In this memoir, Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee navigates the friction of being a South Korean immigrant in suburban New Jersey. The narrative focuses on her high school years, detailing the alienation she experiences due to language barriers and shifting friendships. Lee depicts her struggle with Korean proficiency during visits to Seoul and the resulting rift between her and her mother. The panels illustrate her specific experiences with clinical depression and a suicide attempt, alongside her developing identity as an artist and her eventual decision to reclaim her birth name.
Readers interested in the intersections of mental health and the immigrant experience will find this volume instructive. It serves those looking for a technical example of how color palettes can signify emotional shifts and memory within sequential art. The book provides a realistic look at the pressures of academic achievement and the Difficulty of balancing two cultural heritages. A reader walks away with a clearer understanding of the psychological strain caused by ethnic isolation and the logistical realities of seeking psychiatric help as a teenager.
- Published
- 2023
- Language
- EN
