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A review by melodys_library
Palimpsest by Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom
4.0
Lisa Wool Rim was only 2 years old when she was adopted from Korea by a Swedish family. At 36 years old, Lisa began an emotional and deeply taxing search for her roots in the hopes of reuniting with her biological family in Korea. This led her down a path of lies and falsified documents.
Many public servants, orphanages and adoption agencies were involved in corruption in the 1970’s: Selling “found” children for adoption and receiving “donations” in the form of bribes from adoptive parents. No one was prepared for those adoptees to return and search for their families, their roots, and reclaim their rights as citizens.
Lisa channeled investigative journalism into her graphic memoir, leading the reader through vivid research chronicles in written and illustrative formats. She also explains the often overlooked adoptee’s side of adoption. Adoption agencies and adoptive families often set the standards, expecting adoptees to feel grateful that they were granted a better life. However, the feelings of pain and suffering of a family broken apart and constant questioning of identity are often overlooked or worse, swept under the rug.
The sepia-like overtone of the illustrations reflect the author’s feelings of isolation, loneliness, sorrow and frustration throughout her journey through fake papers to uncover the truth behind her adoption. I learned from and grieved for her.
Many public servants, orphanages and adoption agencies were involved in corruption in the 1970’s: Selling “found” children for adoption and receiving “donations” in the form of bribes from adoptive parents. No one was prepared for those adoptees to return and search for their families, their roots, and reclaim their rights as citizens.
Lisa channeled investigative journalism into her graphic memoir, leading the reader through vivid research chronicles in written and illustrative formats. She also explains the often overlooked adoptee’s side of adoption. Adoption agencies and adoptive families often set the standards, expecting adoptees to feel grateful that they were granted a better life. However, the feelings of pain and suffering of a family broken apart and constant questioning of identity are often overlooked or worse, swept under the rug.
The sepia-like overtone of the illustrations reflect the author’s feelings of isolation, loneliness, sorrow and frustration throughout her journey through fake papers to uncover the truth behind her adoption. I learned from and grieved for her.