This is a great read. I learned some South Korean history that I'd been completely unaware of before. Attention-grabbing and moving.

I loved this book, it was an exciting story with so much heart and put me so perfectly in the mindset of the characters and a perspective that I knew of but hadn't really followed to all of its implications. The ending really blew me away too, that there is not resolution or solution in politics, we can only keep pushing for better and better and to stay vigilant. An excellent book and an important book, can't wait to start handing it to teens and adults.

Really good depiction of severe government unrest and censorship in South Korea in the early ‘80s. The story feels a bit disjointed at times and hard to follow, but the artwork is good and the message is conveyed well.

I really didnt care for this book as much as I thought I would like it. It honest just wasnt my cup of tea. The author did a really good job.

I'm so happy I got to read this. It was a fantastic short read that really packed a punch. It's scary how this fight still goes on— the fight for democracy and the fight for what's right. The artwork is fantastic and I can't wait to own a copy when it comes out.

I was given an ARC of this Graphic Novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read about how a group of students stood up against an unjust and corrupted government. A government aimed at keeping their population ignorant and under their thumb. Where people in power, even teachers, abused it. How parents can be fearful of new opportunities for their kids that they did not have. How encouragement can shape a child's future. How friendship and a sense of community can break down walls. How the younger generation needs to have a voice to invoke change. It offers and easy to read history lesson for people who need graphics to make things more interesting and understandable.

As someone who does not read graphic novels often, I really enjoyed this and will be looking into the genre more often.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Letter Better Publishing for providing me with a free E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ok. Let’s first just talk about the front cover and the title. The bookworm in me could not resist. When I read the summary I was intrigued. However, I must admit before reading this amazing graphic novel I knew very little about South Korean politics.

This nonfiction tale follows Hyun Sook as she leaves home to pursue her dream of attending college, against her mother’s wishes. After arriving at college she quickly realizes that the atmosphere and environment isn’t quite what she had envisioned. Although she tried to stay away from the student protestors, it became increasingly clear that wasn’t going to be possible. So Hyun joined the school book club in hopes of reading some of her favorite western literature. Unbeknownst to her she had just joined a book club that was ran by student protesters who read and discussed books that had been banned by the government. Initially terrified of what she had gotten herself into, Hyun soon learned that the protestors weren’t yelling to just cause a ruckus. They truly had something to say and deserved to be heard. In this realization she decided, she wanted to be on the frontlines to help ensure they were heard by the masses.

“So you gotta wonder. Do they ban books because they see danger in their authors, or because they see themselves in their villains?”

I highly recommend this novel for any collection. It truly is an amazing non-fiction graphic novel. The art, done in all black and white, made this an even more enjoyable reading experience. As I said in the beginning I went into this book with little to no knowledge on this subject but I left it feeling much more informed. Although this did not happen in the United States, it is still important to have knowledge about history outside of your own. Not to mention, what everyone can relate to in this novel no matter the country for which you live, is to fight for what is right and never stop believing in progress. “Progress is not a straight line never take it for granted.”

2.5

I thought this was just okay. The art was fairly basic with a story that had a lot of importance, but took some time to get into. I found it to be quite jagged and difficult to feel engaged.

This graphic novel reminded me again about our past, present and uncertain future in regards to being able to speak your mind. Freedom of speech should never be something we take for granted because sometimes history repeats itself. The story of Hyun Sook was a scary one, but also an important tale about reading what you want, saying what you want and living the life YOU choose for yourself. I read this in one sitting and will be recommending it to many students when it comes out. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

1983: Kim Hyun Sook's college experience isn't what she thought it would be. As soon as she arrives at her Korean college, she is shocked to see students protesting. Hyun joins what she thinks is an innocent book club, but is terrified when she discovers it's a BANNED book club. She runs away, afraid of losing her scholarship or disappointing her father by being arrested or kicked out. But her curiosity gets the better of her and soon she's down a rabbit hole learning things that shock her about her own government and country (Korea). She attends an illegal news screening and helps to create and distribute flyers of banned writing. Many of her friends are captured and beaten for information.

The book is based on real events and real people (names changed for protection). The book ends with a history lesson on the events that happened to overthrow a corrupt politician in Korea in '16 and '17.

This is a strong historical memoir of a girl trying to keep her head down and get a university education in a Korea that does not value women or free-thinkers, and seemingly torn apart by riots. Pulled in two different directions by her traditional mother and her new school friends she must step carefully as she follows a path that leads to a more democratic Korea.

This is a Young Adult title, with talk and images of torture and hints of rape as a form of torture. This is not a book for everyone, but to the right audience, it is a perfect addition to a liberal arts library, or to expand an inclusive world-view collection. I would not put it in a middle or elementary school library - it has mature themes on more than on occasion. Librarians should read this book for themselves before deciding to put it in their collections.

As a graphic novel, I found it a bit confusing because there were not enough differentiation between some of the characters in the early chapters. There were a lot of characters introduced very quickly and I found the personalities as well as the physicalities hard to distinguish. Once the main events started to happen I found myself looking back to the introductory pages to see which character was involved. The black and white drawings did not help add detail, although it did compliment the 'historical' feel of the book.

