by Tetsu Saiwai

Publisher: Emotional Content

Format: softcover, 7x10, Black&White, $15.95 (order with code MAR094240)

ISBN: 978-0-9817543-0-7

Reviewed by: School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—
This manga biography reports on and interprets the Dalai Lama's life, with great emphasis placed on his boyhood and youth. This period in Tibetan and world history included political changes in the relationship between China and its neighbors. These political matters take center stage, but the Dalai Lama's spiritual teachings also receive attention. The history is accessible, and the characters—who are indeed historical figures—are differentiated by their physical details and personalities. Current idiomatic Americanisms are occasionally jarring, as when the 20-something Dalai Lama exhorts his companions to "Check this out!" but the occasional page of source photos reminds readers that the manga depiction is based closely on actual events. This is an excellent resource for teens in need of a biography and for teachers looking for a model of how history is interpreted.— Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia