I really liked this book a lot. It strikes the perfect balance of educational and entertaining; I learned more South Korea's history and found myself really drawn into both the story and the characters. Though it covers a historical period in another country, there are a lot of parallels to be drawn to the situation in the United States today, and it's an excellent to talk about both the past and the present. What's more, there's some great gay representation, which is always a pleasure to see. I'm looking forward to getting this for my library when it's published.

Very interesting and enlightening perspective on censorship and the importance of books and education. There were bits where I was just a bit confused but I'm definitely willing to do a reread to get some clarity. 3.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. Even though it is set in the not-so-distant past, its message still holds very true today. The basis of this memoir is challenging things you know are wrong, even when you're standing alone. Especially as a librarian, the message against censorship rings very loudly. I've read other stories that deal with similar issues, but this doesn't hold back. I wouldn't say it is graphic in nature, but it is clear what atrocities are going on that our main characters are fighting against. I won't give away the ending, but the message in the last few pages hit me hard because it is a very important message our youth should be hearing today. As a youth services librarian, it's great to see books like this showing our young patrons that it is important and right to stand up for what you believe and learn as much as you can to help make the world a better place.

I absolutely loved the concept of this graphic novel, and it was so easy to read. The traditional art style that was used in this definitely made it so much more enjoyable to read. The characters (inspired by real people) were so complex and interesting and I found myself wanting to know more about each and every one of them.

This was a really nice graphic novel about a point in history/topic I hadn't really heard much about before! I liked the artwork a lot, and the narrative choices the author took to tell her story. I don't think it really had much lasting impact on me, but I could definitely see others getting a lot out of this story.

What a lovely way to experience history. This book takes multiple real life stories to give the reader a fictionalized “true” version of the protests in 1983 lead by college students. Most of it is the story of the author, but for privacy reason has changed many names and consolidated some stories.

It all starts with the government banning certain literature. Particularly Western literature. Kim wants to read these stories. She wants to study literature. But her mother is not happy. She should be working and finding a husband. If anyone is going to go to school it should be her brother. But with help from dad, Kim goes to classes, and learns about things outside her little home world. While she loves to read she never realized that people could be thrown in jail for what they read. And for what they right. No one pressures her to join any resistance movement, they just say “hey why don’t you read what those in power don’t want us to read”. It’s eye opening. And while trying to stay neutral, she actually ends up joining protests, and helping lead more people to this literature that the government says is bad for people.

I have to give snaps to the author for the ending. We never get a clear picture of what all happen. We follow Kim though her getting involved, and then jump to 2017 where she reunites with her friends in modern protest for their land and their government. The reader gets snippets of what the characters when through, like jail time, being teachers, evening staying involved in politics to make their world a better place.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and learned quite a bit. There are parts that are a bit confusing, but I think that is from taking a long and varied history and converting it to graphic novel form. I think this book isn’t only interesting to read, but to discuss. I think it should appear on banned book lists, even if it itself has not been banned. It opens up a wider discussion on why people and governments police what others read.

#BBRC #AuthenticVoice
#ReaderHarder #journalism
#GondorGirlGNChallenge.

I had high hopes for this book. I love the concept of using historical stories from real people to shed light on current conflicts and how youth can make a difference. Perhaps it was because I was reading online, but the graphic novel format was very difficult for me to follow. I often had to flip back to previous pages and images to figure out what was going on. I think there were some flashbacks happening, or perhaps narration going over the top of separate events, but I got lost several times in what was going on and who was speaking.

I really enjoyed this book and it opened up my eyes to this oppressive regime in a digestible manner. The drawing and story-line drew you in and had a great pacing. I really like the use of this medium for serious topics and I stayed up to finish it. Recommended!!

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just want to start by getting this out there... this was a great book on a topic I knew nothing about! It would pair really well with "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" to look at oppressive regimes and the actions youth take to fight their oppressors.

As far as format, the pictures in this graphic novel were beautifully drawn! So, so, so much of the story was truly told by the pictures. At times I found myself not reading the speech & thought bubbles, just reading the pictures - that's how detailed and informative they are. (Of course, I always went back and read the text! Didn't want to miss anything!) I also appreciated the layout of the panels. The panels were quite varied in size and number. This kept the pages interesting. But, the layout was always very easy to follow - something I struggle with in other graphic novels.

And the story being told is just amazing! I will admit, at the beginning, I had trouble keeping characters straight. But once I got into the story, I truly couldn't put it down. The plot is fast-paced and full of tension; the risks these young adults took to get books outlawed by the government are just astounding! The fear of discovery and the consequences is tangible on every page.