As for the plot and storytelling: I wanted more detail about the parents, but that was simple and sort of thrown away. I wanted to see what happened with the professor, but it was never resolved. I wanted to know the actual facts of some of the time between the memories and the reunion - and the final chapter seemed a bit too simple for the excellent story detail and tension in the rest of the book. It seemed too quick, with not enough purpose. I left the book feeling a bit let down - as if I had been rushed out the door after an excellent lecture.

Graphic memoir was the perfect medium for this. The art style was beautiful and flowed so well from page to page. I think this is a great introduction to contemporary South Korean history, especially for audiences that are ignorant of the country's history of protest and oppression. The present day tie-in was also really well done, and it managed to maintain a feeling of hope while still being realistic. Given the political climate that it happening in what seems to be every single country these days, the topics discussed in this graphic novel are all too poignant and timely. The power of protest, censorship, propaganda, government-sponsored corporal punishment, and active surveillance are all messages that need to resonate with readers today--and not just a young adult audience.

I received a free copy of this graphic memoir from the publisher via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m not normally a fan of graphic novels but this one quickly pulled me into this true story. The story had a good pace and the illustrations really fit with the story.
I had spent some timing living and working in South Korea so I had some background knowledge on South Korean history. But this graphic novel had me searching the internet looking for more information on the events in the book.
The messages in this book are relevant to everyone. Even though this book is set in 1983, the message of censorship, the importance of books and the importance of education still holds true today. Every reader can find some connection to make with this story and these characters. #IronCircusComics

I had no clue about South Korea's history so this was fascinating to me! I picked it up solely based on the title, and was surprised/amazed by the content as it was not what I was expecting. South Korea was under a fascist rule in the early 80s, and this is Kim Hyun Sook's autobiographical graphic novel on her freshman year of college - when she discovered just how limiting her government was, and somewhat inadvertently got involved in the protests against it. When all she wanted was to be able to read any book she wanted! Books like this are exactly why I love graphic novels so much - it covers a topic I otherwise would never choose to read about, in an easy to digest format, especially when that topic is so important to learn about and holds so many good lessons and takeaways!

Thanks to the publisher for a providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kim Hyun Sook is starting college in 1983 in South Korea, and her life is about to change. An innocent-sounding ‘Book Club’ is actually a group of rebel activists determined to change South Korea. Though she knows the dangers of getting involved, it soon becomes clear what the stakes are, and she knows that she has to do something.

This brave graphic novel is a remarkable little book. The story it tells is revolutionary and dangerous and sometimes scary, especially when you think that the events conveyed really happened. It’s not light-hearted, but it has so very, very much heart and determination. The tense atmosphere screams off the page. I was breathless to read the story and finish it from beginning to end. I do think that it’s an important story, a well-told story, and a bigger story than what’s just held in the pages. It’s so interesting to see it told in graphic novel format as well. This is definitely one to pick up and read, and it’s one that I would even encourage teens to read.

Excellent graphic novel. I read this on the tiny screen of my phone and still felt fully immersed in the text. I want to know more about Korean history and politics after reading.

Banned Book Club recounts the author's memories of a time of unrest in South Korea. In the 1980's, the protesters called for the president to step down, and the author found herself pulled into the struggle. By recounting those events, she ties them to the recent nationwide protests for President Park to step down. Because this is a political novel based on the author's own memories, this can be a heavy read. There's nothing heartwarming about the strict censorship or brutal arrests the author recounts. But this is an impactful story, strongly linked to today's political climate, and I think it's a valuable read for young people. Kim Hyun Sook encourages readers to question authority, educate themselves, and stand for their beliefs in the most trying of times.

Kim Huyn Sook's "Banned Book Club" examines the author's involvement in the 1980s resistance movement against South Korea's authoritarian government. A young college student, she was initially reluctant to get involved, but as her study of western literature and her friendships with student dissidents deepened, her desire to participate grew.

Other reviewers have mentioned the graphic novel's similarities to the classic Persepolis, in which a young woman experiences the political upheavals of Iran in the 1970s and 1980s. Ryan Estrada's manga-esque illustrations aren't quite as striking as Satrapi's soulful ones, but they carry the complex story with an overall clarity and grace (though I did have a bit of trouble identifying which character was the professor when he was first introduced). This book is also narrower in focus, homing in on the formation of the author's political views during her first term at college, and providing less information about the author's family and culture.

While it might not be as rich of a reading experience as Persepolis, not many graphic novels are. And "Banned Book Club" nevertheless sheds needed light on a period of South Korea's history that most western readers likely know little about. It also serves as a timely reminder of the dangers posed by totalitarian governments and apathy.

Thanks to netgalley for a review copy.

A great graphic novel to read during Banned Books Week, or any time. Sometimes the text was a little awkward, but the story itself and the pictures were so well done. It reminded me a little bit of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (also a graphic memoir, also mostly black and white, both deal with serious and upsetting topics, but not in a gratuitous or overly graphic way).

A beautiful tale of dissidence and the importance of uncensored and freely available literature for all. This is an important text that should be integrated into many curricula.