Heartbreaking yet hopeful, this memoir chronicles the author's journey to discover his own truth while navigating his parents' divorce and his mother's intense religious beliefs. This is an important and inspiring story.

I really enjoy a graphic novel that can dive into religion and mental illness in a way I haven't seen before. Mixed with the family trauma and dynamics that I could relate to in many ways, Visitations will be one I can easily recommend to friends and viewers.

This graphic novel memoir was heartbreaking to read. There was a lot going on that Corey and his sister had to deal with. Mental illness, kidnapping, parental unstability. This book sheds a light on issues that we do not usually thinkabout and does a great job at it.

Thank you for this ARC.
This is based on his childhood experiences. Divorce, faith, questioning religion, and mental illness. The story begins with Corey's father's dreaded visitations, which escalate when his mother's religious fervor escalates. Taking place in Nevada and all the desert area, there is a bit of creativity in here. Egbert's artwork captures the eerie beauty of the desert and the intensity of Corey's mother's beliefs. The book balances heavy topics with moments of hope, highlighting the pain and authenticity of life.

After his parents’ divorce, Corey has always felt safe with his mom. He always dreaded the visitations with his dad, believing the things his mom always said about him. That he wanted to corrupt Corey and his sister because she believed his father was the devil.

However, when his mom takes them away from their home into the Nevada desert with no plans, Corey starts to question his mom’s beliefs. What was once a safety net for him starts to look a little scarier. An encounter with a ghost one night might lead him down the path to truth. And the path to healing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an advanced copy of Visitations by Corey Egbert to review! There definitely has been an increase in popularity of YA graphic novels based on real life, which is a trend I am 100% behind. Especially when they explore issues that might hit home for a variety of teen readers.

This book explores mental illness in a way that we don’t necessarily see in a lot of YA books. It focuses on Corey’s mother and the way that her mental illness affected the safety of her children. Even though she felt what she was doing was for their safety. Seeing Corey’s realization throughout the book feel true to the teenage experience, especially as he begins to question if his mom’s beliefs are grounded in reality.

There is also such a strong sibling relationship in this book. You can tell that Corey really wants to protect his sister, and that they feel comfortable being supports for each other. I always love seeing this kind of sibling relationship, and am glad that it’s such a strong one.

This book explores such important, complex issues and I think it’s an important addition to the YA graphic novel market. Plus, the art reflects the story and is overall beautifully done.

Definitely check it out when it comes out in December!

Corey writes about his childhood, during the time that he and his sister were kidnapped by his mom. An introspective look at mental health, religion, and parenting.

This graphic novel was an interesting read, but it felt kind of disjointed. I'm not sure that it's a great fit for high school because I think it has more of a niche audience.

I have seen this book recommended on many sites. I really enjoy graphic novels. This book would be a great discussion piece for middle/high school students. The decision the kids had to go through---being homeless---right vs wrong along with trust. Not only trust in your parents---mom vs dad, but trust in God.
This book gives a lot to think about and it is a true story.

Reading Visitations felt like stepping into a fever dream that’s equal parts unnerving and hopeful. Corey Egbert serves up a graphic novel that is visually stunning and emotionally gut-wrenching—a rollercoaster of family dynamics, mental illness, and enough religious tension to make Sunday school feel like a vacation.

The story begins innocently enough: Corey, a kid just trying to survive his parents’ divorce and dreaded visitations with his dad. (Who, according to his mom, is the actual devil. No pressure.) Things escalate when Mom cranks up her religious fervor to 11 and decides Corey is divinely chosen to protect his little sister. Next thing you know, they’re living out their Mad Max fantasy in the Nevada desert, except there’s no cool cars, just starvation and questionable parenting decisions.

Egbert’s artwork is stunning. It captures the eerie beauty of the desert and the suffocating intensity of Corey’s mother’s beliefs. The ghostly flickering girl who visits Corey under the stars? Equal parts creepy and compelling. She’s like that friend who tells you, “Hey, maybe you should stop listening to your mom because this whole ‘Dad is Satan’ thing isn’t working out.”

