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.
Deb JJ Lee is a Korean-born author and illustrator. Their clients include The New Yorker, Washington Post, NPR, Facebook, Radiolab, Scientific American, and PBS. Books They have illustrated include The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth and The Tune Without Words by Tina Cho. In Limbo is their debut graphic novel memoir. debleeart.com
Asian Pacific American Award for Literature Young Adult Honor Book
★ "[B]reathtakingly meticulous panels in grayish blues and white
[elevate this] work to masterpiece status." --Booklist, starred
review ★ "Readers seeking realistic depictions of lived teen mental
health experiences will find this beautiful work rewarding."
--School Library Journal, starred review "A raw, relatable memoir
exploring mental health and immigrant experiences." --Kirkus "An
emotionally tender, viscerally illustrated look at one teenager's
struggles with identity and mental health." --Publisher's Weekly
"Lee's artistic skill is undeniable, and the subtle stylistic
changes add depth to both visual and emotional impact of the
narrative." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Lee
deftly chronicles their tumultuous high school years through
elegant cartooning, presenting a difficult story with sincerity,
compassion, and grace." --Hornbook
"In Limbo is a tour de force. Stunning from the first page to the
last, and totally unforgettable. Upon getting to the end, I wanted
to go right back to the beginning to read it again." --Tillie
Walden, creator of Are You Listening? "Deborah Lee is a masterful
storyteller who reminds us everyone we meet is an entire world
while we are plunged into her own. I clutched my heart as hard as I
clutched the pages of In Limbo." --Sara Alfageeh, illustrator of
Squire "Deb Lee's beautifully delicate gray landscapes are a
fitting backdrop for this coming-of-age tale that encompasses so
many of the liminal spaces of life: between cultures, past and
future, childhood and independence." --Harmony Becker, creator of
Himawari House "With breathtaking art and poignant storytelling, In
Limbo is a masterpiece in expressing one's truth as a queer Asian
American." --Laura Gao, creator of Messy Roots "Deb JJ Lee's In
Limbo is a stunning study in mood and detail. Her poetic
black-and-white illustrations bring you into her world as a lonely
high school student, struggling to communicate with her parents and
few friends about her frustrations with fitting in as a Korean-born
immigrant." --Malaka Gharib, creator of It Won't Always Be Like
This "What a gorgeous meditation on adolescence. Reading this
memoir reminded me of watching a molted dragonfly unfurling its
delicate wings and triumphantly taking its first flight." --Robin
Ha, creator of Almost American Girl "A gorgeous and vital
coming-of-age story full of raw, diasporic feeling. Lee's writing
breaks your heart even while her stunning ink washes soothe your
soul." --Kiku Hughes, creator of Displacement "While the challenges
faced in her story are starkly serious, the virtuosity with which
Lee shuffles together evocative images is unapologetically joyful."
--R. Kikuo Johnson, creator of No One Else "Deb JJ Lee's In Limbo
is spectacular in its synthesis of visual storytelling and gripping
tone; a coming-of-age story with truth and heart. It takes the
reader to the places where breathing is hard; where I know my own
breath was absolutely taken away by this incredible comic." --Molly
Mendoza, creator of Skip "In Limbo lifts the comic memoir to new
heights. At once heartrending and triumphant, with sumptuous
artwork, this story will take your breath away." --Rebecca Mock,
illustrator of Salt Magic "In Limbo disarms you with its lushness
and draws you close with its empathy and honesty. Teenagers (and
those of us who once were teenagers) are so lucky to have authors
like Deb who reach back through the veil of time to offer
understanding and compassion to our lowest lows, to the people who
have hurt us and the people we've hurt in return." --Rosemary
Valero-O'Connell, illustrator of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with
Me "It's a beautiful excavation of the most difficult parts of
growing up." --Trung Le Capecchi-Nguyen, creator of The Magic Fish
"Deborah Lee's memoir stuns with its inky dreamlike illustrations
and gut punch of emotion. In Limbo is a masterpiece, a tale of the
real highs and lows of growing up." --Victoria Ying, creator of
Hungry Ghost "A stunningly rendered, emotionally raw memoir
encompassing all the best and worst of one's teen self. A must-read
for high schoolers." --Wendy Xu, author of Mooncakes "An achingly
beautiful and masterfully lyrical work of art by an illustrator at
the top of both their creative and technical form. Deb Lee takes
the illustrated memoir to intimately personal heights and complex,
sublime depths. Lee's visual language is breathtaking, unlike
anything I've seen before. I feel changed by this deeply moving
work." --Jonny Sun, New York Times-bestselling author and
illustrator of Goodbye, again and everyone's a aliebn when ur a
aliebn too "In Limbo feels like it tells life as it is, cutting
through the stillness and silence between people, without pulling
any punches, without varnish, and yet all beautifully observant. It
reminded me of many things from my own life, especially early
artistic struggle and uncertainty, and issues of Asian displacement
and self-image. I'm sure other readers will respond to this deeply;
it may well even save a few lives (especially the ones you never
hear about) seeing their own feelings so well illuminated." --Shaun
Tan, creator of The Arrival A Junior Library Guild selection
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A NYPL 2023 Best Book for Young Adult - Top Ten Book
A 2024 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS Reading List Pick
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2023
2024 Bank Street Best Book of the Year
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