What if the most important person you ever discover isn’t a hero in a history book, but the face looking back at you in the mirror?
In the poignant graphic novel Self Portrait, author and illustrator Marisa Chen tells the story of Julian, a quiet fourteen-year-old struggling to find his footing in a competitive arts high school. Tasked with a semester-long project to create a definitive personal likeness, Julian instead finds himself documenting the unspoken struggles of his peers—from food insecurity to the pressure of perfectionism. The narrative follows Julian as he moves from a place of isolation to becoming a visual storyteller for his community, capturing the “unseen” parts of student life through his sketches. Chen’s evocative artwork and raw storytelling recently earned the “Palette of Truth Prize,” celebrated for its honest portrayal of adolescent identity and social advocacy.
This work is an essential pick for educators focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, as it sheds light on the diverse economic realities hidden within a single classroom. Julian embodies the Reflective and Communicator traits of the IB Learner Profile, using his artistic talent to bridge gaps in understanding between students of different backgrounds. A high school counselor or art teacher might use Julian’s portfolio as a catalyst for a “Living Gallery” project, where students create pieces that represent their own community challenges. By showing how one student’s vulnerability can spark a wider movement for empathy, the book demonstrates that taking action often begins with the simple, brave act of seeing people for who they truly are.
