5/5 ⭐ Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read the advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I...just loved this graphic novel so much. I read it all in one sitting and I learnt so much more than I expected to. I don't personally know much about Korean history despite learning the language at the moment but this was so educational and entertaining and I loved all the characters. The fact that this is a memoir as well makes it so much more impactful and I feel like everybody, especially right now should read this book to get a perspective on protesting and fighting for a better future.

Yay for another graphic novel to add to my list! One of my 2020 goals was increasing the amount of graphic novels I've read (and have on my shelves) and this book seemed perfect!

Our lead, Kim, goes off to college to learn bright and new things. Suddenly, she's found herself apart of a book club but not just any book club... it reads banned books, which is quite the scandal in South Korea during the 80s. This political true story is an incredible read and I think it's in the perfect format to tell this story.

Reasons why this book is awesome:
1. The cover is wickedly cool and grabbed my attention.
2. Cartoon-y art style that gave it a fun personality.
3. Banned Book Club = super intriguing premise AND ITS A LEGIT THING SO EVEN COOLER.
4. Non-fiction graphic novels/mangas = THE BOMB. Not literally, the cool 80/90s term everybody always used and suddenly didn't use anymore.
5. I always love a good memoir. Graphic novel form is just way cooler.
6. I learned a lot about South Korea from this book and doing a little research about what was going on at the time. BONUS FOR LEARNING!

Overall, this is a truly marvellous story in a great artistic form. I will definitely want to pick up more books by Kim Hyun Sook in the future.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Iron Circus Comics and Letter Better Publishing Services for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This story follows Hyun Sook in 80s South Korea as she navigates the reality of living under a military regime. When she gets involved with a Banned Book Club her life changes as she's faced with the reality of the way of her country's government functions.

Content warnings: violence, torture, vague mention of sexual assault, and riots with teargas and Molotov cocktails.

I learned a lot from this story about the censorship and violence South Korea endured. It celebrates the brave people who stand up for what they believe in. In today's society, this story of a movement changing the world one step at a time felt very relevant. It sets up many points of discussion. Such as how doing nothing is also a statement, the importance of critical thinking, knowing one's history, and how change isn't always a straight line. I was amazed at how many clever ways to challenge the authorities these young people found. Change comes one step at a time and we all need to keep standing up for our beliefs and demand change when faced with discrimination. Very inspiring!

This YA graphic novel is past-face, light yet profound. Perfect composition on how knowledge and wisdom, plus strategic thinking can liberate you. A great introduction for those who want to know more about the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. I recommend it to everyone regardless of their age!

An incredible look at some very recent South Korean history told through the eyes of college students fighting for change, and a timely reminder for those of all cultures and countries to fight oppressive regimes and actively work towards a better future.

I received this book through NetGalley last week Thursday. I tried to read it with the Virtual Silent Book Club but our power went out. <i>(knocked down power lines - no worries there.)</i> I only mention this because I wanted - no needed - to finish this book so badly that I read it through the early morning hours with a head lamp. This book is actually a composite biography/memoir about the military regime in South Korea. Which is kind of funny because typically when we in the United States hear the words Korea and political regime in the same sentence, we think about North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. South Korea is not really on our media's radar. So we do not hear of the political unrest or human rights violations in South Korea on our TV. Most of us also never learned about South Korea in the classroom. So <b>Banned Book Club</b> was an enlightening endeavor for me. Choosing to teach about this time in history through a graphic novel was a nice way to represent the the people and their struggle without being too overwrought. That does not lessen the value of the story however; my physical copy is laden with flags and highlights.

