Visitations

Starred review from August 15, 2024
Illustrator Egbert has drawn on tumultuous childhood memories to craft his first solo graphic novel. Looking back, Corey wonders how much of his childhood was real. His family, who present white, lived in a remote, rural part of California, so his mom was his "teacher...entertainer...and partner in crime." His dad, though loving, was more distant. Shortly after Corey's younger sister, Sarah, was born, his maternal grandfather was arrested for child sexual abuse. A couple of years later, Corey's parents divorced, and his mom, convinced his dad was also a predator, enlisted Corey to be his sister's protector during court-ordered visitations. Clinging to the family's shared faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his mom became increasingly paranoid, eventually loading both kids into the car and taking off. Hungry, filthy, and afraid, the teenage Corey received a nighttime visitation from an ethereal girl who helped repair his fractured heart. The author's note (which includes family photos) fills in background details, including more about his mother's paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis. The emotional truth of this narrative rings out on every page. The artwork enhances readers' understanding of Corey's confusion about religion, sexuality, family dynamics, and his own memories, drawing the audience toward sympathy and understanding. Egbert's softly illustrated panels are primarily executed in muted tones of peach, gray, and brown with clean, uncluttered backgrounds; this soothing palette subtly and skillfully supports the depth of emotion in the story. Nuanced and real; impressive and valuable.(Graphic memoir. 12-18)

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Starred review from September 9, 2024
In this searing graphic novel memoir, Egbert (I Can Pray Every Day) details his loss of faith in Mormonism and in his mother following a reveal that his father has been sexually abusing his younger sister, Sarah. After their maternal grandfather is accused of child molestation, Sarah refuses to be put to bed by their father, claiming, “Daddy tickles me!” Though Egbert’s parents divorce, the court finds no evidence of abuse and orders visitation with their dad. Their mom is deeply upset about this and prays about it often, asking for guidance—which she one day claims to receive from the Heavenly Father himself. She leaves town with the kids, hiding them from police by sleeping in their car in isolated places. Meanwhile, Egbert dreams of a mysterious girl he yearns to communicate with and, in his waking life, fears becoming like his father. Via intimate narration, the creator chronicles the true story of his parents’ divorce and his mother’s struggles with her mental health, as well as religion’s role in his compliance with her actions. A nonlinear timeline layered with lightly mystical elements rendered in muted pastels conveys a compelling emotional journey through a formative traumatic experience. Egbert and his family have pale skin. An author’s note and resources conclude. Ages 12–up.

November 1, 2024
Grades 7-12 Egbert's poignant autobiographical and mystical story delves into his life and struggle with faith. Raised by a fervently religious Mormon mother, Corey and his sister, Sarah, are taught from a young age not to question God. This becomes increasingly challenging, especially when their mother declares that their father is evil and forbids them from speaking to him. Egbert paints a haunting yet touching portrait of faith and growing up, exploring the complex interplay between religious belief and personal identity. With its striking, dusk-colored drawings in shades of orange and blue, this presents a visually stunning narrative that captures the emotional intensity of Egbert's journey. This powerful and evocative story is a tough yet necessary read, offering valuable insights into independence, faith, and the struggle to reconcile spiritual beliefs with human experiences. Ideal for late middle-grade and high-school readers, this will invite contemplation on balancing faith with life's realities.

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December 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-With a few narrative changes, Egbert depicts his childhood as a devout Mormon and recounts his parents' divorce, when his mother accused his father of sexually abusing their daughter. While Egbert is a loving son to his mother, he begins to question his mother's statements about his father, as his sister denies any abuse and his mother's behavior and accusations grow progressively erratic and intwined with their religious faith. When his mother's increased paranoia leads to her stealing him and his sister away on a long road trip to avoid the children having further visits with their father, Egbert suffers a faith crisis, but a visitation by a ghostly being in the remote desert helps him better understand himself, as authorities close in on the desperate family. While trigger warnings will be required, this graphic novel provides an empathic, nuanced look at difficult family dynamics and mental illness that YA readers will connect with. Egbert's strong artwork and pacing make this a quick read. The palette is minimal, with muted reds and blues dominating the simple but authentic renditions of his family life. An author's note at the end rounds out the details of the story and provides readers with a glimpse into his life after the book's events. VERDICT Inspired by true events, this heartfelt memoir touches on deep issues of religion, mental illness, and family estrangement and is a must-buy for all libraries with YA graphic novel collections.-Nancy McKay

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