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nlreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
befrazzledenby's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Slow start and a little too low contrast illustrations to warrant 5 stars, but other than that, man this was a good, meaningful, very relatable graphic novel. Lee tells her story with grace and vulnerability with some really lovely, perfectly-fit illustrations. I'm happy to have this in YA (but please check the content warnings before reading)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
wchereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
jess_segraves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
5.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: depression
In Limbo is a heartbreaking and emotional memoir. With stunning illustrations, especially the shading and some beautiful effects, In Limbo is a story about the pressure of performance. The expectations of those around us, influencing and shaping us. Used to playing piano, Deb has to figure out what it would be like for her if she didn't let her life revolve around music. The beginnings of changing what we think and care about as a teen Yet at the same time, how so much of identity is tied to "what we do" and how when we change that, we can lose a community. Watching Deb try to find what she's passionate about, is a striking emotional chord.
Watching Deb try to find what she's passionate about, is a striking emotional chord. How much of who we are tied to what we can do, how we perform, and not who we are. But even more so, Deb is struggling with her disorderd eating. Throughout In Limbo Deb has to examine her own relationship with food, her mother, and her own sense of self. As an Asian reader, there were some moments that absolutely had my heart in my throat.
TW: depression
In Limbo is a heartbreaking and emotional memoir. With stunning illustrations, especially the shading and some beautiful effects, In Limbo is a story about the pressure of performance. The expectations of those around us, influencing and shaping us. Used to playing piano, Deb has to figure out what it would be like for her if she didn't let her life revolve around music. The beginnings of changing what we think and care about as a teen Yet at the same time, how so much of identity is tied to "what we do" and how when we change that, we can lose a community. Watching Deb try to find what she's passionate about, is a striking emotional chord.
Watching Deb try to find what she's passionate about, is a striking emotional chord. How much of who we are tied to what we can do, how we perform, and not who we are. But even more so, Deb is struggling with her disorderd eating. Throughout In Limbo Deb has to examine her own relationship with food, her mother, and her own sense of self. As an Asian reader, there were some moments that absolutely had my heart in my throat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
literarybookishness's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you First Second Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Wow, this book got me really emotional. That's how impressed I am. I usually read fiction, so reading non-fiction is always a very different experience. Whenever I see the words 'Graphic Memoir', I always feel like it's gonna be good. Many illustrators are just so skilled at making memoirs and Deb was no different. It had every element you need to tell a good round story. It was an impactful read and I'm sure that a lot of folks will feel very seen reading this story.
I finished the book feeling so proud of Deb and how far they've come. At the end you get a short update on how they're currently doing, which I thought was a really nice addition.
Thank you Deb for being so open with sharing your story.
I highly recommend reading this book, but I do encourage you to look at the content warning, because the book does discuss heavy subjects.
CW: racism, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and domestic abuse
Wow, this book got me really emotional. That's how impressed I am. I usually read fiction, so reading non-fiction is always a very different experience. Whenever I see the words 'Graphic Memoir', I always feel like it's gonna be good. Many illustrators are just so skilled at making memoirs and Deb was no different. It had every element you need to tell a good round story. It was an impactful read and I'm sure that a lot of folks will feel very seen reading this story.
I finished the book feeling so proud of Deb and how far they've come. At the end you get a short update on how they're currently doing, which I thought was a really nice addition.
Thank you Deb for being so open with sharing your story.
I highly recommend reading this book, but I do encourage you to look at the content warning, because the book does discuss heavy subjects.
CW: racism, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and domestic abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
laweirdgurl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A fucking tour de force of a graphic novel. Beautifully written, beautifully drawn and painfully true. Full of feelings of torment and anxiety, but ultimately hopeful. I really can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
bookishcb_21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
What an emotional book that takes you on a ride from the very beginning and showcases growing up, dealing with not quite fitting in and mental health. Thanks again to NetGalley and First Second Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for feedback.
Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee’s story was very emotional and had me flipping the pages quickly to find out what happened next. They struggled growing up with feeling a little out of place, changing friendships, and hard times at home. You could feel the emotions between Deb and their mom while at home, thinking everything was good one minute to running out of the house to clear one’s head. This in limbo that Deb felt pulls at your heartstrings, but something that made me root for them while reading was the fact that art and self-care made things a little less hectic. I loved the art in this book and enjoyed seeing the return trip to South Korea through this medium - this is why graphic novels are so important. For being a debut graphic memoir, I was really pleased and look forward to more future works by Deb!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicide attempt
fareehareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and First Second books for an arc of this graphic memoir.
After reading this, I know that I have to get my hands on a physical copy once it's out! I have followed along with Deb JJ Lee's art for a few years now, she's one of my favorite illustrators so I just knew this would be the type of comic for me. This story follows Deb's life as a Korean American attempting to fit in and juggle the real stressors of school life, friendships, immigrant parent trauma, and her own self image. So many of the experiences in this memoir mirror my own as I'm sure a lot of diaspora kids will feel reading her story. In her author notes she mentions how a few of the experiences were included out of order or compressed to help with the narrative flow. This definitely doesn't take away from the story at all, in fact, I think the way she decided to ultimately tell the story gives more room for readers to really sit with and understand the way these events effect kids and follow them in their life. The therapy scenes genuinely made me tear up, this whole memoir felt like a hug and healing session. Aside from the story itself, my favorite aspect was the drawing style. I love when graphic memoirs include photography into the panels and follow it with a sensory description. Each panel had unique shading paired with precise linework for each character. The one and two page spreads were stunning and I'm sure they look even more amazing in print. If you're looking for a new memoir to add to your shelf, I highly recommend picking this up!
After reading this, I know that I have to get my hands on a physical copy once it's out! I have followed along with Deb JJ Lee's art for a few years now, she's one of my favorite illustrators so I just knew this would be the type of comic for me. This story follows Deb's life as a Korean American attempting to fit in and juggle the real stressors of school life, friendships, immigrant parent trauma, and her own self image. So many of the experiences in this memoir mirror my own as I'm sure a lot of diaspora kids will feel reading her story. In her author notes she mentions how a few of the experiences were included out of order or compressed to help with the narrative flow. This definitely doesn't take away from the story at all, in fact, I think the way she decided to ultimately tell the story gives more room for readers to really sit with and understand the way these events effect kids and follow them in their life. The therapy scenes genuinely made me tear up, this whole memoir felt like a hug and healing session. Aside from the story itself, my favorite aspect was the drawing style. I love when graphic memoirs include photography into the panels and follow it with a sensory description. Each panel had unique shading paired with precise linework for each character. The one and two page spreads were stunning and I'm sure they look even more amazing in print. If you're looking for a new memoir to add to your shelf, I highly recommend picking this up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming and Toxic friendship
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