Highly recommended. Through the eyes of a young girl whose sick mother is drawn into a doomsday cult, authors Ryan Estrada and Amy Rose expose the manipulation that creates obedient followers from seemingly rational but desperate people. We need more books like Occulted that recognize the realities of abuse, neglect, and outright hatred children can experience from family and religious communities, particularly at a time when children’s intellectual freedom is under constant attack. We cannot prepare children for hardships or danger by not acknowledging their existence or telling comforting lies.

Jeongmin Lee’s wonderful illustrations capture the intense, complex emotions of the young girl’s relationship to the cult leader. We see why Amy believed that the leader could read her thoughts, how quickly the leader could drop their façade of enlightenment when potential marks were out of earshot, and how Amy’s spirit of defiance kept burning despite may attempts to snuff it out.

Thank you to Iron Circus Comics and Netgalley for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A graphic memoir of Heaven's Gate. I remember it happening so this was a powerful read. I liked following a kid's perspective. I didn't really think about there being kids attached to the cult. Very well written.

5 stars

Wow! This is a quick read, easily understood images that are expressive. Definitely will be a hit with the middle school crowd. Amy’s childhood is filled with strange circumstances and people. The fact that this is a memoir is even better! We always need more compelling nonfiction for our young teens. May help children how are subject to mental abuse understand better what is going on. Also, students will undoubtedly be curious about cults with the anniversary of the Waco siege coming up. A fascinating look into a different world.

In Occulted, the reader gets to see what it was like living in a cult from a child's perspective. As a child, the author was an unwelcome part of the group, who recognized that things were off, even if she couldn't do much to change her situation. Her experiences with the abuse and manipulation that are part of the cult leaders' practice are eye-opening. I think many young readers will be drawn into the story and appreciate the unique point of view recounted in the story.

Occulted is the story of author Amy Rose's childhood growing up in a cult. It's told in graphic novel form which really helps make the story accessible to a younger audience who wouldn't be familiar with the way cults indoctrinate people. Overall a good read, though I wish it had an author's note explaining more about the cult she was raised in and maybe provided suggestions for more research on it and Heaven's Gate, which is also mentioned.

Occulted is first and foremost about abuse. It's a horrifying account of belittlement and how people can so easily fall prey to a corrupt power structure. I sped through this graphic novel, shedding a few tears at the portrayal of Amy's childhood and more than a few times wanting to reach through the pages to protect her.
The art style complimented the story in a really wonderful way, with the simplicity of the characters and finer details where it counted most.

Over all I really enjoyed this graphic memoir, though I would have preferred a bit more length with a more rounded ending.

A remarkable story about a situation I would never want to grow up in. Author Amy Rose does a wonderful job of illustrating the childhood innocence of growing up in a cult, while intertwining the minute discomfort of what lies beneath the surface of a supposedly peaceful group.

"Occulted" provides an interesting and accessible look at the traumas of growing up in a cult.

Pairing "Banned Book Club" creator Ryan Estrada with real-life cult survivor Amy Rose adds a certain level of authenticity to this memoir, and it makes the descriptions of Amy's troubling early life that much more impactful.

The illustrations are simple, but the abuse and neglect Amy experiences throughout her time in "the temple" are a hard pill to swallow.

Eye-opening, and a great way to start some important conversations with middle-grade readers.

Very interesting topic that I haven't seen presented like this for kids before. The graphic novel style lent itself well to the story. I could see a lot of kid appeal for this one.

A really good graphic novel showcasing what it can be like growing up in and around a cult. As an outsider viewing this tale it's so hard to watch Amy go through and thankful that she came out the other side. I appreciate Amy Rose's ability to write their story down and share with the world.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This is a great middle-grade graphic novel that navigates the fine line between covering this subject matter and being 'age appropriate' shockingly well. It was a hard read, but an important one to have out in the world.

The was a well written, amazing book, that everyone needs to read. This should be in every library. I could feel Amy's Heart break just by reading this. I am so glad she was able to find her voice and share this with the world. Art is beautiful. Stunning Book.

A fantastic addition to the growing trend of non-fiction graphic novels. This was a difficult story made easily digestible through simple drawings and exposition. Told through the eyes of a child, there was still a haunting knowledge that more was going on than what was presented on the page. I will be purchasing for my libraries graphic novel collection.