Lé’s work. This graphic novel about meditation was no different!
April 20, 2024
Beautiful and enlightening.
October 9, 2023
An introspective graphic novel for kids that might lure them into learning about Buddhism because of the video game references.
Read
October 8, 2023Nice art and interesting story touching on bullying and racism, but really focusing on Jataka tales from Buddhism and finding inner peace. It's all tied together with occasional video game allusions. Hand it to those who like American Born Chinese or Shakti by SJ Sindu.
November 5, 2023
Originally got this book for our ten year old. He enjoyed it so much! His Dad and I both read it after and wow! Absolutely beautiful book with such a great message.
July 7, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
ENLIGHTEN ME is one of those rare novels where I immediately began telling my friends to read this NOW (though it doesn't come out in stores for a few months)! It's that good.
This is a beautiful graphic novel that includes the story of Buddha and introduces meditation and mindfulness in an inviting, interesting way. I can't recommend it high enough.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
This is a beautiful graphic novel that includes the story of Buddha and introduces meditation and mindfulness in an inviting, interesting way. I can't recommend it high enough.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
July 3, 2023
"Perhaps instead of trying to lose yourself in the moment, you should think of it as trying to… find yourself in the moment."
I assumed something lovely would come from this duo, but Enlighten Me exceeded all expectations. A stellar #mglit graphic novel.
I assumed something lovely would come from this duo, but Enlighten Me exceeded all expectations. A stellar #mglit graphic novel.
Want to read
May 13, 2023Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
October 1, 2024
Good book. Just not what I was expecting. Not for me.
February 1, 2024
In this graphic novel, we follow Binh who was sent to a silent meditation retreat with his family after he defended himself against a bully mocking his Vietnamese heritage. He always thought fighting back meant that he would be praised as a hero however, his vice principal and parents reprimand him. Instead, he arrives at the Three Jewels Mountain retreat held at a Buddhist monastery that prohibits speaking and his beloved video games for a weekend.
This includes when he pushes down the bully and his talk with the vice principal. Often times, we see that he feels no one will hear him out and he keeps much of it to himself. He also struggles with his Vietnamese-American identity, and feeling as if he's never enough.
His memories of the incident are interchanged with his introduction to the retreat. The graphic novel gives an introduction to the story of the Buddha, the 3 Jewels, and the Jataka Tales, which share valuable lessons.
Each time a tale is told, we see Binh reflect upon whether he could apply these lessons to his own experiences at school. Each and every time he learns from the tales and new experiences, there are 80s/90s video game allusions made to help tie them all together.
I thought it was a good way to introduce Buddhism for newer readers. However, I did wonder why the family joined along with and wished for a better conclusion to the tale though. I also wish more time or rather page length/depth could have been given to see how this affected him outside of the retreat experience to tie things together.
This includes when he pushes down the bully and his talk with the vice principal. Often times, we see that he feels no one will hear him out and he keeps much of it to himself. He also struggles with his Vietnamese-American identity, and feeling as if he's never enough.
His memories of the incident are interchanged with his introduction to the retreat. The graphic novel gives an introduction to the story of the Buddha, the 3 Jewels, and the Jataka Tales, which share valuable lessons.
Each time a tale is told, we see Binh reflect upon whether he could apply these lessons to his own experiences at school. Each and every time he learns from the tales and new experiences, there are 80s/90s video game allusions made to help tie them all together.
I thought it was a good way to introduce Buddhism for newer readers. However, I did wonder why the family joined along with and wished for a better conclusion to the tale though. I also wish more time or rather page length/depth could have been given to see how this affected him outside of the retreat experience to tie things together.
June 28, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Bình's father and mother take him and his brother and sister to a weekend meditation retreat in the country, where the participants are not allowed to speak. While it's hard for Bình to clear his mind, he's just as glad to not have to talk, because there have been trouble incidences with bullying at his school by kids who make fun of him because he is Vietnamese. He'd prefer to play video games, but does find some calm in meditating. When the children at the retreat are told stories about the life of Siddartha and also the Jataka tales about the Buddha's past lives, Bình envisions himself in the tales and reflects upon his experiences at school through these legends. Because the participants are not allowed to talk, there aren't too many family interactions, but there are still some tensions in Bình's family that come out through the drawings, which is pretty impressive. Bình's story about being bullied will resonate with young readers, but what I found most compelling were the stories about the Buddha. Connecting them to a video game type setting adds a lot of interest. Certainly a thought provoking and innovative book.
Strengths: This is an interesting graphic novel that reminded me a little of Brosgol's Be Prepared. The illustrations are gorgeous, especially the backgrounds, with the fall leaves in the country.
