I learned some things I didn't know about an older South Korea. The politics and such.
Very interesting wrapped in a an easy to read book about kids trying to find their place in the world.

DNF at 30%.

I really couldn’t get into this, not a huge fan of the art and honestly I’m in a reading slump so if this sounds interesting to you then check it out!

I admittedly don’t have a lot of knowledge of South Korea’s sociopolitical history outside of some major events in the past few years, so this was such an interesting peek into the lives of a few teenagers in the 1980s, with recently lifted curfews and lots of government overview still in place. But, this isn’t just a history lesson of a graphic novel, although it provides one, it’s also a night of several teenagers figuring out what they want to do with one night of freedom. There’s self-reflection, romantic reflection, and looking toward their future, all in a troupe of a folk music/acting troupe. Even though there were a lot of different characters, it was fun to explore all their different storylines, and I felt like it all flowed pretty well in terms of interconnecting stories. I also really enjoyed the art for the book and I felt like it fit the story well! If you’re looking for a coming-of-age graphic novel, this is definitely one I recommend reading!

This is a historical YA graphic novel that follows a class at their annual winter camp. I liked the romance in this book and Teehee, Kiwi and also Suji's story. I also like that it highlighted banned books in history because it is also relevant to books being banned now. There's also some cute animals. I didn't love the art style in this one and at times was a bit bored

♡ Banned Books
♡ Beautiful Artwork
♡ South Korean in the 1980’s

First off, the artwork in this was seriously so good! Second this graphic novel was so well balanced, it showed the harsh reality of what it was like growing up under dictatorial rules in South Korean in the 1980’s, but also the friendships and relationships built.

Banned books, adventures, and young love being some of the highlights of this book, leaving in some lighthearted moments to the depressing time of curfews, mandatory military service, and overall fear of the government. It was a great and informative way to tell a story and a part of history.

After living under strict curfews and political tensions they get a night where they’re allowed to break some of the rules their government forced on them. Taking a trip to the snowy mountains where things don’t go as planned but everything seems to work itself out in a once in a lifetime kind of trip.

I loved this graphic novel! I had no idea how strict South Korea used to be. I learned a lot about how things were at that time and it genuinely made me appreciate my freedom. I also really liked the illustrations in this book.

This was so cute ♥️ our main character is going on a trip but soon she finds herself in possession of some interesting contraband. I wish I would have walked into this story with more knowledge of South Korean history. I wanted more about the contraband itself but it held themes of freedom and self expression. This graphic novel has plenty of dialogue, and the illustrations are great. I loved how the author ends this with an encouribg message; “Never Stop learning. Never stop fighting. Never stop being free”

This one was… okay? I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it either. It just felt like there was something missing to really pull it together for me. It’s also just not super memorable for me.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the eARC of this graphic novel.

This is a historical fiction graphic novel that is based in South Korea during the 1980's. I had actually no idea what this book was about- the cover was super cute so I signed up for it- it was a heavy read.

Hyun Sook and her theater troupe are getting ready for their yearly camping trip that is at a mountain in South Korea. When the leader of the group is arrested for listening to banned music the troupe must band together to make sure the trip continues. This story is set after the curfew has ended but there are still rules in place in regard to banned books, music, proxies that are spies, and automatic enlistment in the military.

This story follows the theater troupe and their night of freedom as they camp in the mountains. It is heart warming, sad, a story of self exploration and discovery, and a story of the kids coming to terms with what the future has in store for them.

The illustrations were beautiful and I would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel about trying to not conform and finding your own happiness even when it's hard. I really liked the friendships they all made on their trip

While this graphic was entertaining and visually pleasing, it was also a great way to learn about something I never knew about. I wasn't aware of how strict the South Korean government had been at this point in time.

