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frenchpants's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Mental illness, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Fatphobia
jialianyang's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Lushly illustrated, a pensive coming of age book that touches on belonging, mental health, friendship, family and art. Read this if you are ready to dive into a memoir that will demand empathy and holding space for swirling emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
woodsbookclub's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
This is a graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl's coming-of-age. I didn't love it as much as I expected, but it’s a solid 3.5 star for me, and I would recommend it to anyone. Deb JJ Lee's narrative of being a Korean-American with immigrant parents in a suburban New Jersey area addresses racism and the feeling of not truly belonging anywhere, and I think the last one is something we all can relate to. It was hard to read about Deb's experience, especially with their mum (who was emotionally and physically abusive), but the interactions with their dad were heartwarming, though he was complicit/complacent about their Mom's abuse. I also could relate to quite a few of Deborah's problems, particularly their mental health issues and their limited number of friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt
racism, verbal abuse, physical abuse, bullying, self-harm, suicide attempts, depression, anxiety, fat-shaming, body-shaming, medical content, and descriptions of plastic surgerylettuce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, and Fatphobia
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, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Racism, and Fatphobia
inkdrinkeranonymous's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
In Limbo hit very close to home regarding identity and mental health struggles. It was a very heavy book. The ending was very beautiful and moving.
At times the order of events felt a bit disjointed and confusing.
Overall, In Limbo was a solid book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Grief, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of In Limbo by Deborah Jung-Jin Lee to review! I was immediately drawn in by this cover. It is absolutely stunning. Since this is an advanced copy, the illustrations were in black and white, and I'm not sure if the final draft will be in color. Even so, if they stay in black and white, the artwork throughout the book is just as stunning as the cover.
There have been quite a few graphic novel memoirs of this nature that have come out in the past few years, about growing up an immigrant in the United States. This one delves a little deeper in talking about mental health, specifically suicide and depression. There are some absolutely heartbreaking moments in this, and you can feel the emotions through the illustrations. The writing paired with the art makes this book a truly emotional experience.
Lee doesn't shy away from the difficult nature of suicide and the aftermath of a suicide attempt. I appreciated that art was one of the ways that she used to help take care of her mental health, and it's reflected in the graphic novel format itself.
I always have a hard time rating memoirs because they are accounts of real people's lives. But I think there's a lot teens will find to relate to in this one, and I can't wait to see what the final illustrations look like, honestly. I'll have to check out a final copy when it comes out in March.
All in all, this is a powerful, emotional graphic memoir that you'll want to add to your shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs
bargainandbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This was so emotional. The pain that Jung-Jin goes through as an adolescent is so visceral the way it is shown here. So many points in her life where she was looking for something (support, love, herself, etc) and was left lonely and lost and confused. My heart ached. I loved witnessing how she was able to grow into herself and still acknowledge her past and her pain. Recognizing that past relationships, mental health and trauma all make us who we are. Even when we are still Trying to understand
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
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