One aspect of the book that I liked was that it shows throughout history how books and art were used as a form of protest. The author not only declares books as political, but goes further to address the reasons why those in power censor books. The reason is not just because of possible messages of dissent, but rather that they can see themselves as the villains of these novels. Their fear that others may recognize this is what drives them to ban books. They want to control their image, to control the political narrative: <i>"Chun needed a distraction. A crisis. An imminent threat for people to fear. Something only <b>HE</b> could "Protect us" from."</i> With this referral to the fabricated Gwangju invasion <b>Banned Book Club</b> hits rather close to home:<i>"How can Chun trick <b>everyone</b>? How do people not see what's happening? -- "He doesn't care if we believe him or not. He created such a divide between the people who believe his lies and those who don't that the country is too torn apart to come together and properly oppose him."</i>

In <b>Banned Book Club</b> the main character is a young woman setting off to college. Her mother opposes her going. She complains about the cost and tells her that money would be better spent on her brother. She also fears that her daughter will get caught up in the student led protests. Her father wants her to have this experience. It is an opportunity he didn't have. He also wants her to have the chance to make her own decisions. For her part, Hyun Sook just wants to go to college to learn. In her mind learning is book knowledge not life experience. When she arrives at the college it seems as if everybody is trying to make her decisions for her. It takes Hyun Sook quite a while to realize this. It is not until the end of the book where she say to herself <i>You know what? You decided what group I was going to join. And you decided whether we were going to be in a relationship. No one asked me what I wanted. When do I get to make the decisions about my life?</i>

I have read a few reviews where they faulted the author for Hyun Sook being sorted pushed around and led from one decision to the other. But just remembering from when I was younger it was hard when I first left home for college. It was the first time in my life that I was responsible for myself. I was still trying to figure out who I was while being bombarded with all of these new sets of ideas and meeting different types of people that I would have never encountered if I stayed in my home town. That time in one's life is one of discovery and experimentation. It takes a while for you to settle down into who you truly are and what you will become as an adult member of society. So I understand why it takes time for Hyun Sook to come into her own truth.

Although <b>Banned Book Club</b> is billed as YA I would say that it definitely holds something for an adult audience. It reminds me of other powerful graphic novels like [book:Incognegro|2331616] by [author:Mat Johnson|319345] and [book:Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood|9516] by [author:Marjane Satrapi|6238].

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley, Iron Circus Comics and the authors for access to this book.</i>

Enjoyed this graphic novel told from a Korean perspective. Definitely a window into the South Korean culture. It is an eye open and makes you think about the freedoms we take for granted. A great book book to incorporate with Banned Book Week and diversity awareness.

Much like "Persepholis" it's a a graphic memoir about a time of history I knew hardly anything about. Set in 1983 in South Korea we follow a group of university students as they start to grow up and realize what's going on around them.

I found it a bit hard to follow at times, as I had issues telling some of the characters apart, but it was an interesting read and definitely taught me something new.

This graphic novel memoir tackles the political unrest in Korea in the 1980's and the students who fought back against it. This was a topic I didn't know a lot about and I found it interesting to learn about what happened then. The art style was very striking, and I found it a very compelling read. I wish there had been a little bit more background context on the political unrest, as I was unaware of that part of history. This is a great book, especially for those young people who are looking to become activists and make a difference. This is still a very timely story today.

This graphic memoir highlighted a very important, not often talked about topic: oppression in South Korea. This was a topic I knew absolutely nothing about and it was an incredible way to bring awareness to the topic. I adored the illustrations and the story was easy to follow - allowing for a quick read, which is always something I look for in a graphic novel.

In this graphic novel memoir, Kim Hyun Sook tells of her time in college in South Korea in the 1980s. During this time there was much unrest and the college students frequently protested against corruption in the police force and the government. Hyun Sook was studying literature and a fellow student approached her about joining a banned book club. At first she was nervous about joining because students from another university had recently been arrested for being in a similar club. Many books that were deemed as having ideas dangerous to the Korean government were banned at the time.

The story really did shine a light on the political situation in South Korea and how there was much unrest amongst college age students who were looking for change. It was eye-opening to me as I didn't know much about this era in Korea.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

This book is a stunning depiction of an era of world history that I was not aware about. My only complaint with this book is that I wish the supporting characters were a little more developed. Other than that, I think it is a great read and highly worthwhile.