I can't wait for this to come out so that I can share it with students. I'm also thinking I may need a class set to use next year during National Banned Books Week!

Banned Book Club sheds light on a fascinating and obscure part of South Korea's history, and shows how censure continues to be a popular tool of oppression and control. This graphic novel had an eerie, bizarre vibe to it that I could never fully enter into. This adequately reflects the themes of the book and the inner tension of the protagonist, but at the same time made it hard to connect with.

"Banned Book Club" by Kim Hyun Sook is a wonderful graphic novel that blends both a story and history. The storyline is engaging and helps readers understand a bit more about the politics of South Korea and where censorship/banned books helped to shape political protest. This would be a perfect read to celebrate ALA's Banned Book Week or showcase with other censored books in a display.

Banned Book Club is definitely a story of our time while being told about the past. In the political climate of today's world this is an incredible look back to a time of censorship and fascism in Korea. Hyun Sook is invited to join a banned book club and while apprehensive at first she realizes over time that being apathetic about politics can be more detrimental than not. Her and her friends use her colleges tools and clubs as means to secretly defy the government while hoping not to get caught.

This story discusses things like corporal punishment (we see Officer Ok beating boys for information), rape (also committed by Officers), and women's rights.

While this story went by quickly in my opinion, it's refreshing to see people continuing to write about corrupt government as an act of defiance against them. Hyun Sook delivers a beautiful monologue at the end, telling her younger self not to give up hope and to continue to fight. That there will always be corruption and progress isn't always linear but it will always get better. If there is one thing you can take away from this story it would be ...read banned books! Can't wait for the pub date to come so I can add this to my personal and professional collection!

The year is 1983. The place, South Korea. Hyun Sook is going to university, though against her mother's wishes, to study literature. However, her education is going to be more than novels and poetry. Her very first day, she must wade through the swarm of college students protesting, Molotov cocktails, and tear gas. On college campuses around the country, students are protesting the corrupt government. Despite her attempts to stay apolitical, Hyun Sook soon realizes that it is impossible, even in the folk dance group she joins. When one of the members invites her to a book club, she thinks she has an opportunity to make new friends and talk about books. And they do. The catch? All of the books they read are banned by the South Korean Government.

A brilliant, thought-provoking, and timely debut autobiographical graphic novel written by Kim Hyun Sook, "Banned Book Club" provides readers a look at South Korean history from someone who lived it--and is still fighting to make her home a better place. "Banned Book Club" provides a much-needed narrative about politics and freedom of speech, particularly in Asian history and countries, as well as finding yourself and coming of age in times of political unrest.

This powerful biographical book tells an incredible story with lively, vibrant pictures. Readers will gain instinct into Korean history through the struggles of the main character. There are many opportunities for discussions with students reading this book. Most importantly, I loved how it showcased the power of knowledge, reading, and books.

A decent introduction to South Korean history and politics for those who know little. However, a little knowledge would be useful if you are to get the full picture and context.

The illustrations aren't pure Manga but in that style. I found it difficult to follow who was who at times as the illustrations did not make the characters as clear as I would have liked.

Makes an important statement about power and politics.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the importance of the story in the political world that we are living in now. How progress is t a straight line, but we can’t let that undermine the future or stand in the way of standing up for what we believe in as citizens.

This is an interesting manga. The subject matter is intresting and important, but the story was a little flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this E-Arc of The Banned Book Club that I was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really liked this graphic novel and hated to give it a 3/5. In reality, it was probably between 3 and 4, but the things I didn’t like pushed it closer to three than four.

It was really great in terms of providing a context for what life was like for protestors during the early 80s in South Korea. The images worked well to emphasize the violence, fear, and control. The main character, Hyun Sook, a timid and shy young girl just starting college, worked perfectly to show these risks because she was able to capture the naivety of a young girl who thinks things are as they appear. Watching her wake up to the atrocities of the world was eye opening and enjoying.

The part I didn’t like was the ending. I won’t give spoilers; let me just say it was far too abrupt. I didn’t feel like there was a real ending so much as an abrupt stop that was neatly tied with an epilogue. It felt very lazy.

This book was okay, fine. It assumed a lot of prior knowledge on Korean history and the illustrations often skipped around in a way that made it hard to follow. I also wasn't that invested in the characters and felt like I couldn't really differentiate their personalities until the very end.

Graphic memoir was a really good medium for this story about students fighting against oppression in south Korea. It had an inspiring message and unique, interesting characters that really drove the story forward. Stories about speaking truth to power are particularly important right now and I appreciated the style and voice of Banned Book Club.