The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
lana_duca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
lingfish7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.0
šA beautifully illustrated graphic memoir about growing up the daughter of a Korean immigrant family. I personally love hearing stories about the Asian experience because 1) I am part Asian and 2) itās often overlooked in light of racism against blacks. The āmodel minorityā stereotype has done a lot of harm to Asians. Assuming every Asian person is Chinese is also hurtful. This book was powerfully written, because it showcases the constant feelings of being in between. Not fully Korean and not fully American; feeling othered and like an outcast in both cultures. In other words, āin limbo.āĀ
Ā
ā ļøTW: suicide attempts, self-harm, domestic violence and abuse, racismĀ
Ā
This book covers the authorās life from freshman year of high school up through graduation. It contains flashbacks to middle school or early years. The author has a tumultuous relationship with her Korean mother, whose expectations are unrealistic and arbitrary. Her mother sometimes becomes violent and harmful. There is a constant theme of how society perceives mental illness. Debās mother perceives it as shame for the family and something to blame on the victim. The culture at Debās high school views mental illness as something to gossip about. There is not a single time (besides in therapy) where Deb actually has someone reach out to her in her pain and hurting, free of judgment and shame.Ā
Ā
In Limbo is heartbreaking and hopeful, showcasing the unique experience of being a Korean immigrant as well as what itās like to deal with mental illness and suicidal thoughts in the midst of that feeling of āotherness.ā This book took me about an hour or two to read, and I found myself immersed in both the drawings and the story.Ā
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse
laurafrances's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
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 Leeās formative years. While this didnāt quite work for me, Iāll definitely still check out more of Leeās work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence
nlreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
befrazzledenby's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Slow start and a little too low contrast illustrations to warrant 5 stars, but other than that, man this was a good, meaningful, very relatable graphic novel. Lee tells her story with grace and vulnerability with some really lovely, perfectly-fit illustrations. I'm happy to have this in YA (but please check the content warnings before reading)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
wchereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia
jess_segraves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Domestic abuse, and Bullying
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.)Ā
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.Ā 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.Ā
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.Ā 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.Ā
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Racism, and Fatphobia
literarybookishness's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Ā Thank you First Second Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Wow, this book got me really emotional. That's how impressed I am. I usually read fiction, so reading non-fiction is always a very different experience. Whenever I see the words 'Graphic Memoir', I always feel like it's gonna be good. Many illustrators are just so skilled at making memoirs and Deb was no different. It had every element you need to tell a good round story. It was an impactful read and I'm sure that a lot of folks will feel very seen reading this story.
I finished the book feeling so proud of Deb and how far they've come. At the end you get a short update on how they're currently doing, which I thought was a really nice addition.
Thank you Deb for being so open with sharing your story.
I highly recommend reading this book, but I do encourage you to look at the content warning, because the book does discuss heavy subjects.
CW: racism, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and domestic abuseĀ
Wow, this book got me really emotional. That's how impressed I am. I usually read fiction, so reading non-fiction is always a very different experience. Whenever I see the words 'Graphic Memoir', I always feel like it's gonna be good. Many illustrators are just so skilled at making memoirs and Deb was no different. It had every element you need to tell a good round story. It was an impactful read and I'm sure that a lot of folks will feel very seen reading this story.
I finished the book feeling so proud of Deb and how far they've come. At the end you get a short update on how they're currently doing, which I thought was a really nice addition.
Thank you Deb for being so open with sharing your story.
I highly recommend reading this book, but I do encourage you to look at the content warning, because the book does discuss heavy subjects.
CW: racism, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and domestic abuseĀ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism and Bullying