Weaknesses: As with many graphic novels, I had many questions that would have been better answered with a traditional novel. Why was the family on retreat? What are their practices at home? I was also a little confused about when this takes place, but looking at the graphics in the video game sequences, it might be set in the late 80s or early 90s.
What I really think: This was an interesting story, but I wanted more information! A good choice for readers who like graphic novels with cultural connections or who want to know more about Buddhism and the life of the Buddha.
Bình's father and mother take him and his brother and sister to a weekend meditation retreat in the country, where the participants are not allowed to speak. While it's hard for Bình to clear his mind, he's just as glad to not have to talk, because there have been trouble incidences with bullying at his school by kids who make fun of him because he is Vietnamese. He'd prefer to play video games, but does find some calm in meditating. When the children at the retreat are told stories about the life of Siddartha and also the Jataka tales about the Buddha's past lives, Bình envisions himself in the tales and reflects upon his experiences at school through these legends. Because the participants are not allowed to talk, there aren't too many family interactions, but there are still some tensions in Bình's family that come out through the drawings, which is pretty impressive. Bình's story about being bullied will resonate with young readers, but what I found most compelling were the stories about the Buddha. Connecting them to a video game type setting adds a lot of interest. Certainly a thought provoking and innovative book.
Strengths: This is an interesting graphic novel that reminded me a little of Brosgol's Be Prepared. The illustrations are gorgeous, especially the backgrounds, with the fall leaves in the country.
Weaknesses: As with many graphic novels, I had many questions that would have been better answered with a traditional novel. Why was the family on retreat? What are their practices at home? I was also a little confused about when this takes place, but looking at the graphics in the video game sequences, it might be set in the late 80s or early 90s.
What I really think: This was an interesting story, but I wanted more information! A good choice for readers who like graphic novels with cultural connections or who want to know more about Buddhism and the life of the Buddha.
August 21, 2023
Received advanced reader copy from publisher via Goodreads giveaway.
When Bình fights back against a bully at school, he expects to be cheered like a hero. After all, he defeated the villain, right? But Bình gets suspended and finds himself on his way to a silent meditation retreat with his family. Not only can he not talk but he cannot have his video games! While the attendees cannot talk, the children of the group are given a kind of reprieve from silence. The children cannot speak but the can listen as a nun shares the story of Buddha and the Jataka tales.
Sometimes, paging through the Goodreads giveaways results in a delightful surprise. Not only did I discover there would be a new book from a favorite picture book author but it also is a middle grade graphic novel AND I won an ARC via the Goodreads giveaway ! Happy mail received!
As with Minh Lê’s picture books, I was delighted with the warm messages that radiate from a difficult situation a child finds themselves in. I always find hope in Minh Lê’s books and beauty in the illustrations done by whomever is assisting Minh Lê with telling the story. This was a delightful way to learn about Buddha and the Jataka tales. And I learned an eye-opening way to look at meditation: “Perhaps instead of trying to lose yourself in the moment, you should think of it as trying to find yourself in the moment.”
While the story ends on a hopeful note with a glimpse at the change Bình has made in himself, I do wish I had seen a positive resolution of the situation with the school bully. I was furious that
When Bình fights back against a bully at school, he expects to be cheered like a hero. After all, he defeated the villain, right? But Bình gets suspended and finds himself on his way to a silent meditation retreat with his family. Not only can he not talk but he cannot have his video games! While the attendees cannot talk, the children of the group are given a kind of reprieve from silence. The children cannot speak but the can listen as a nun shares the story of Buddha and the Jataka tales.
Sometimes, paging through the Goodreads giveaways results in a delightful surprise. Not only did I discover there would be a new book from a favorite picture book author but it also is a middle grade graphic novel AND I won an ARC via the Goodreads giveaway ! Happy mail received!
As with Minh Lê’s picture books, I was delighted with the warm messages that radiate from a difficult situation a child finds themselves in. I always find hope in Minh Lê’s books and beauty in the illustrations done by whomever is assisting Minh Lê with telling the story. This was a delightful way to learn about Buddha and the Jataka tales. And I learned an eye-opening way to look at meditation: “Perhaps instead of trying to lose yourself in the moment, you should think of it as trying to find yourself in the moment.”
