This graphic novel is set in the 1980s in South Korea and shows us the political situation in this country back then. It was interesting to get acquainted with this part of history since it's not taught at schools in the west. My issue is I couldn't get into it. It's interesting, the art style is fine as well but I think the story telling was stopping me from fully immersing in this novel. It left me with the desire to know more about this important part of Korean history but the book itself feels a little forgettable.

I’m absolutely recommending my library buy this, there’s so many layers to this delightful graphic novel. Our main characters are growing up under dictatorial rule in 1980s South Korea and all that comes with that—curfews, government plants, mandatory military service, and banned books. At the same time, they’re falling in love and deciding who they are and who they want to be. It’s lovely and heartwarming, the community that comes together under authoritarian rule. Incredibly important for all readers but especially teens and young adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Started and gave up part way through - I didn't like the structure of organizing it by character and since I was reviewing it for a program, I did not want to finish it.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

Book 264 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Absolutely brilliant graphic novel that depicts a South Korea far different from what it is today.

Such brave souls in spite of being so young featured in this.

So good I read it twice.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I think this was a strong graphic novel and loved how it mixed the author's personal experiences with historical fiction. I enjoyed the artwork and thought it was very consistent. I also liked how the author played with running gags without wearing them out. I think she created very individual characters and built them up well in the 200 pages, I felt like I had a good grasp on them and was specifically interested in what happened to them after the story. Also appreciated the inclusion of queer representation!

Thank you netgalley and penguin random house for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed reading this book.

1. The art in it is absolutely beautiful!
2. the friendships that are in this story is just as beautiful.

This is a coming of age story set in South Korea, 1984. A group of college aged friends take a trip to the mountains on Christmas Eve. Having had curfew lifted recently before the events taking place, they want to make the most of their time.

The woven LGBTQ+ rep in this story was also really lovely and really important to see. I think this is a book that everyone should read and i definitely recommend it!

I sweet follow up to Banned Books Club. Sheds more light on what it was like in South Korea and the myriad ways it affected young people.

No Rules Tonight is an incredibly helpful way to learn about a significant portion of Korean history that is rarely discussed in American education. Kim Hun Sook discusses the scary ways in which the South Korean government regulated the books, socialization, and curfews of their citizens. This, of course, is equally appropriate for our American society in the current political climate and would be extremely poignant in teaching young students the ways in which over-involvement of government can impact the wellbeing of a nation.

(Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Workshop for the advanced galley.)

I was initially confused by the setting and the cast of characters but around the 20%, the plot started to click. This graphic novel is absolutely essential to understanding the burden of censorship that was Korea in the 80s. The only thing that really bugged me in this graphic novel was how American English slang was used - it was very anachronistic and majorly threw me off. The artwork was okay and not my favorite but I definitely stayed for the story.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Penguin Workshop, Kim Hyun Sook; Ryan Estrada and Netgalley for access to theis free digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This graphic novel is a gem. The combination of coming of age in a story set in 1980s South Korea on Christmas Eve is just not something that you would expect but it is just what you need if you are looking for a different kind of holiday heart warming tale.

I have tried to become more aware of my own bias toward stories that reflect my own lived experience and widen my horizons with books that give me the opportunity to learn about others' lived experiences and rejoice when their is room for more diverse stories to be told and POVs to be appreciated. The world is so big but smaller when we take the time to learn about each other.

Told in colorful panels over a brief period of time a diverse group of teenagers is free to roam about on Christmas Eve (wonder why? you'll have to read to find out.) The separate but interrelated plots involve very real human joy and pain and you will leave this story after 208 pages but it will not leave you.

A nod to a love of and right to read whatever we want, this graphic novel is not to be missed.

Set in 1980s South Korea, a 36-year curfew has finally ended. Hyun Sook hopes to have more freedom in college as a result. But things don’t change as expected. Police are still limiting acts of self-expression. Hyun and her friends find a loophole. They join a masked dance troupe that allows them to do satirical dance that poke fun at politicians. When the dance troupe director is arrested for listening to banned music, police stops, and the threat of informants becomes a reality. Escaping to the mountains on Christmas Eve for a night of curfew-free fun, Hyun finds it’s not as wonderful as she hoped. She’s struggling with her desire to lead a banned book club against the threat of discovery and punishment. Others are dealing with their stress and anxiety of the future as well as other secrets.
The illustrations are colorful and help add to the weights the students are dealing with. The plot is realistic, well written, and engaging. The text and illustrations work well together to bring to life Hyun’s world. The characters are authentic, realistic, and easy to relate to. Readers who like historical non-fiction, books that take place in other countries, and books about growing up will enjoy reading this book. Recommended for general purchase library collections where historical biographies and autobiographies are popular. 4 stars, Gr 7 and up.

