No Rules Tonight: A Graphic Novel

by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada (illustrator)

From the creators of Banned Book Club comes a young adult graphic novel about unveiling secrets, confessing your crushes, and finding yourself: all in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve.

It's time for the annual winter camp at Anjeon University. A full weekend, deep in the mountains, with no parental supervision. But this is no ordinary getaway. It is 1980s South Korea, where political tensions are high and curfew is strict. Luckily, it’s the only night of the year when Koreans have no curfew, no obligations, and no rules. Christmas Eve.

In the snowy mountains, everyone has a different plan for their one night of freedom. Hyun Sook is trying to restart her banned book club but has to hide from a boy she suspects of being a spy. Taehee and Kiwoo are trying to build up the nerve to confess their feelings for one another, while Sujji pines after her crush, ready to risk it all and finally tell someone the secret she’s been hiding for her entire life.

Acclaimed creators Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada deliver a cinematic, hilarious, and heartfelt story about the universality of growing up, making friends, and falling in love.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Comics, LGBT, Historical

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Kim Hyun Sook was born in Changwon, South Korea. She became a member of a banned book club in the 1980s while studying English Language and Literature. She has co-written comics for websites including The Nib and Oh Joy Sex Toy and she translated Lady Rainicorn's dialogue for Adventure Time comics. She now runs a new banned book club in Busan, where she lives with her husband and her cat, Dog Baby.

Reviews

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this e-ARC!
this book has so many layers. it's so informative yet still fun and cute. I definitely want to read Banned Book Club soon too!

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in South Korea in the early 1980s, this comic follows up Banned Book Club in which college student Hyun Sook discovered a friend group of students reading books deemed illegal and dangerous by the government. During South Korea's Fifth Republic, a military regime, students could be beaten or jailed for owning banned books. But even under an authoritarian government, college students are still college students: learning, growing, questioning their identities, looking for trouble, romance, and ways to subvert the rules. Set on a camping trip during winter break, this book follows a group of students, including Hyun Sook, with conflicting motivations and interests as they decide who to trust and who they want to become. A timely story about the power of art, literature, theater, and community to resist fascism. Despite the real danger, it's full of humor and deeply human moments. I had the chance to read this book ahead of its release- look for it on shelves in early October!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting! No Rules Tonight is a YA graphic novel memoir about growing up under dictatorial rule in 1980's South Korea. It captures what it was like to be a young person dealing with curfews, banned books that could put you in prison, fear of government plants in community groups, and mandatory military service. But it's also about friendship, young love, and having adventures. The author says at the beginning that she took four years of experiences going on trips with a traditional musical theater club and condensed them into a single narrative. It's entertaining at times, but also informative in an interesting way that would be accessible to teens. I do recommend it! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know how the creators of this graphic novel memoir did it, but they managed to make the account of college-aged friends oppressed by South Korea's former brutal regime into quite a fun and heartwarming romp. While the graphic novel does not shy away in words or images about the actual torture one of the friends faces for being caught in public not singing the national anthem at the daily appointed time (and for his past involvement in reading and disseminating banned books, as related in Banned Book Club - the quite cartoony drawing style somewhat softens the blow.

I think the thing I took away from this is that even within an oppressive regime, there is always room for friendship, resistance, creativity, art, and fun.

Strong recommend.

Also just realized that the author and the artist are married and they seem adorable!!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Netgalley ARC* (Thank you!)

So let's talk about how the last page of this book, plus the author's note at the end, had me literally tearing up in a coffee shop. As a librarian, I'm very passionate about defending the freedom to read. This graphic novel deals heavily with the very real reality of what it meant to live under a military regime in South Korea and how, years later, democracy won out and things changed. The Brown Bear call out hit hard. Talking about how those who don't bother to read what they ban or bother being educated have no place in making the decisions that they do. The fact that, here in the United States, we are facing increasing challenges to freedoms that are supposed to be enshired by first amendment rights... well this book just - wow. I think it's really important, now more than ever, that these stories continued to be shared. I still whole-heartedly believe that we can learn from history and that our youth, in reading these stories, can learn and help to correct the wrongs of current generations that are in power.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ "The world tells me I'm not useful unless I'm producing. But the world doesn't change unless I'm fighting. And if I can't fight, I don't know what to do. But I can't stop doing something."

Ehhh this was just fine? Too chaotic to enjoy.

I had a hard time following the characters because there were so many of them and yet all lacked depth. None were likeable enough for me to be emotionally invested either, though I did enjoy the budding romance between the two girls.

I guess I was expecting something more serious and insightful considering the setting, but the book is the exact opposite and focuses on a single night away from all that.

👩🏻 cherreading mood: Think matcha, Starbucks and me-time on a chill Friday night.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I really enjoyed this; I loved banned book club and this kind of takes off where that story left off. I really like this blend of memoir with fictional elements, and this book is so timely for it's conversations around censorship, regime, and book banning connects more broadly to suppression of labor rights.

