Genre, Themes, History: This is a graphic memoir that is told in five parts, and starts with Lee's freshman year of high school. While often feeling invisible, Lee also feels they stand out too much. If it isn't their Korean name, Jung-Jin (which teachers struggle to pronounce before Lee tells them to simply use 'Deborah'), then it is their looks, specifically the eyelids. High school is difficult enough without the tense and strained relationship Lee has with their mother, and after trading in orchestra for art classes, things do seem to get better, before they end up getting worse. The sense of belonging that many teenagers crave is what Lee hopes to find. With a focus on identity and mental health, Lee's four-year journey through high school is told in 300+ pages of carefully drawn illustrations and text.
My Verdict: Most of us do not need further evidence and proof that high school is hard, but Lee's unique perspective and story adds another dimension to what teenagers often go through during those four years. Feeling different enough from the other kids to feel isolated at school, but also not feel safe at home because of a volatile parent, Deborah seems to have nowhere to go. And the struggle of working through changing friendships and social dynamics felt all too real, as every situation is beautifully depicted through Lee's artwork. The pages without text still tell the story just fine, carrying with them all of the weight and emotion that comes with being a frustrated high schooler, and everyday seems harder than the last. It is honest and engaging and worth picking up.
Favorite Moment: I appreciated Lee's choice of placing the words that are spoken in Korean in angle brackets (< >), and leaving the words they did not understand as they would appear if written using the Korean alphabet.
Recommended Reading: Robin Ha's Almost American Girl is still one of my favorites.
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