Thanks to Letter Better Publishing Services for providing a digital ARC of Banned Book Club in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read a graphic memoir (unless hyperbole and a half counts?) before and I'm so glad Banned Book Club was my first experience with one.

Banned Book Club examines the importance of small stands of defiance in the face of abusive regimes through the lives of fictional teenagers based off of the experiences of real South Korean citizens in the 80s. It's occasionally funny, occasionally sweet, dramatic, and emotional.

For a book with a message about how literary messages can span countries and times, this book couldn't possibly have come out at a better time.

This book couldn't come at a better time. This graphic memoir about the author's college days in South Korea during a time of upheaval and police brutality is strikingly similar to current politics and struggles in the United States today. Information is parceled out by the characters so it doesn't become an info dump. The characters have distinct personalities and "voice" so the reader can keep them straight. I love that a graphic format was chosen to make the story accessible to more readers.

This book takes a look at the corruption in South Korea in the 1980s, when the author was in college. Based on her life, but with peoples experiences and names moved around and mixed up, we get a good idea about what was going on in those times.

Yum Sook joins a banned book club, because reading banned books gives you a good idea what the authorities don’t want you to read about.

This looks at one year of her life, int he group, and what they’d I’d with their time, and how they help protests. At first Hyundai Sook looks as though she is terribly naive, and you fear for her safety, but then she turns things around and shows that she doesn’t take no guff.

Engaging story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review

In the tradition of Maus and Persepolis, Kim Hyun Sook’s Banned Book Club explores Sook’s own experiences during one of South Korea’s most important historical and political events. In 1983, Sook is just beginning university with no interest in engaging in the widespread student protests against the controlling government; however, she soon finds herself involved in a club that reads government-banned books, leading her and her friends to the front lines of a dangerous play for freedom. Ko Hyung-Ju and Ryan Estrada bring this memoir to life through stunning images and spare dialogue, helping readers understand the tension of living under a regime that places restrictions on so much, including what citizens can read.

While this may not fly off the shelves, school libraries should consider this a welcome graphic novel addition that could support world history and politics curriculum. Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can definitely see myself choosing this book as a book club pick! The characters are interesting, the plot is engaging, and I think younger audiences would be highly attracted by the title and cover. I can think of so many discussion topics and projects that my book club would be able to engage in after reading this book! I highly recommend!

Based on a true story, Banned Book Club tells of Kim Hyun Sook, a South Korean woman who finds herself joining an underground banned book club in the 1980's. During this time, the political climate in South Korea consisted of a corrupt government that banned Western literature and a military regime that obtained power through censoring, torturing and murdering protesters that were involved in consuming such content.

We see Sook come into college with the mindset that she's only there to study, learn and read. Soon enough, she finds out that it's not all that simple as she's exposed to the realities of the environment she's around. I enjoyed seeing her growth. In the beginning, she starts off closed off and blinded to the ideologies of the protesters and members of the BBC but as she uncovers and finds out the truth, she understands the power of having a voice, taking action and being part of something revolutionary.

The book brings up a great discussion about censorship-- Why do people ban books? Is it purely because of the content? Do they see danger in the authors that create the content? Or is it because there's a possibility that they see themselves in the "villains" or characters of the story and they're too ashamed to admit it?

I loved the ending message. Progress isn't just a straight shot. It's filled with twists and turns but in the end, that doesn't mean we should stop fighting for what's right.

My only gripe with this book is that it moved too fast for me, in a way that felt as if I was missing information. There were so many characters thrown at once that it felt hard for me to distinguish between each of them at times. It's not easy to condense history and real-life events into a certain format, especially in graphic novel form so it's understandable.

Although marketed as YA, I would definitely recommend this book for adults who enjoy reading nonfiction graphic novel memoirs as well. I think this book would also be great reading material for Banned Book Week.

