Scan barcode
ness's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
weirdypants's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
Minor: Racial slurs
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
kopimochi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicide attempt
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
literarylocd's review against another edition
emotional
sad
3.5
Thank you to Deborah Jung-Jin Lee and NetGalley for this eARC.
Graphic memoirs have become my new favourite genre/format so I was very excited for this one.
It’s always hard to rate memoirs because they’re based on lived life experience and I don’t think we as reader/consumers are in a position to judge that. I loved the art work and I felt connected to the story. I did have some issues with the pacing and sequencing of things throughout the memoir.
What fell short was the almost pedestrian way in which abuse was portrayed in this memoir. The physical and emotional abuse she was a victim of at the hands of her mother were simply brushed over. Obviously this is based on the author’s own experience but it felt slightly off. Like Deb could just not catch a break her whole life. Her abuse was brushed aside by those around her (even herself) which is made evident by how it was written in this story. The ending was quite abrupt but I guess it made sense.
The art style was absolutely beautiful though.
The art style was absolutely beautiful though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
3.0
A bittersweet memoir about a Korean girl growing up in America. Deb both loses and finds herself on the page as she journeys through high school. I felt a bit disconnected from the narrative at times and this took away from it a bit. But I think the book was beautiful and challenged perceptions I may have previously had about Korean-American individuals. I related to much of Deb's mental struggles, though. I had a very similar journey with a friend as that of Deb and Quinn. I recommend this to anyone who feels alone or felt that way in high school.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Child abuse
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
In Limbo is a stunning debut graphic novel about the author, Deb JJ Lee's transition from living and growing up in South Korea to attending high school in America. Full of stories about their friendships, growing up, being Korean, and their struggles with mental health, this graphic novel navigates everything flawlessly and with tremendous care.
I'm not even sure where to begin. Lee's art in this book leaps off the page from the first illustrations of them and their brother swimming. The blues that Lee chose to use throughout this graphic novel were both calming and sad, mixing peace with turmoil as they gave weight and narrated their own intense struggles with mental health and suicide.
From a personal standpoint, I feel like this book is so powerful and had to be told through Lee's chosen medium as art. There is something so emotional about the way Lee illustrates the messy and painful memories, blending them together into a blue haze. I really related to the friendship and mental health struggles through this book, as it is truly difficult to see how your own mental health can quickly and deftly begin to impact others in an explosive manner.
I look forward to more by Deb JJ Lee. Not only is their art wonderful, but they clearly have an incredibly knack for storytelling. First Second Books continues to produce and publish incredible debuts and I can't wait to see what else comes from Lee down the line!
Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for providing me with a copy for an honest review!
Content warnings: suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, child abuse, racism, slurs, anxiety depiction
I'm not even sure where to begin. Lee's art in this book leaps off the page from the first illustrations of them and their brother swimming. The blues that Lee chose to use throughout this graphic novel were both calming and sad, mixing peace with turmoil as they gave weight and narrated their own intense struggles with mental health and suicide.
From a personal standpoint, I feel like this book is so powerful and had to be told through Lee's chosen medium as art. There is something so emotional about the way Lee illustrates the messy and painful memories, blending them together into a blue haze. I really related to the friendship and mental health struggles through this book, as it is truly difficult to see how your own mental health can quickly and deftly begin to impact others in an explosive manner.
I look forward to more by Deb JJ Lee. Not only is their art wonderful, but they clearly have an incredibly knack for storytelling. First Second Books continues to produce and publish incredible debuts and I can't wait to see what else comes from Lee down the line!
Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for providing me with a copy for an honest review!
Content warnings: suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, child abuse, racism, slurs, anxiety depiction
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide attempt
More...