An intellectually rich yet down-to-earth introduction to Eastern religious and philosophical beliefs.
A youngster learns about meditation, the cycle of death and rebirth, and the impermanence of all things from a reptilian guru in this children’s book.
Monarch Asana, a preteen boy grieving the death of his Grandpa Harry, receives a mysterious poster as a bequest. Monarch falls asleep gazing at it and enters a dream in which Harry visits him as a talking chameleon who aptly symbolizes the message “You shouldn’t get too attached to the forms you see in the world because everything in existence is constantly changing its form.” Harry proceeds to impart other lessons about religion and the universe: that death is not the end, but “a nap that we take to prepare for life in a new body”; that the immortal soul persists as our essence as we reincarnate through many lives; and that the cycle of reincarnation will continue until we understand the puzzle of our mystical connection to God and the universe. Waking from his dream, Monarch discovers a letter from Harry telling him that there are more writings about the path to enlightenment stashed in cities around the world that he and his sister, Luna, can find in a kind of treasure hunt—if they can decipher the crucial clue hidden in the poster. Cottone, a professor of psychiatry at Stony Brook University, presents a simple, broad-brush primer on Hindu and Buddhist concepts and practices pitched at an elementary and middle school readership, complete with rudimentary meditation exercises—“Now, Monarch, as you breathe, I want you to count your breaths,” coaches Harry—and an appendix with more detailed techniques. The author’s limpid, straightforward prose manages to convey abstruse ideas in evocative terms, whether discussing spiritual metaphysics—“Just as it’s hard to follow changes in the wind without a kite to fly in it, without a physical body it’s hard to learn anything about your soul”—or the confusing mental churn they cause. (“Monarch was filled with conflicting emotions that were mixing inside of him like droplets of oil and vinegar in a bottle of salad dressing.”) Hoffman’s colorful drawings illustrate the luminous story. Kids who are curious about these doctrines will find the book an entertaining, easily digestible guide.
An intellectually rich yet down-to-earth introduction to Eastern religious and philosophical beliefs.Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2022
ISBN: 9780997159691
Page Count: 134
Publisher: Story Bridge Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thoughtful, humorous, community-centered exploration of identity and Buddhism.
Stories of Buddha’s past lives help a young boy “find [himself] in the moment.”
Binh and his siblings, who are of Vietnamese descent, can’t believe they’re spending the weekend at a silent meditation retreat. Binh would rather play his Game Boy so he doesn’t have to meditate and inevitably think about the bullies at school. It is only when Sister Peace tells stories about the Buddha and his past life that Binh is able to imagine himself entering a video game–inspired world and thus process his feelings of shame, isolation, and anger. With each Jataka tale, Binh’s awareness expands, and so, too, does his ability to be present for and helpful to those around him. A welcome addition to the handful of middle-grade stories featuring Buddhist protagonists, this exploration of identity and Buddhist principles will find an audience with young readers who love Raina Telgemeier but aren’t quite ready to level up to the complexity and nuance of Gene Luen Yang’s epic American Born Chinese (2006). The video game elements are compelling, although they understandably diminish as the story progresses and the protagonist’s inner life grows. Warm fall colors and luscious black lines anchor the story as it transitions among flashbacks, stories, and the present day. Filled with talking animals, the parables can be a little heavy-handed, but the witty banter between Binh and the narrator during fantasy sequences provides levity. (This review was updated for accuracy.)
A thoughtful, humorous, community-centered exploration of identity and Buddhism. (bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780759555488
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
An action-packed, evocative portrayal of courage, friendship, and belonging.
Indian folklore meets fantasy adventure in this captivating novel.
Eleven-year-old Kritika “Kiki” Kallira lives in London with her Mum, an immigrant from the state of Karnataka in the south of India; she’s never met her father, who died before she was born. Kiki’s mother is an animator, and Kiki, who struggles with anxiety and spiraling, obsessive thoughts, finds solace in sketching in her notebooks and imagining stories, especially ones inspired by the Hindu mythology they’ve shared. Now, though, Kiki has unleashed the Asura king Mahishasura from his exile through the drawings in her sketchbook. As she travels and travails between London and Mysore, the heroes and demons she’s sketched come to life, and she is faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks and complex obstacles. In her quest to save the world, Kiki shows readers the power of asking for help, believing in oneself, and overcoming fear. The worldbuilding is full of vibrant images and detailed descriptions about Mahishasura’s kingdom and palace, Lalith Mahal. The novel draws inspiration primarily from the story of Mahishasura—who wanted to be immortal—and how he was defeated by the goddess Chamundeshwari. Anxiety and mental health are also explored with honesty and finesse; many young readers will resonate with her struggle to quiet demons both internal and external.
An action-packed, evocative portrayal of courage, friendship, and belonging. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: July 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-20697-3
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2021
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