Wow. This story was already so powerful and thought-provoking, but knowing that it was the authors real-life story of navigating faith, fear, and family made it even more impactful. Corey Egbert was able to look back on that confusing, scary time in his life with so much wisdom and heart and then illustrate it in a way that added even more meaning, like with the lurking shadow self. An amazing true story told beautifully in every way.

Corey Egbert's "Visitations" is a poignant and visually stunning graphic novel that masterfully explores the complex interplay between faith, memory, and reality. The story follows Corey, a young boy navigating the turbulent waters of his parents' divorce and his mother's increasingly erratic behavior. Her alarming accusations and drastic actions thrust Corey and his sister into the harsh Nevada desert, where they must fend for themselves while evading the authorities.

Egbert's artwork beautifully complements the narrative, capturing the raw emotions and stark landscapes of their journey. The flickering ghost girl who visits Corey under the night sky adds a mystical dimension, urging him to seek a reality beyond his mother's distorted tales.

Inspired by his own experiences in the Mormon church, Egbert crafts an emotionally stirring and nuanced tale that resonates deeply. "Visitations" is a compelling read that invites readers to ponder the delicate balance between belief and truth, making it a must-read for fans of graphic novels and coming-of-age stories alike.

This one was HEAVY. It reminded me a lot of Hey Kiddo just with a religious aspect to it. It's a deep lesson on mental illness and religion that gets to the point of fanaticism. Add in a generous heaping of divorce and you've got one hell of book. Based on the author's real life experiences, you gotta wonder just how far religion can take you before you have to make your own decisions.

Graphic memoir. After his grandpa is found guilty of sexual abuse, Corey’s mom starts accusing his dad of abuse. This leads to the parents getting divorced. Despite her accusations, the judge rules that Corey and his sister need to still need to have visitations with their dad. Soon, Corey’s mom tells Corey that he is his sister’s protector and to avoid talking to their dad. One day, mom has a revelation that Corey and his sister don’t need to live with their dad anymore and whisks them away to the Nevada desert. Running them all over the desert and hiding them from police, Corey and his sister are living both out of their car and in motels with their mom. Starving with no money left, they struggle to avoid the cops while dealing with their mother’s growing paranoia. Will Corey find a new future where he feels safe and not hungry? Is his dad really who his mom says he is?

The illustrations are detailed, done in mute tones, and skillfully drawn. The characters are easy to empathize with and are authentic. The story is well written and lends itself well to a graphic novel format. Themes of childhood trauma, abuse, mental health, and questioning of faith are handled well and draw the reader into the story. Readers who like realistic fiction, graphic novels, and those who liked Hey, Kiddo. Recommended for library collections where such graphic novels are popular. 4 stars, Gr 7 and up

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

A thought-provoking and moving memoir about a boy who navigates the complex relationship of divorced parents, religion, and his sense of self.

While reading, I couldn't help but feel so sad for Corey and Sarah for everything that their mom put them through under the guise of religion. As the story progresses, Corey struggles to understand his mom's faith in God as they are on the run in Nevada's desolate desert landscape. When everything seems hopeless, a mysterious figure appears to him, leading him to confront feelings that make him realize the complexity and nuance of what it means to be human.

CWs include but are not limited to sexual abuse allegations, weaponizing religion, child endangerment, mental illness, death of loved ones

This book was definitely not what I thought it was going to be. The story line about the young boy experiencing growing pangs of teenage years was quite understandable but the introduction of the biblical pieces had me confused.

3 1/2-4 stars. This graphic novel hit a little closer to home on several subjects and made it a bit hard to read since it triggered a few things for me personally.
However, I loved the art style and the story itself was good.

A powerful graphic novel memoir dealing with childhood trauma and the mental decline of a parent. The muted tones of the illustrations emphasized the struggle both the protagonist and his family go through. This book reminded me of Hey Kiddo, with a bit more text to help the story move along.

Visitations takes a deep dive into faith and conviction. It is also a look into mental health and the toll that someone suffering from a mental break can have on a family.

Corey and his little sister live with their deeply devout mother - a woman who believes in her soul that her ex-husband is a pedophile and that the Heavenly Father will show her the way to keep her children protected from evil. Corey and his sister have court appointed, unsupervised, visitation with their father. On one of the days when their father is supposed to pick them up, their mother tells them that Heavenly Father has informed her that they will not go with their father and that there is a new path for them. Within a few hours, she has the children packed and they are on the road - and on the run.

Based on real events from the author's childhood, Visitations looks at the power of a person's beliefs and the struggles one faces when those beliefs are tested. Corey always saw his mother as a prophet-like person who speaks directly with God and who knows what is best. During their month-long trip through Utah and Nevada, he begins to question her and - by extension - his own faith.

The story is beautifully rendered in muted tones and is sectioned into 3 parts - before the journey, during the journey, the end/after the journey.

This will be a definite purchase for my high school's library once it is published.

#Netgalley #VisitationsbyCoreyEgbert

I am a fan of nearly all graphic memoirs, so I was excited to read this ARC of Visitations by Corey Egbert. The story follows Corey in the aftermath of his parents' divorce and his mother's increasing reliance on prayer and asking God for guidance. Eventually, instead of allowing the visitations between him, his sister, and his dad, his mom abducts them and goes on the run for a month to keep them safe. She continues to insist that she is following God's will. The story closes with resolution on Corey and his sister in the moments after their return. The author does touch on his upbringing in the Mormon Church, some instances of childhood trauma that are addressed, and there is an instance of a ghostlike figure. Overall, though, I agree withe the reviews that this is a good choice for teens who liked Hey, Kiddo. It is less text heavy, which may be another way to hook some students with complex topics and easier visuals. Overall, a great choice for any high school library. Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for the ARC.