So let's talk about how the last page of this book, plus the author's note at the end, had me literally tearing up in a coffee shop. As a librarian, I'm very passionate about defending the freedom to read. This graphic novel deals heavily with the very real reality of what it meant to live under a military regime in South Korea and how, years later, democracy won out and things changed. The Brown Bear call out hit hard. Talking about how those who don't bother to read what they ban or bother being educated have no place in making the decisions that they do. The fact that, here in the United States, we are facing increasing challenges to freedoms that are supposed to be enshired by first amendment rights... well this book just - wow. I think it's really important, now more than ever, that these stories continued to be shared. I still whole-heartedly believe that we can learn from history and that our youth, in reading these stories, can learn and help to correct the wrongs of current generations that are in power.

“I love my country, too! That’s why I have no choice but to work hard to help it live up to its ideals.”

“You can’t let your education be decided by the ignorant!”

“Because we refused to be anyone but ourselves…and let society change itself to keep up.”

This based-on-true-events graphic novel set in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve 1984 kept me hooked from start to finish. I learned more about what it was like to live there at the time and was really connected to the book banning discourse as a bookworm English teacher who teaches multiple books that are banned in public schools and libraries across the US. (Fascism is fascism, no matter where it is.) One of my greatest joys from reading is connecting to characters, or knowing a person just like a character, even when they are set in different times and places because those different times and places are often not so different from the here and now. Also, it was a wonderful surprise to see how the LGBTQIA+ identities of some of the characters were so seamlessly woven into their plot lines and the overall story. The art style was as engaging as the words on the pages and I really enjoyed this read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

"No Rules tonight" is such an engaging read. It's about students hoping for freedom, but also their relationships with each other and their complicated feelings about their futures, as well as the future of the society they live in. I was invested in the story from beginning to end and I would recommend this book to teens and adults alike.

No Rules Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada is a lively graphic novel about friendship, rebellion, and self-discovery. Known for Banned Book Club, the authors dive into the thrill of defying rules as a group of young friends sets out to make their own path. Fast-paced and full of heart, the story balances humor, suspense, and moments of reflection, brought to life through expressive, engaging illustrations. No Rules Tonight is a captivating read about the power of unity and the courage to challenge the norm—a fun, thought-provoking adventure for anyone ready to break free.

I get so confused when there are so many characters in a story. It makes me lose focus on the story itself. Still, I found this book kind of wonderful. One night of freedom, of expressing yourself, in a country were being open with your opinions, thoughts, love and the like makes you a target.

It’s a really sweet book, overall, even though I thought it a bit too long and sometimes overwhelming witht the dialogue.

Definitely a book to buy for the libraries!

/ Denise

4.5 stars. With buzz behind this book based on Kim Hyun Sook's "Banned Books Club", I had high hopes and wasn't disappointed. I appreciate how the story gives an inside look about life in South Korea during the mid-1980s. Even though it's historical, the issues the students deal with are ones that are prevalent today all around the world, to varying degrees. As a librarian, I appreciate one of the main topics is banned books.

The story weaves together the lives of the students who deal with being under curfew, having that restriction lifted slightly, and trying to improve their lives and country without being caught by the military. The characters are relatable and vulnerable. The artwork is stunning - moving the story forward with introducing characters, explaining the dance club, and using contrasting colors to change moods.

No Rules Tonight is a very well done graphic novel in what it was like in the South Korea in the 1980's. It is a very serious and often heavy subject, but this was a little more light and easily digestible for a teen audience. The illustrations are very well done and captivating.

A great graphic novel!

No Rules Tonight: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook is a fantastic exploration of adolescence set against the backdrop of 1980s South Korea, a time marked by censorship and political tension. This coming-of-age story makes readers appreciate the freedoms we often take for granted, particularly in light of the recent rise in book challenges and censorship.

Set during an annual winter camp at Anjeon University, the narrative unfolds on Christmas Eve, a night of rare freedom from curfews and obligations. The characters each have their own plans for this unique night: Hyun Sook aims to revive her banned book club while evading a suspected spy; Taehee and Kiwoo are grappling with their feelings for each other; and Sujji is ready to finally confess her long-held secret crush.

Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada masterfully blend humor, heart, and poignant social commentary, creating a story that resonates with anyone who has navigated the complexities of friendship and love. This graphic novel not only captivates with its vibrant artwork and engaging storytelling but also serves as a timely reminder of the importance of standing up against censorship. Highly recommended for those interested in both history and the universal experience of growing up.