While the story ends on a hopeful note with a glimpse at the change Bình has made in himself, I do wish I had seen a positive resolution of the situation with the school bully. I was furious that
May 19, 2024
"Enlighten Me" is a charming middle-grade novel that explores the themes of self-discovery, cultural heritage, and personal growth through the eyes of a young Vietnamese protagonist, Bình. The story begins with Bình standing up to a bully at school, an act he believes is heroic. However, instead of receiving praise, Bình faces repercussions from his school and concerns from his parents. This leads to an unexpected family trip to a silent meditation retreat, where Bình is forced to confront his frustrations and challenges in a setting devoid of the usual distractions of daily life, like talking and video games.
The heart of the story unfolds at the retreat, where Bình is introduced to the Jataka tales by a nun. These stories, which recount the previous lives of the Buddha, captivate Bình and transport him into a vivid imaginative journey. As he immerses himself in these tales, Bình begins to reflect on his actions and his identity, questioning whether he can find a path that leads to personal enlightenment and change.
"Enlighten Me" is rated 3 out of 5 for its engaging premise and the gentle way it introduces complex themes suitable for a middle-grade audience. The novel effectively uses the silent retreat setting to create a backdrop for introspection and discovery, and the integration of the Jataka tales provides a thoughtful connection to Bình’s cultural heritage. However, the book may fall short for some readers due to its lack of depth in exploring these themes more profoundly. The story is described as "cute," indicating that while it is enjoyable and insightful, it might not delve as deeply into the emotional and psychological growth of its characters as some might hope.
Nonetheless, it remains a worthwhile read for its target audience, providing a unique perspective on how stories from our past can influence our present and future.
The heart of the story unfolds at the retreat, where Bình is introduced to the Jataka tales by a nun. These stories, which recount the previous lives of the Buddha, captivate Bình and transport him into a vivid imaginative journey. As he immerses himself in these tales, Bình begins to reflect on his actions and his identity, questioning whether he can find a path that leads to personal enlightenment and change.
"Enlighten Me" is rated 3 out of 5 for its engaging premise and the gentle way it introduces complex themes suitable for a middle-grade audience. The novel effectively uses the silent retreat setting to create a backdrop for introspection and discovery, and the integration of the Jataka tales provides a thoughtful connection to Bình’s cultural heritage. However, the book may fall short for some readers due to its lack of depth in exploring these themes more profoundly. The story is described as "cute," indicating that while it is enjoyable and insightful, it might not delve as deeply into the emotional and psychological growth of its characters as some might hope.
Nonetheless, it remains a worthwhile read for its target audience, providing a unique perspective on how stories from our past can influence our present and future.
April 11, 2025
Really like the art style! About a Vietnamese boy named Binh who gets into a fight at school because some boys were picking on him, but he refuses to talk to his family about it. His family goes on a meditation retreat where they're not allowed to talk. At the retreat, Binh learns about the life of Buddha and what it means to be find himself in the meditation, not lose himself. I like how the graphics portray what happened to Binh through the images in his head played out and how he struggles to communicate with his family. Loved the video game references as he replays the bullying scene and as he imagines himself as Buddha fighting the monsters! The graphics look just like a video game playing out! Appreciated learning more about Buddha and Enlightenment and what happens at meditation retreats since I don't know much about it. Appreciated the part where Binh feels like he struggles to fit in anywhere - he's not American enough at school, not Vietnamese enough at home, and just doesn't seem to fit with what everyone expects. Learned a little bit about Buddha through the four different tales told. The values/themes of finding yourself and sacrificing so that you may know enlightenment/peace, family, and community were emphasized and corresponded with what was happening in Binh's life - and the readers got the reward of seeing that in his life too (the Buddha story about the golden deer being protected by his family and Binh realizing his sisters care for him and him hugging them). Also highlighted the beauty of being in nature and with others rather than obsessing over video games. Think this could resonate well with boy readers and with those into video games and struggling with family communication/feeling misunderstood/feeling like they don't fit in. Sources in the back for reading about Buddha and Jakarta tales if people are interested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2023
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 not 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?
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 not 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?
November 20, 2023
Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present.
In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Chau highlight Binh’s inner turmoil in a relatable way. The book is fun and engaging while dealing with the difficult topic of anti-Asian racism and exclusion. "Enlighten Me" is a must-read for Asian American youth who often have to negotiate their ancestral identities and heritage in mainstream American communities. Readers of all backgrounds will benefit from meditation strategies and moral lessons from the Buddhist tradition.
In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Chau highlight Binh’s inner turmoil in a relatable way. The book is fun and engaging while dealing with the difficult topic of anti-Asian racism and exclusion. "Enlighten Me" is a must-read for Asian American youth who often have to negotiate their ancestral identities and heritage in mainstream American communities. Readers of all backgrounds will benefit from meditation strategies and moral lessons from the Buddhist tradition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews