嘉越．飛越

This comic is perfect for family reading. I highly recommend it, especially for parents today and young readers in elementary school because this comic captures the essence of childhood experiences in a way that resonates with both young readers and nostalgic adults.

During your childhood, have you ever experienced a change in your appearance that affected your confidence and made you feel anxious or pressured? Or as a teenager now, have you faced sudden changes in your looks, making you confused and worried about being accepted by your peers, fearing ridicule? I believe these feelings of uncertainty are a necessary part of growing up. If you have experienced this, you would resonate with the feelings of the protagonist of this comic, Karen Brewer.

The story follows Karen as she eagerly anticipates school picture day, but she suddenly discovers that she needs to wear glasses. The sudden change makes her feel uneasy, as she fears being mocked by her peers and classmates for looking “uncool”. At school, she faces teasing from a boy named Ricky, who likens her to an “owl” because of her pink glasses. During school picture day, she struggles with the decision to wear her glasses. However, with the support of her best friends, Nancy and family members, in particular to her older sister, Kristy, Karen builds up her self-acceptance and self-expression. She, wearing her pink glasses, bravely takes pictures finally.

Karen grapples with her desire to look perfect in her school picture while also navigating the complexities of friendship and peer pressure, including interactions with her friends, schoolmates and family members, and the inevitable challenges that come with growing-up. With expressive facial expressions and lively scenes of bright and colorful artwork, I think the comic successfully illustrates Karen’s internal conflict between wanting to impress her classmates and staying true to herself. The graphic format with simple and direct English makes the narrative more accessible. The combination of attractive visuals and lively text creates a dynamic reading experience and keeps readers engaged to turn the pages. 

The narrative encourages readers to embrace their unique qualities rather than conform to external expectations. I observed that the comic highlights the importance of friendship and the encouragement of family. Karen’s interactions with her friends and family demonstrate the significance of having people who support and encourage you to be yourself. This comic is not only an enjoyable read but also an valuable resource for parents looking to understand the importance of supporting their children when they are growing up and dealing with peer pressure. I believe that this comic conveys significant and valuable life lessons about self-acceptance, nature of friendship, empathy, conflict of resolution and authenticity.