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In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee

In Limbo

Deb JJ Lee

First Second · Print & ebook · March 7, 2023

A Graphic Novels pick for readers exploring In Limbo.

Immigration for TeensGraphic BiographyAsian American U.S. History for Teens
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Who it’s for
A graphic memoir about belonging, mental health, and finding a way back to heritage and self.
Themes
Korean-American identity, Mental health, Healing and self-understanding
Genres
Graphic Biography, Asian American U.S. History for Teens, Immigration for Teens

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About this book

A debut YA graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl's coming-of-age story—and a coming home story—set between a New Jersey suburb and Seoul, South Korea. Ever since Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee emigrated from South Korea to the United States, she's felt her otherness. For a while, her English wasn’t perfect. Her teachers can’t pronounce her Korean name. Her face and her eyes—especially her eyes—feel wrong. In high school, everything gets harder.

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Friendships change and end, she falls behind in classes, and fights with her mom escalate. Caught in limbo, with nowhere safe to go, Deb finds her mental health plummeting, resulting in a suicide attempt. But Deb is resilient and slowly heals with the help of art and self-care, guiding her to a deeper understanding of her heritage and herself. This stunning debut graphic memoir features page after page of gorgeous, evocative art, perfect for Tillie Walden fans. It's a cross section of the Korean-American diaspora and mental health, a moving and powerful read in the vein of Hey, Kiddo and The Best We Could Do.

Belonging, Drawn

A graphic memoir about belonging, mental health, and finding a way back to heritage and self.

Come here for

  • Korean-American identity explored through language, family, and belonging
  • Expressive art alongside candid mental-health reflection

Expect

  • A coming-of-age account that includes a suicide attempt
  • Slow healing through art, self-care, and renewed connection to heritage

Where it sits

Graphic Biography92%
Immigration for Teens47%
Asian American U.S. History for Teens34%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Graphic Social Topics
  • Parents
  • Asian American U.S. History for Teens
Authors
Deb JJ Lee
Publisher
First Second
Published
March 7, 2023
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Korean-American identity · Mental health · Healing and self-understanding
Reading lane
Graphic Social Topics