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poemsandponds's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
This book did its job well. Too well, actually. I left it feeling that same heaviness that pervades the entire book, basically feeling depressed. I knew this book was about mental health and the cultural reckoning that happens growing up an immigrant in America, but I guess I wasn't expecting it to be so graphic in certain ways. Honestly, I think this book is slightly mis-represented in the synopsis and marketing. First of all, it's marketed as a YA book, but it felt a lot more adult in terms of tone and content. Kids should definitely be allowed to read it, since a kid who's struggling with the same mental health and home life issues could see that they're not alone. But I strongly feel that on the whole, this isn't a YA book. Also, the synopsis makes it sound a lot more hopeful and lighthearted than it actually is?? There aren't many moments of levity to break through the gloom, so this book in reality is pretty dark. The author does such a good job of setting that mood, which covers every part of their life in a blue grey cloud. I wouldn't say that I liked it. But I actually don't think it's a book you're supposed to enjoy. I felt a sense of detachment from the story since the author themselves was so detached from their life and emotions due to trauma. Because of that it's not a story that could ever be a favorite for me or that I'd ever want to read again, even though graphic memoir is my thing. All in all, it is a well done book, but it isn't for everyone. If you get triggered by reading about graphic depictions of suicide attempts, depression, self harm, and child abuse, this isn't for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming
oldandnewbooksmell's review
emotional
informative
fast-paced
4.0
Trigger Warning: suicide attempt(s), child abuse by parent
In Limbo is a graphic novel memoir about a Korean-American teenager, Deborah (Jung-Ji) Lee, as she navigates the struggles of high school while still feeling like an outsider. As the pressures of high school and the ever growing changing in her personal life, Deb doesn’t have anywhere to turn to - even home isn’t a safe place as the fights with her mom continue to worsen as time goes on. Her mental health falls fast.
But Deb’s a fighter. She soon discovers her real love is art. With that, along with self-care, Deb gradually begins her road to recovery. During a trip to South Korea, she realizes something that changes her perspective on everything.
The artwork in this graphic novel is beautiful. The topics and themes are hard. Being an immigrant is no doubt hard enough - but being an immigrant as a kid or teenager that’s stuck between two worlds is probably even harder. There are a lot of themes of not belonging and not being enough of one thing or the other. What was really hard for me was the abuse at the hands of her mother. The graphic novel made it very real for me as he captured the anger of her mother’s face.
I think the author’s note at the end of this is important - especially because the ending is almost kind of abrupt, but it works. Not everything is tied up in a nice bow and understood. It is a memoir afterall, but it does show the author and her journey through pain, anger, resentment (of herself and others), and forgiveness (both of herself and others).
Overall, I think a lot of people will be able to see themselves and possibly their experiences in this graphic novel memoir. For others, it will shine a light on someone else's experiences growing up as an immigrant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt
agnessastre's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt
laurafrances's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
matildahasopinions's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Absolutely stunning art. The way Lee fully fleshes out backgrounds, filling them up, and the use of space on the page are gorgeous. Sadly, the story fell flat for me. The narrative was too choppy and major themes never felt fully formed, just fragments of Lee’s formative years. While this didn’t quite work for me, I’ll definitely still check out more of Lee’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence
lprongs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I'm glad this exists because I think the author needed to write it, and I think a lot of people probably need to read it. It didn't really click with me though - I struggled to follow the thread of a lot of the more jumbled panel compositions, and I often felt like I couldn't quite figure out what the author was trying to say/show, even when it felt very important. However, this book was not written for me.
I will also say that a lot of my own trauma from severe depression, a suicide attempt, and an unstable, formative relationship with my own mother informed a lot of my response to this book. It made me uncomfortable in a bad way and reminded me of things I'd rather stay forgotten. I think if I'd read this a few years ago, before I moved back in with my parents, I would have enjoyed it more. Now it's a little too close to home, and I think that prevented me from really sinking into it and understanding more of it as I kept a lot of it at arm's length in my head.
It was not an enjoyable read, and like most memoirs, it feels wrong to rate it. But I do think it's a valuable addition to the world: it introduces and discusses some very complex and important topics, the art was beautiful, and the inclusion of Korean was cleverly done.
I will also say that a lot of my own trauma from severe depression, a suicide attempt, and an unstable, formative relationship with my own mother informed a lot of my response to this book. It made me uncomfortable in a bad way and reminded me of things I'd rather stay forgotten. I think if I'd read this a few years ago, before I moved back in with my parents, I would have enjoyed it more. Now it's a little too close to home, and I think that prevented me from really sinking into it and understanding more of it as I kept a lot of it at arm's length in my head.
It was not an enjoyable read, and like most memoirs, it feels wrong to rate it. But I do think it's a valuable addition to the world: it introduces and discusses some very complex and important topics, the art was beautiful, and the inclusion of Korean was cleverly done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
librariana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
Minor: Bullying and Physical abuse