“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.

I loved this book! The art and visuals are appealing and inviting, the story line was fun and relatable. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but for me that was part of the fun. It captured the chaos and fun and hope that a youth camping trip entails. I had little background knowledge about the restrictions in South Korea in this time period, so it was interesting to learn about that and a little eerie to see the connections between these events and some of the book challenges and politics around education in America lately. I haven’t read the first of this series yet, so I’ll be picking that up next and promoting both to my classes. Thanks for the read!

No Rules Tonight is a follow up to Banned Book Club. The story is cute and funny and gives a glimpse into life as a young adult in South Korea in the 1980s. Recommended for YA collections.

I went into this with very little knowledge about the political structures in South Korea and I learned a whole lot. Historical fiction as a means to understand history is one of my favorite mediums. I loved it in a graphic novel format especially.

I laughed a lot more than I expected to and found myself googling information about experiences during that time in South Korea.

Though the art style and tone differ from Banned Book Club, this feels like a continuation of the same story. I loved that book and was excited for this one, and it didn't disappoint. It's a little less informative in terms of historical information and instead seems more focused on showing readers what it was like to grow up and become adults under a dictatorship. Teens growing up in the US today are sure to relate to many of the things the characters go through in this book.

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. This time period in Korea isn’t spoken about a lot and as some who is Korean I loved everything about this book. I think this book especially since it covers the topic of censorship and banned books really is a great parallel to what is happening in the U.S. now.

No Rules Tonight is a snapshot of what it was like to be a teen in South Korea in the 1980s. It was a time of political turmoil, and spies for the government were everywhere. You could be arrested on the street for being in possession of the wrong book, or listening to the wrong music. A group of teens from a dance troupe at their high school decide to go spend Christmas Eve in the mountians. They want a night of freedom, from police and parents. But can they trust each other and be comfortable enough to be their true selves?

In 1980s South Korea, Christmas Eve is one of the few nights where curfew is lifted and students have the freedom to engage in a little self-expression. This year Hyun Sook and her friends from her theater club decide to spend it at a cabin in the snowy mountains, each one hoping to make the most of their brief freedom.
This graphic novel was an enlightening window into a time and place I don’t know well while also serving as a mirror to some of our current struggles with book banning.

a bit slow with a lot of characters that made it hard to keep it straight who was who at times, but touched on a lot of great topics around what is freedom

Having read the authors’ previous graphic novel, Banned Book Club, I knew this graphic novel was one not to be missed. And I certainly was not mistaken.

This story is basically a continuation of one of the authors, Kim Hyun Sook, as the main character with her university/dance club/banned book club friends and comrades from the previous book. Everyone in South Korea has ONE free day (Christmas Eve) to do as they please with no curfews. Hyun Sook and her group plan to take a weekend trip to Jiri Mountain during their university winter break. Lots of humor and silly situations arise on their jaunt to and while in the snowy mountains as they come unprepared without food, sleeping bags, or proper attire. In addition, Hyun Sook suspects an uninvited companion is a government spy which makes her imagination run wild when she is in possession of a banned book with plans on starting a new banned book club.

Even though I absolutely loved the story of Banned Book Club, I enjoyed the illustrations, artwork and color significantly more in this novel. The drawings go along with the lightness and humor of the story akin to reading a comic strip.

It's 1980s South Korea where everyone is always being watched and stepping out of line can land you in prison. But there's one night a year where there is no curfew: Christmas Eve. This Christmas Eve, Hyun Sook is trying to restart her banned book club, but is afraid that someone might be spying on her. As she spends a night with her friends at winter camp, adventure ensues. Will Hyun have the courage to tell someone else about her book club?

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of No Rules Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada to review! I thoroughly enjoyed Banned Book Club when I read it a few years ago, so I was excited to read this follow up. This one expands on historical South Korea, while adding more characters and more layers to the story from the first book.

The art style really suits the story, especially in this wintery setting. Though this is set in the 1980s, the conversation about banned books is certainly timely. Especially with the censorship currently happening in the United States. This book can show how it is a slippery slope; book censorship can lead to other kinds of censorship as well. Definitely a good conversation starter.

The story itself is a blend of memoir and fiction, and I think teens will learn a lot by picking up this book and the previous one. A great all around read.

This is such a great graphic novel! I would definitely recommend this to students. I liked the setting of 1980’s South Korea. It’s a setting I don’t know much about and this helped me learn.

a nice insight into a lesser, to me, known historical moment. I liked all the storylines and the different ways of fighting injustice and finding happiness in who you are. Illustrations were great and I liked the whole cast of characters very much

This graphic novel was so great. I loved the banned book club! The fact that places all over the world have different set of rules and this book shows just the kind of world Hyun Sook has while living in South Korea. I love you see her struggling with trusting the group, but given the strict rules it would not make any sense if she was confident about her group because in reality people do cave when the price is right. Because reading this I would love to read more of her stories.