Visitations is a coming of age story building on discovering who you are in the midst of establishing one's faith. This feat is difficult enough on its own, but Corey had to do it under a divided household. He goes through a heart wrenching experience trying to decide once and for all who he is and which parent he should believe. This is a quick yet powerful read.

Cory Egbert tells the story of his parents' divorce and his mother's decent into a world of religious fervor and mental illness. Cory and his sister live with their mother, and from the start, she convinces them their father is evil. She keeps them from him and his family, isolating them to mostly their apartment. When she gets a 'message from God" that they need to leave, they set off in their car, running from the custody agreement. It is a story from the kids' perspective - they love their mom, and they know that she thinks she is doing the right thing, but they also know something is not quite right.

Visitations was not what I expected. Instead of a boy escaping from a cult, I found a young man wrestling to make his faith his own in the light of his mother's post-divorce mental health crisis. The magical realism blends well, though it's a tad confusing since only one section has the real magical element. The ending felt a bit abrupt, but everything is wrapped up. I appreciated the author being vulnerable with his audience, and it was refreshing to see a memoir where someone made faith their own instead of running away from it altogether.

Visitations is a graphic novel memoir. The author, Corey Egbert was raised very strict Mormon, with parents that were divorced. Mom had a mental illness and poisoned his mind against his father and eventually kidnaps Corey and his sister and takes them out to the desert.

I was thinking this was going to be more into the kidnapping trauma and less religion based. This book was definitely not my style and I feel like it will have a smaller target audience, at least in my part of the states. I also am not sure if this was the intention, but it really does not show the Mormon religion in a very positive light.

I really enjoyed this graphic memoir that tells the story of child trying to make sense of the line between faith in God, and faith in a parent which can feel even bigger than God, I love the direction the story took with the importance of having faith in oneself above all to be able to discern between blind faith and having the courage to recognize and challenge when something does not feel right. The drawings were well done and the story unfolded in a way that drew me in from the first couple of pages. Well done!

Based on the author's own experiences as a child, this graphic memoir is compelling, disturbing and beautifully drawn. Corey as a teen is tasked with protecting his sister and blindly following his mother through her increasingly disturbing behaviors and thoughts.

Visitations is a tough read but an important one. Difficult topics are presented with honesty, intention and care. Though I am not a person of faith, I felt very strongly about Egbert’s portrayal of his own experiences with religion, and the nuances of belief and trust. There is room for different perspectives in this narrative as Egbert moves towards making space for his own feelings. While this is a tense and emotional story, I can also see it being very important for young people on their own journey with faith and family, figuring out who they are and what is important to them. The surreal aspect in the later half of the story at first felt a little confusing, but I thought it ended very beautifully and ended up working well with the rest of the story. The art style is clear and expressive, with the soft blues and oranges of the cover illustration present throughout the book.

Visitations was an intriguing and honest look at growing up with a mentally ill parent. I like the visual representations of Corey’s shame and fears throughout the book, and there’s a good opportunity there to talk about those topics with young readers. I loved the art in the book and felt it transported me to Corey’s experiences.

4. This is a simple read that deals with complex issues. I wish there were more books like this. Although this focuses a lot with Mormonism and religious abuse, I think there are so many children with parents who have a mental illness that students will be interested. There’s not enough resources for them, especially teens, who have to face everything high school entails on top of having a parent who doesn’t have a grasp on reality. The art is great, I really enjoy how it strengthens and builds the narrative. My heart aches for Corey and Sarah- there are so many children in similar circumstances. Will definitely be a book that students read, and it may lead to some very important discussions,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc. This was such an emotional read. As sad as it was, I really enjoyed it. The art style was really beautiful.

It might feel odd to describe Visitations as a “great” graphic novel, given the heavy subject matter, but it’s true. Corey Egbert’s art is both captivating and deeply personal, drawing readers into a story filled with vulnerability, compassion, and raw honesty. Egbert not only opens a window into his own life, but he also tenderly portrays his mother’s struggle with mental illness—a journey that shaped his childhood in ways few can imagine.

As I read, I found myself reflecting on Egbert’s experiences with religion, feeling a mix of empathy and discomfort at the moments where he was left vulnerable. Yet, there’s also something profoundly uplifting as Egbert grows, learning to differentiate his own beliefs from those of his mother. This journey of self-discovery, told through such poignant visuals, makes the novel stand out.

If you enjoyed Hey, Kiddo or are drawn to stories that offer an intimate, sometimes painful, yet ultimately hopeful glimpse into childhood shaped by mental illness and strict religious rules, Visitations is a must-read.

Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a copy via NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to review!

From the cover and title, I was expecting ghosts. Lots of ghosts! From the description (always read those beforehand haha) it is much more focused on religion (Mormonism!), family, and mental health. While the art is lovely, the topic and story weren't really for me. (But there was a ghost!!!!)

i didn't realize how religion-focused this would be -- thought it was a cute book about supernatural stuff. very emotional and compelling & the art made me want to keep reading. really beautiful.

i have complex feelings about this book because on one hand it was well written with beautiful art and a compelling story and on the other hand, it shows mormonism in a positive light and the author is a practicing mormon

Visitations by Corey Egbert is a moving graphic memoir that explores faith, family, and mental health. Inspired by Egbert's real-life experiences, the story follows Corey, a boy whose life changes drastically after his parents' divorce. As his mom starts making wild claims—like saying his dad is the devil and that Corey has a divine mission to protect his sister—things spiral out of control. They end up on the run, living out of their car in the Nevada desert, trying to stay one step ahead of the police.

The muted tones and pale pink splashes in the art add to the haunting, yet hopeful, feel of the story. Graphic memoirs like this one make heavy topics easier to connect with, and Visitations does just that. It’s honest, emotional, and perfect for anyone looking to understand more about family struggles and personal challenges.

If you like books like Hey, Kiddo, this is definitely a great pick!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and preview this book.

This will be a great complement to Hey, Kiddo, which is popular in our library due to our Battle of the Books program. We will be purchasing this for our library collection.

Corey Egbert's deeply personal graphic novel is a beautiful and chilling look at a family. This story is based on author and artist Corey Egbert's own childhood and it is at times heartbreaking. The reader meets Corey's family when he is very young-it is clear to the reader, though not to the young protagonists, that the mother is overbearing and dealing with trauma in a deeply disturbing way. Corey and his sister are made to believe that their father is an evil man and it shapes much of their childhood. This is a moving story about resiliance, mental health, religion, and family.

Many thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the eGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free digital ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley. This YA graphic novel is a memoir based on true events. Corey is raised in a strict Mormon household, with a mother who is devote. Corey has been named by his mother as his little sister’s protector. Their parents are divorced and Corey's mother doesn’t trust their fathers intentions during Sunday visitations. Corey’s mom’s reactions are starting to get more complex than Corey and his sister can handle.
This is a complex story of religion, mental health, family dynamics, love and trust. It reads quick, but the content is heavy. This is better for older teens who will understand the battle unfolding within the relationship of Corey and his mother.

Powerful Graphic novels are my jam, and this one does not disappoint! This non-fiction graphic novel and mental illness is powerful and everyone should read this!

Gut wrenching and painful to read. I felt the fear and anxiety of the children viscerally as their mother took them further and further away from security. The art style was evocative and immersive. Beautiful