Breaking Through
    By Tonya Bennett
    Created on 13 May, 2024
    Breaking Through cover image
    Jamal sat at his desk, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he tried to read his favorite comic book. It was a struggle for him, as the letters seemed to dance around the page.
    a boy sitting at a desk with a book and pencil in his hand and a lot of books on the wall, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, F Scott Hess, comic book
    His teacher, Mrs. Thompson, noticed his struggle and decided to help. She explained to Jamal that he had dyslexia, a learning disability that made reading difficult, but not impossible.
    a woman and a boy are sitting at a desk in a classroom with a book and pencils in front of them, harlem renaissance, computer graphics, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, official art
    Mrs. Thompson worked with Jamal daily, using special techniques to help him understand letters and words. It was a slow process, but Jamal was undeterred.
    a woman and a boy are sitting at a desk in a classroom with a book and pencil in their hands, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), comic cover art
    The other kids often teased Jamal, making fun of his reading struggles. But Jamal used their mockery as motivation, determined to prove them wrong.
    a cartoon of a boy in a classroom with other children in the background, with a book in his hand, bengal school of art, a comic book panel, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), official art
    Jamal spent his free time in the library, practicing his reading skills. He had a favorite reading nook, where he would sit for hours, engrossed in his books.
    a boy sitting in a library reading a book with glasses on his head and a book in his hands, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, highly detailed digital painting
    Months passed and Jamal's reading skills improved significantly. He was able to read a whole page without stumbling over the words. It was a big achievement for him.
    a young boy sitting at a desk with a book and pen in his hand and a bookcase full of books behind him, academic art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, storybook illustration
    At the end of the school year, Jamal was chosen to read a passage at the school assembly. He was nervous but also excited about the opportunity.
    a cartoon of a boy in a classroom with a book in his hands and a group of other children, afrofuturism, a comic book panel, Asaf Hanuka, official art
    As Jamal stood on the stage, he took a deep breath and started to read. His voice was clear, his pace was steady, and he didn't stumble over a single word.
    a cartoon of a boy in a school uniform reading a book in front of a class of other children, harlem renaissance, a storybook illustration, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), official art
    The audience erupted into applause as Jamal finished reading. He looked out at the crowd, his eyes welling up with tears of joy.
    a cartoon of a boy in a suit and glasses standing in front of a crowd of children in a classroom, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Chris LaBrooy, comic cover art
    Mrs. Thompson was in the audience, clapping and cheering for Jamal. She was proud of his progress and knew he would continue to overcome his challenges.
    a woman standing in front of a classroom full of students in front of her is a cartoon of a woman in a suit, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Dorothy King, graphic novel
    Jamal had proved that with determination and the right support, even the toughest challenges could be overcome. He was an inspiration to his classmates and teachers.
    a cartoon of a boy in a classroom with a lot of school children in the background, with a black boy in a tie, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Asaf Hanuka, comic cover art
    Jamal's story serves as a reminder that our differences don't define us, but how we deal with them does. Jamal's journey was just beginning, and he was ready for whatever came his way.
    a man standing in front of a crowd of children in a classroom with a cartoon of him smiling at the camera, serial art, a comic book panel, Asaf Hanuka, official art