[D.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The world tells me I'm not useful unless I'm producing. But the world doesn't change unless I'm fighting. And if I can't fight, I don't know what to do. But I can't stop doing something."

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in South Korea during the 1980's and very eye-opening. I love that it covers various young adults from all walks of life and how those lives are affected by the government. Thought-provoking with just enough humor mixed in to make it not be too heavy

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75, and not exactly what I was expecting.

While the topics here are really serious and interesting, and the story is quite informative in that way, the upbeat tone chosen to tell it was actually a bit off putting for me, as it didn't seem able to focus in the important stuff. So even though our characters seem to be college kids, the whole graphic novel felt quite too young and immature at times, and all the meaningful topics, treated in a very superficial way.

Quite fun, still, but not something I would widely recommend, or that I will be thinking about in a short while, I don't think.

[Niina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim Hyun Sookin omaelämäkerrallinen No Rules Tonight on Marjane Satrapin Persepoliksen veroinen teos. On joulu 1984 Etelä-Koreassa, jossa lähes neljäkymmentä vuotta kestänyt ulkonaliikkumiskielto on nostettu vasta muutama vuosi aikaisemmin. Keskiössä on historiallisten tanssien opiskelijaseura, joka esittää muinaisia näytelmiä. Pinnan alla kuplii kuitenkin kapina systeemiä vastaan. Osa teoksen henkilöistä on myös sateenkaarevia.

Samankaltaista luettavaa:

- Raina Telgemeier: Drama
- Kathy MacLeod: Continental Drifter
- Trung Le Nguyen: The Magic Fish
- Keum Suk Gendry-Kim: Grass
- Thi Bui: The Best We Could Do
- Robin Ha: Almost American Girl
- George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott & Harmony Becker: They Called Us Enemy
- Laura Gao: Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American
- Sarah Myer: Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story
- Jake Halpern & Michael Sloan: Welcome to the New World

[Lucifer "Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. A lot happens over the course of one trip that a group of kids take together, but that's because this specific trip was actually an amalgamation of 4 years worth of trips.

The art in it is ridiculously cute. I loved seeing the Hangeul in it, because it gave me a real organic opportunity to practice which I'm always excited about. But that's just my own selfish desire there.

I've made it my mission recently to read a lot about socio-political-economic theory, and this graphic novel does kind of tick that box. It's about a group of kids that take a trip together to a cabin in the mountains for a night of freedom under dictatorial rule. It's so interesting to see that it really is a universal experience to desire freedom, even if in small ways, like the freedom to read whatever book you want, or the freedom to play a song, or to perform a play that's politically charged. These were freedoms that weren't guaranteed to South Koreans as recently as the 80s!

There's not a single thing that I can think of that I didn't like about the graphic novel. The art absolutely sells it, the story is heartwarming and inspiring. I can't wait to read "Banned Book Club" after this.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC through NetGalley.

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.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense graphic memoir about Hyun Sook's weekend adventure with her dance camp. As the group of teens head up the mountain in the 1980s of South Korea, everyone is nervous as their club leader has been arrested for listening to communist propaganda music and no one is prepared for the hiking trip. Hyun Sook is extremely nervous because she is carrying a banned book and plans to take over the banned book club next year. It is filled with awkward and heartfelt moments, and a group of teens realizing that the world isn't the way they want it to be, but they're going to try and change it. It is filled with hope and good and positivity for the future. Delightful colorful illustrations add an upbeat feel to this book.

[Wendy MacArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kelli Krystne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! I loved the illustrations and I learned so much. I had no idea what it was like living in South Korea in the 80’s under dictatorship. I live in America and I genuinely felt guilty for not being more grateful that I am not someone who has to deal with these issues. I am so happy for the people of South Korea as they no longer have to deal with life like it was in the 80s. I loved all of the people in the book and thought they were so amazing for being apart of their club during that time.

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1980s South Korea, where political tensions are high and curfew is strict. Luckily it’s time for the annual winter camp at Anjeon University - a full weekend, deep in the mountains, with no supervision.

In the snowy mountains, everyone has different plans for their one night of freedom but of course, everything doesn’t always go as planned. Hyun Sook is dying to figure out how to get her banned book club back up and running, Taehee and Kiwoo are trying to build up their nerve to confess their feelings for one another, while Sujji pines after her crush, ready to risk it all and finally tell someone her biggest secret she’s been keeping secret her whole life.

How will this weekend of freedom end for these university students?

I immediately picked this graphic novel up when I saw it was from the same creators of Banned Book Club and I’m glad I did - learned even more about 1980s South Korea than before. It’s kind of crazy the desire everyone has for freedom, even in the smallest ways. I can’t imagine really having restrictions on something like when I’m allowed to be out and about from my house (even if I don’t usually leave after I get home from work), or what music I can listen to or books I’m allowed to read. Some of these freedoms weren’t given to South Koreans until as recently as just forty-five years ago.

