Author(s): Deb JJ Lee

Children's & YA Graphic | Korea | USA | Graphic Novel | Social Issues & Relationships

Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee knows she's different. Ever since her family emigrated from South Korea to the United States, she's felt her Otherness. And as the pressures of high school ramp up, friendships change or end and everything gets harder. Even home isn't a safe place, as fights with her mom escalate. Deb is caught in a limbo, with nowhere to go. But Deb is resilient. And during a trip to South Korea, she realizes something that changes her perspective on her family, 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.

"[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

Author Biography: 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.