What really shines is Egbert’s ability to balance heavy topics with moments of hope. Corey’s journey from blind loyalty to questioning the reality his mom has constructed feels painfully authentic. The book doesn’t wrap things up neatly with a shiny bow—because life, especially one marked by trauma and faith, doesn’t work that way.

Overall, Visitations is a powerful read that’s as much about escaping the past as it is about forging your own truth. Fans of Hey, Kiddo will feel right at home—and by “home,” I mean emotionally wrecked in the best way.

Corey has always relied on his mother Laura as a source of comfort and support. She has always been there for him and his younger sister Sarah. Corey fully trusted his mother and father, his grandparents, and embraced their religion. That is until one day that trust is broken. Corey’s mother accuses his father of a heinous act, they divorce, and Corey and Sarah have weekend visitations with their father. Over time Laura becomes convinced that all ties should be broken off between their father Henry and their beloved grandparents. She takes Corey and Sara for a trip driving endlessly on desert roads. That trip ends up being kidnapping.

Laura convinces Corey that what she is doing is an act of faith in God. Corey believes this to be true as he believes in his faith, God and mother. However, when days becomes weeks of living in their car, no food, no showers, he starts have doubts of his trust and belief.

I found this memoir to be incredibly sad. I have read many memoirs of those who’ve endured wars, illness, or family mental illness. This is one made a large impact and will stick with me a for quite a while.

The illustrations are powerful and I enjoyed the shades of blue and blush.

Visitations is a graphic novel inspired by true events, exploring themes of mental health, religion, and family trauma. Corey has faith—faith in his Heavenly Father and faith in his mother, both of which he believes would never lead him astray. However, Corey begins to question everything when he, his sister, and mother suddenly find themselves living in their car, on the run from the police.

Visitations covers several triggering topics, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading. However, it’s a story that is important to share. Corey’s struggle with faith is something I can deeply empathize with. As an adult, it’s clear that his mother’s battle with mental health is more than she can handle on her own. But as a child, you believe your parents can do no wrong. The graphic novel format is the perfect medium to tell this story, as the illustrations effectively convey the uncertainty and emotional turmoil that Corey grapples with. The note from the author at the end brings the story back to reality, and the real-life photos provide a complete picture of the characters we've come to know in the book. I look forward to displaying this title at the library.

Visitations is a haunting graphic memoir. Egbert depicts a childhood forever changed by his mothers unknown battle with mental illness. Hand this to older teens and new adults. Recommended for graphic novel collections.

Corey Egbert’s Visitations is a haunting yet hopeful graphic novel that explores heavy themes like mental illness, family struggles, and faith with sensitivity and depth. The artwork masterfully conveys the emotional weight of Corey’s journey, particularly through the ghostly figure that symbolizes his internal conflict. While the story addresses difficult topics, its message of resilience and self-discovery shines through, offering a nuanced look at the complexities of family and belief. It was an equally powerful and unforgettable read for me. Highly recommended!

A sympathetic graphic memoir wherein the protagonist survived estrangement from his father (and paternal grandparents) by a mother who descended into severe mental illness. Told with a specificity that attests to the lived experience of the author.

Visitations is a well-done graphic novel that covers hard topics such as identity, mental illness, faith, and healing. This book follows Egbert's journey through childhood living and believing his mother who was suffering from a mental illness and how his faith was distorted, but eventually led him on a healing journey to rebuild a relationship with his father and later his mother. Egbert shares the painful memories of missing time with his grandmother before her death along with the struggles of living in a car for a month.

This graphic novel is great for high school students and adults.

Visitations by Corey Egbert is a difficult but important graphic novel that delves into themes of faith, identity, and healing. Egbert does a good job of portraying his journey through personal struggles, including family dynamics and questions of belief. There is a transition into surrealism in its latter half, which can be confusing but lends to the emotional turmoil that Egbert experiences and to the turning point for him that helps him towards the end. The expressive art style, characterized by soft blues and oranges, complements the narrative that is at times somber, but still hopeful. It’s a poignant, thought-provoking read, particularly for young adults exploring their paths of self-discovery.

