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jkneebone's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Beautiful and unique artwork - almost photographic in quality. Heavy content in the story, but very moving. High school friendships portrayed with wincing accuracy, haha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism
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, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
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, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
theoceanrose's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
tiredcath's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Stunningly beautiful both in content and artwork, In Limbo, follows Deb JJ Lee's adolescence as she deals with mental health, high school, racism, and parental expectations - there's so much to unpack with this graphic novel.
This felt very personal to me. I didn't relate on many levels, but the way Deborah conveyed those emotions and real-life experiences felt so genuine and brutally truthful. Whatever Deborah feels, you as the reader feel. You're almost an omniscient spectator watching from above, watching as Dehorah spirals, goes through ups and downs, and her feelings.
Might be one of the best descriptions of feeling lost I've read in a long time. It's not an easy read at all, since it deals with complex issues so read with caution. Still, I do believe everyone can benefit from this- either by relating, feeling seen within Deborah's story, or simply understanding a new perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
This felt very personal to me. I didn't relate on many levels, but the way Deborah conveyed those emotions and real-life experiences felt so genuine and brutally truthful. Whatever Deborah feels, you as the reader feel. You're almost an omniscient spectator watching from above, watching as Dehorah spirals, goes through ups and downs, and her feelings.
Might be one of the best descriptions of feeling lost I've read in a long time. It's not an easy read at all, since it deals with complex issues so read with caution. Still, I do believe everyone can benefit from this- either by relating, feeling seen within Deborah's story, or simply understanding a new perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
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, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
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