Thank you to Netgalley and Letter Better Publishing Services for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘Banned Book Club’ is the Daring Memoir That Comes Once A Generation

Banned Book Club from Iron Circus Comics caught my eye from the beginning. I love reading about places I’ve never been, about historical events involving folks people who don’t look like me, speak the same language as me or worship the same way I do. I love comics from the Asian diaspora, especially manwha. Banned Book Club presents the true story of a South Korean woman’s student days in college in the early 1980s. Under an authoritarian regime she found — through the rebellion of reading — her purpose and learned how powerful a tool censorship can be.

There is this wonderful thread in the narrative on art, on literature and the political nature of it all. My friends, let me assure you it is one of the best turning points for both Kim Hyun Sook and the reader. Our girl just wants to exist, and moreso try her hand at making a life for herself. We can’t fault her. So she reads her assignments, goes to her classes, joins a club, and tries to keep up. Yet at every turn, she is hella surprised when she is confronted with the fact that nothing is apolitical — from the tried and true plays of William Shakespeare to more traditional Korean art forms like the stories connected to Korean mask dances. It is a startling turning point for Kim Hyun Sook and a brilliant reminder for the reader as we can all turn a critical eye to all the media we consume now. From fairy tales and folklore from days of old to AAA video games we buy and heatedly discuss and debate on the internet.

The artist, Ko Hyung-Ju, illustrates the adventures of Kim Hyun Sook and her ragtag band of friends effortlessly. Banned Book Club visually shines with a stark, black and white color scheme. What comes across the best are the emotions. We see nervous smiles on faces of girls entering bookstores looking for forbidden, banned books, the look of fear echoed in someone’s eyes when a government authority turns their sly grin their way in an interrogation room.

The fast pacing of the book is enhanced by Hyung-Ju’s art with big, bold action sequences. Grittiness and softness both have their place in this narrative across the pages. That Ko Hyung-Ju? He has THE RANGE. I’ve always loved manwha, often placed second to Japanese Manga for years. This is a great representation of it to share with someone who is looking to get a start in reading it.

Hi, I'm an ignorant American who was raised in the American public school system. I'm not dumb, and I try to learn on my own via reading books, magazine articles, web-based news (with a grain of salt) and watching various videos/documentaries online, but there are HUGE gaping holes in what I know. This graphic novel exposed one of those areas of lack of knowledge to me.

I had NO IDEA that South Korea wasn't magically a democracy after the Korean War. I had no clue that there was a dictatorship and that the people of South Korea had to fight and revolt for democracy. I just assumed they always were democratic after the war.

You know what I think would be a good high school/college class? One about democracy around the world and how the people had to fight for it, and the places where they are still fighting for it. This book would be required reading for that class.

Honestly, I think it should be required reading for all Americans in the school system. When I went to school at least, we didn't get a lot about other countries, at least, not that I remember. To be fair, that was a while ago. Also to be fair, I don't recall most of what I learned back then. Or at least I can't differentiate it from what I just "know" and don't know where I picked it up. Maybe from school, maybe from a book, who knows?

So, back to the book. It was amazing and terrifying and I can't imagine living in fear of the Government and having to fight for basic rights like voting and reading what you want to read. Yes, America has it's issues, but I'm not afraid I'm going to be dragged to prison by the police, beaten to give up my friends and locked up without due process because I was seen reading 1984 or the Handmaid's Tale.

America isn't perfect and it is always possible to go in the reverse re: human rights, but I think there are a lot of people who are extra vigilant about making sure we don't lose our rights, so we haven't back-slid to dystopia, yet.

This book is a good way to keep us awake and aware and not take our rights for granted. Yes, they got violent. I'm not pro-violence at all, but I am not judging what they did to get the freedoms they deserved as human beings. I think they were immensely brave and they did things I don't know I would be able to do if I was in that situation.

So thank you Kim Hyun Sook, for sharing this with the world. It needed to be said and shared and I am glad that I was able to read this book. This is one I will be recommending to everyone. 5, life isn't always how we think it is and sometimes we need to fight for it to be the way it should be, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Letter Better Publishing Services/Iron Circus Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.