Thanks to the publisher for a providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kim Hyun Sook is starting college in 1983 in South Korea, and her life is about to change. An innocent-sounding ‘Book Club’ is actually a group of rebel activists determined to change South Korea. Though she knows the dangers of getting involved, it soon becomes clear what the stakes are, and she knows that she has to do something.

This brave graphic novel is a remarkable little book. The story it tells is revolutionary and dangerous and sometimes scary, especially when you think that the events conveyed really happened. It’s not light-hearted, but it has so very, very much heart and determination. The tense atmosphere screams off the page. I was breathless to read the story and finish it from beginning to end. I do think that it’s an important story, a well-told story, and a bigger story than what’s just held in the pages. It’s so interesting to see it told in graphic novel format as well. This is definitely one to pick up and read, and it’s one that I would even encourage teens to read.

A fine addition to those who seek stories of those who are craving to be different. Banned Book Club is about a female college protagonist who finds her way into an illegal book club.

Fantastic book about subverting unjust authority. Great #ownvoices title. I think it would appeal more to older teens and adults so I am hesitant to add to my teen collection since my library's teen readers skew younger but overall a solid title.

Excellent graphic novel. I read this on the tiny screen of my phone and still felt fully immersed in the text. I want to know more about Korean history and politics after reading.

Banned Book Club recounts the author's memories of a time of unrest in South Korea. In the 1980's, the protesters called for the president to step down, and the author found herself pulled into the struggle. By recounting those events, she ties them to the recent nationwide protests for President Park to step down. Because this is a political novel based on the author's own memories, this can be a heavy read. There's nothing heartwarming about the strict censorship or brutal arrests the author recounts. But this is an impactful story, strongly linked to today's political climate, and I think it's a valuable read for young people. Kim Hyun Sook encourages readers to question authority, educate themselves, and stand for their beliefs in the most trying of times.

Kim Huyn Sook's "Banned Book Club" examines the author's involvement in the 1980s resistance movement against South Korea's authoritarian government. A young college student, she was initially reluctant to get involved, but as her study of western literature and her friendships with student dissidents deepened, her desire to participate grew.

Other reviewers have mentioned the graphic novel's similarities to the classic Persepolis, in which a young woman experiences the political upheavals of Iran in the 1970s and 1980s. Ryan Estrada's manga-esque illustrations aren't quite as striking as Satrapi's soulful ones, but they carry the complex story with an overall clarity and grace (though I did have a bit of trouble identifying which character was the professor when he was first introduced). This book is also narrower in focus, homing in on the formation of the author's political views during her first term at college, and providing less information about the author's family and culture.

While it might not be as rich of a reading experience as Persepolis, not many graphic novels are. And "Banned Book Club" nevertheless sheds needed light on a period of South Korea's history that most western readers likely know little about. It also serves as a timely reminder of the dangers posed by totalitarian governments and apathy.

Thanks to netgalley for a review copy.

A great graphic novel to read during Banned Books Week, or any time. Sometimes the text was a little awkward, but the story itself and the pictures were so well done. It reminded me a little bit of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (also a graphic memoir, also mostly black and white, both deal with serious and upsetting topics, but not in a gratuitous or overly graphic way).

A beautiful tale of dissidence and the importance of uncensored and freely available literature for all. This is an important text that should be integrated into many curricula.

A history I don’t know, but should. Relevant to all of us. Can’t wait to share this with students.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2937068620

This book surprised me. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it but I was immediately drawn into the main character's discovery of antiestablishment politics. It paints a brilliant picture of student revolutions and leaves the reader feeling hopeful, despite perceived setbacks in progress. The only critique I have is that there were one or two too many characters and they were difficult to keep track of.

This graphic novel blew me away! I am shocked by the amount of history and knowledge I gained from these pages. A large expanse of South Korea's political history appears in the text and with such compelling images. This story rings true for any time period and any country.

A well-done first-person primer of the political unrest in the South Korea of the 1980's, and how a shy, naive college Freshman got caught up in an underground revolutionary student movement centered around the reading and distributing of banned literature.

Recommended for fans of graphic memoirs similar to Persepolis. Banned Book Club tells the true story of South Korean student activists in the 1980s and ties their story to more recent activism in 2016.

A quick but very affective read! Banned Book Club is a manhwa (Korean comic) memoir following Kim Hyun Sook, who began attending university in South Korea in 1983 intending to stick to studying, but got drawn into political protest through a banned book club instead.

Not knowing much about Korean history, all of the events contained in this book were new to me, but the authors did a great job of explaining the key points to understand the plot. The Korean political climate as shown here reminded me a lot of the stories of the 1960's in the U.S.; I was specifically reminded of The Strawberry Statement by James Kunen. I really appreciated the attitude of all the Banned Book Club members, who understand that protesting is dangerous but remain upbeat about their purpose. Knowledge is the enemy of authoritarianism, and censorship is its tool.

Banned Book Club is a timely narrative with important themes of resistance and hope.

TW: police brutality, off-page rape, torture

I enjoyed this manga-esque book told from a Korean perspective. It made me appreciate the freedoms I have in my country when it comes to content consumption. This book would be a great one to incorporate in a Banned Books Week display (for obvious reasons)!

I would consider this an important and relevant read about anti censorship, specifically where books are concerned. I loved the premise and as a librarian, it is so important to make sure children and adults alike know about their right to read what they would like to read.


This graphic novel fell a little flat for me. Although there were many parts where I laughed and thought the true story aspect was very interesting, I did not connect with the characters like I wanted to. I also am not sure if I would recommend this to any school library, middle or high. I am not sure if it would resonate with any of our readers.


Radical, political read with progressive messages that we all need reminders of, but not a buy for my library.

Banned Book Club was a truly remarkable graphic novel memoir. It’s about the 1983 protests lead by college students in South Korea against the military regime who censored, tortured, and murdered protesters. It is based on a true story. This story brought back a lot of memories from the few years I lived in South Korea because I literally remember my older teacher colleagues telling me about the country’s history of protests. This graphic novel depicted what I learned, and it felt surreal reading it again. I love how simple the pictures were and how easy it was to follow the author’s story. What made an even bigger impression on me is that the story is based on the author’s own story. I will definitely add this to my classroom to expose students to Asian history and show them the importance of freedom of speech and how easy it is to lose it - such an important lesson in today's political climate. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Banned Book Club is a graphic novel based on actual political rebellion that took place in Korea. Hyun Sook is eager to go to college and learn new things. She is shocked by the abundance of political protests that occur on campus. She attempts to stay out of the politics, but soon realizes that the political struggles run deeper than she ever imagined. Hyun Sook is invited to join a book club and is eager to participate because she is a literature major. Only after she arrives does she realize that the club is a banned book club and she could be arrested for participating. Although she is initially resistant to the idea of participating in the club, after a discussion in one of her literature classes, Hyun Sook decides that the political themes addresses by the banned book club are important to her.

This book will appeal to young readers that are interested in politics, particularly global politics. In addition, the graphic novel/comic format will draw readers that prefer this format.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#IronCircusComics #NetGalley #BannedBookClub

I love when graphic novels teach me about things I didn’t know, and that’s exactly what this one did. The manga art style worked seamlessly with the plot. I didn’t necessarily need the final chapter, but I enjoyed this a lot.

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.