Good introduction about Dalai Lama's life in the manga format. I had seen the Scorsese's movie Kundun, which was about Dalai Lama and really liked it. So there was nothing new for me in the book. ( )

I liked the format, and I definitely learned about the Dalai Lama's history. The mixed format, with the main story told with art and brief interludes of photographs, was also great because it mixed a concrete historical reference (the photos) with an artist/author's rendering of the biography. My only issue is that for a graphic novel I think there could have been more showing and less telling. It's difficult for me to articulate, but there were moments when the text would say something about an event or an atmosphere, but the accompanying art wouldn't really emphasize the text. I think it might have been a stronger book if the graphics were used for description more than words, if that makes any sense. ( )

Another book I checked out for the readathon but ended up reading before it started. The cover was so charming, and the Dalai Lama and Tibet are topics I've long felt that I should know more about, to it was hard to resist.

It is, by its nature, a brief introduction to the subject -- focusing on the period between when the two-year-old Tenzin Gyatso was identified as a possible reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and his eventual exile from Tibet. It is a book that will absolutely leave you with more questions than you started with -- about the religious practices of Tibetan buddhists, about the forces acting on the Chinese as they invaded Tibet, etc. But for me, having new questions is the mark of an engaging book. (At least in non-fiction.)

An easy (if sad and frustrating) read that is a good introduction to the topic. ( )

While the story was interesting, I found the illustrations to be a serious blah. I swear each character had the same expression on their faces each time they were surprised or shocked (which, given the circumstances, was a lot). Perhaps this is a good place to start for younger readers, but I found it hard to finish. ( )

A graphic novel on the 14th Dalai Lama (hence the clever title). It tells the story of his selection and training, and Tibet's invasion by the PRC, resulting in his eventual exile. Gives a nice historical overview. This book is light on Buddhism and explores more the struggle for independence and freedom for Tibet. ( )