Visitations

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year A Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Selection Kirkus Reviews 150 Most Anticipated Books of the Fall A Junior Library Guild Selection ★ ""The emotional truth of this narrative rings out on every page. The artwork enhances readers' understanding of Corey's confusion about religion, sexuality, family dynamics, and his own memories, drawing the audience toward sympathy and understanding . . . Nuanced and real; impressive and valuable."" --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW ★ ""[A] searing graphic novel memoir . . . Via intimate narration, the creator chronicles the true story of his parents' divorce and his mother's struggles with her mental health, as well as religion's role in his compliance with her actions. A nonlinear timeline layered with lightly mystical elements rendered in muted pastels conveys a compelling emotional journey through a formative traumatic experience."" --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW ★ ""A haunting, complex memoir about religion, mental illness and broken families."" --BookPage, STARRED REVIEW ""Egbert paints a haunting yet touching portrait of faith and growing up, exploring the complex interplay between religious belief and personal identity. With its striking, dusk-colored drawings in shades of orange and blue, this presents a visually stunning narrative that captures the emotional intensity of Egbert's journey. This powerful and evocative story is a tough yet necessary read, offering valuable insights into independence, faith, and the struggle to reconcile spiritual beliefs with human experiences."" --Booklist ""An empathic, nuanced look at difficult family dynamics and mental illness that YA readers will connect with . . . Inspired by true events, this heartfelt memoir touches on deep issues of religion, mental illness, and family estrangement and is a must-buy for all -libraries with YA graphic novel collections."" --School Library Journal ""Using a cleverly mutable, limited palette of corals, peach, and dusky navy, Egbert warms and cools the narrative's tone as needed, extending sincere gentleness to both the characters and readers of this semi-autobiographical graphic novel. The simple artistic style and flowing, cozy linework, using Japanese brush pens and Sharpie, commendably balance the complexity of a child's experiences with a parent's mental illness with themes of religious and parental abuse. Corey's story is an excellent fit for any high schooler who likes their comics on the contemplative, compassionate side."" --BCCB ""Visitations is a skillfully drawn and heartfelt reminder that stories are every bit as complicated as the people who tell them."" --Ethan M. Aldridge, New York Times-bestselling creator of Estranged