“When I remember this moment, I can see myself actually touching the leaves. Logically, though, I must have just imagined it. It makes me wonder how much of my childhood was real.”

“For some reason, becoming a teenager is a gradual transition from childhood to adulthood. For me, it felt like a sudden step into the darkness.”

Visitations by Corey Egbert is a young adult graphic novel inspired by events in the author’s life. The book thematically focuses on growing up in an environment shadowed by manipulative religion and mental illness. Corey, the titular character, and his sister Sarah are caught between his parents as their marriage crumbles, leading to a split household and his mother’s insistence that Corey’s father is evil. In an attempt to “rescue” her children from their father, Corey’s mom removes her children from the life they knew as her paranoia grows.

Visitations thoughtfully cradles some very heavy topics in a way that is relatable to anyone who grew up in difficult family situations. I really liked how the main character Corey used escapism to understand his big feelings as well as how the author uses a colorful but muted inking style that complements fantasy elements in the plot. I also admired Egbert’s handling of mental illness in a way that was not villainizing - something he talks about in the afterward as well. I found this book to be empathetic, beautifully thoughtful, and hopeful despite the struggles overcome. I think that many young readers will be able to relate Corey, especially as he navigates trauma and comes to his own terms with his religious beliefs.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Corey Egbert for the opportunity to read and review this work.

Wow this book is deep and the illustrations really emphasize what is happening to our characters.
Corey and his sister go through a lot with their mom telling them what to think and believe about their dad. When she takes them away from him and they have to live in their car, it is hard on Corey and his sister. But they later learn that not everything is as it seems.

A tough read at times, but needed to show what life is like for some.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A heart-wrenching graphic memoir about mental illness and religion. The book follows Corey, who grapples with his faith and his mother's increasingly erratic behavior. When his mother declares that his father is evil, she takes Corey and his sister by car into the Nevada desert. they have little food, and no real destination. The police are looking for them. When Corey is at his lowest, he is visited by a ghost who helps him reconcile what has happened.

Beautifully illustrated, this book is perfect for YA to adult readers who are interested in religion, faith, mental illness, and memoirs.

I think the thing that breaks my heart the most about this story is the way that Corey’s mom used religion to isolate him and his sister from Corey’s dad. There’s more to it than that, but it was honestly heartbreaking to read some of those scenes where Corey’s dad tries to be as normal as possible around kids who’ve clearly been instructed to freeze him out.

Corey wrestles with some heavy questions about his faith in the midst of some pretty wild circumstances. There’s a lot to process for him. His mom basically kidnaps him and his sister. At first, he has confidence in her faith. But as time goes on and their situation becomes more dire, things get weirder and weirder.

We watch him and his sister trying to figure out how to respond to this situation in which they suddenly have real questions about the person they’ve believed is the most trustworthy. Where is the tipping point at which you push back and stop listening to this person? How does that work when they are the adult and you’re the child?

The book explores some really heavy ideas like that, but it also celebrates the complexity of family relationships. The author is careful not to demonize the character with mental health issues but doesn’t minimize the harm that untreated illness causes.

Visitations offers a critical window into a high-control religious family and what that looks like from within. While that experience may be foreign to a lot of readers, the characters’ expressions and dialog between characters make it easy to empathize with Corey.

Oof.

That was a hard book to read.

I found the story to be compelling, terrifying, and downright heartbreaking. I had a difficult time getting through the story without feeling any major emotions, but I had an equally harder time trying to put it down. Since it is a memoir, I knew the author was going to come out alive, but there were moments of fear where I thought something more permanent was going to happen.

It's definitely important to document journeys with mental health so we can try to destigmatize them in society. As someone who's parent has struggled with a form of schizophrenia, there were moments in the story I was putting myself in the shoes of Corey and Sarah.

Highly recommend for someone to read who wants to read about someone else's experience with severe mental illness and how it affects family, just as much as the individual.