No Rules Tonight will make cry and laugh out loud. Laugh because it’s funny and laugh because it so painful. 1980s South Korea was not a fun place, a very different place than what we know today. Hyun Sook is involved in a dance/music troup that tells acts out old stories that are still relevant. The students all want to express themselves and find a small amount of freedom. They get one night of freedom on annual winter camp trip. Eating only potatoes, crushes new and old, fear of spies, failed ghost stories and there is only one sleeping bag are just a few of the hurdles these young people have to deal with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this DRC.
#NoRulesTonight #NetGalley

No Rules Tonight is a young adult graphic novel set during the 1980s in South Korea. This was not a time period that I am very familiar with in South Korea's history, but the book did such a great job explaining what it was like to grow up under that much censorship! I ended up reading much more about the time period & history.

I loved how many different characters were in this book. Somehow they all still had great voice & motivation. It was beautifully queer & a great read about censorship.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kim Hyun Sook, and Penguin Group for the chance to read and review!

This is an interesting book to give you a site of how another county has changed over the years. We get to follow a group of kids who are going on a trip where they will get a day of freedom in a society with so many rules. The guy who planned the trip gets arrested for having banned music. As we get to see how each kid is struggling with their own issues and by the end of the book we get to see how they learned and grew into themselves. As well as how their society has changed.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. There is so much I don’t/didn’t know about Korea and I truly appreciated the insight.

There were some parts that had tingle holding my interest and for such a short GN there were a lot of characters. I might have eliminated a few of the side characters and focused on more fully developing other storylines.

I thought the artwork was great and helped tell the story/maintain flow.

It might be hard to believe that the democracy that South Korea is enjoying is fairly recent. Up until the 1980s South Korea was under a military dictatorship, and there were banned books, banned music, and for a while a curfew for everyone at midnight.

It is in this time period that this book takes place, with the author of the previous book, Banned Books, talks about getting away from school, getting away from everyone so they could have a little bit of freedom, on Christmas Eve. However, one of their classmates gets arrested early on, for not stopping to listen to the national anthem at 5pm, because he was distracted.

From there, things go badly for the group of kids that are together because they put on plays that aren’t banned, because they are too old to be. Yes, they criticize the government, but it is a government from hundreds of years ago.

The main character Hyun, thinks that one of the boys that joins the group is a spy for the police, and here she is with one of the banned books.

I liked this book, as I liked her first book. She is amazing how hard she had to work to get the books that were banned, and the funny story she tells of how Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see got banned because the author had the same name as a radical writer. The same mistake some of the book banners in the US have made. Because of course they didn’t bother to read the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book comes out the 1st of October 2024.

Great story! I loved the art and the characters! The history behind this book is super interesting! When I read this book, I hadn't read the authors Banned Book Club. Now I bought it since it seems amazing! Definitely will be recommending this book and purchasing it for myself when it comes out.

This book is so informative yet so fun and cute at the same time. I loved learning about South Korean history in this format, especially that one segment about the author of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Workshop, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up No Rules tonight on October 1, 2024.

What a fascinating look into South Korean life in the 1980s. I had no idea people endured these rules and regulations, and I love how the author painted this reality through a lens that many teens and adults can relate to and understand. I appreciated the several interconnected storylines, and enjoyed the art style! This was a really well-done story that balances teen relationship drama and the importance of political action and activism.

Another wonderful graphic memoir by Kim Hyun Sook. While it is not necessary to read her previous graphic memoir, it was nice to revisit Sook and her dance club members as they navigate a changing South Korea during the 1980s. As the troupe gets ready to take a trip to the mountains over the Christmas holiday, Sook learns the former leader of their banned book club will be stepping down as he leaves the school to pursue further education and passes leadership to Sook. While South Korea no longer has curfews, soldiers still patrol and search bags looking for banned items (specifically books) and arbitrarily arrest people they suspect of being subversive. When there troupe president, Hoon is arrested, they decided to call the former president to lead their expedition, but the trip grows awry - however this brings the group closer together, and Sook discovers the new member isn't a government plant, but someone just looking for a sense of community with other like-minded people. While K-pop and manwha have gained in popularity here in the United States, it is intriguing to see the history of South Korea, although it can hit a bit too close to home in some respects. Estrada's art fits seamlessly with Sook's storytelling - I hope we have future installments of 1980s South Korea - Sook-style.