Overall, this is a cutely drawn historical graphic novel that still brings up the timely issues around censorship, regime, and even labor rights. This is bound to bring up a look into the history of South Korea and politics and policies that are trying to be formed today.

*Thank you Penguin Workshop and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[bibliophile [semi ia] · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no

[Morton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming of age | Authentic characters | Character driven (Appeal terms from NoveList) - Hilary

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[fanboyriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ 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.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for this eARC in exchange for a review.

Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧💧💧💧 (4/5)
POV: Graphic Novel
Release Date: 01, October 2024
Rep: Korean (Main and Side Characters), LGBTQIA+ (Side Characters)

⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Ableism and Violence
Moderate: War, Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Torture, Homophobia, and Misogyny

[Kass D · Rating 3 out of 5]

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”

[EB · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "LGBT" tag on this book is misleading. There *are* 2 LGBTQ+ characters (who ultimately hook up! yay!!) but this isn't an LGBTQ+ story. Instead it's a fairly... stark? brutal? visitation to 1980s South Korea, which was more of a police state than I realized... It's also a semi-autobiographical story, I think?

Only kept reading b/c it's pretty short and I *kind of* wanted to know how it would end. It was OK. I had a difficult time keeping all the characters apart (even tho I bookmarked the page that listed all of them in the beginning of the book!) so I spent a lot of time feeling kind of lost and confused. I enjoyed the glimpse into a different culture / country / decade, tho. Even tho I also think there were cues I missed b/c of my limited understanding of South Korean culture and history.

Passages I bookmarked:

Page 59: Hoon (the club's director) was arrested for listening to "Muljeom Juso," a banned album. A character says, "The lyrics are just 'give me water' over and over. But the government is so afraid of people rising up that you can get in trouble just for singing about wanting what you need to live.

Page 108: Relationship advice! "It's not about how cool you are. It's about how you make the other person feel about themself. Just feeling listened to can make someone love themself. And love you for making them feel that way."

Page 164: "I heard that sometimes ppl who stir up drama and spread gossip do it to boost their own self-esteem. Maybe they don't realize that it actually pushes away more meaningful connections than it creates . I heard that sometimes people don't even like to do it. They just want to impress someone else that they like. But maybe if they talked about their feelings instead of others' secrets , they'd have more luck."

Page 182: "You can't let your education be decided by the ignorant!"

Pages 202-203: "Life is never perfect, but in the years since, it's become a lot easier to be free." "Because we refused to be anyone but ourselves... and let society change itself to keep up."

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi Again!

I did accomplish my 7 books in a week challenge I set for myself last week, I was able to read a variety of graphic novels, manga, audiobooks, Kindle books, and more. One of the graphic novels I picked up during my 7 books challenge was an E-ARC copy of No Rules Tonight an upcoming graphic novel (thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). So without further ado, let’s jump into this new graphic novel!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Hyun Sook lives in South Korea during a very tumultuous time. There are super strict rules about what you can read, listen to, and how to live life in general. However, Hyun Sook is about to go on a trip to the mountains with a club she is in. While Hyun Sook is unable to trust everyone in the group she is excited to get away from all the rules and pressures and maybe do some forbidden reading. It’s going to be a night of freedom for all and everyone could not be more excited. From the start of the trip, things do not go as planned and stuff gets weirder as things go on, but maybe they can still make this trip a night of freedom in some ways.

I learned so much from this graphic novel. I was a history major in my undergrad but I never really had the opportunity to learn much about Korean history. As an adult I got to learn a bit about South Korea but never the history of the country. I feel like this graphic novel did a great job of teaching about some of the history and daily life of people in the country during a tough time. I also really loved all the illustrations and colors that came alive on the pages. This graphic novel comes out on October 1st, 2024.

Goodreads Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 because I can not do half stars on Goodreads).

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had Christmas Eve to do whatever you want, what would you do?

In the 1980s, the police in South Korea were constantly monitoring the public, making it difficult for people to express themselves freely without the risk of being arrested. The one exception was Christmas Eve, the only day of the year when everyone could do as they pleased without fear of repercussions. During this time, a group of students from Anjeon University is making plans for a getaway in the mountains. Hyun Sook is taking charge of her friends' banned book club, and Suji and others are summoning the courage to confess their feelings to their loved ones. How will this Christmas Eve Getaway unfold?

The book provided me with a glimpse into life in 1980s South Korea, revealing the harsh realities that I had been unaware of. It effectively captured the emotions of the people during that era and offered valuable insights into Korean culture.
I found Hyun Sook to be a relatable character, and I wished the story had given her more prominence. Suji, a hardworking young lady, evoked my sympathy due to her challenging circumstances. Yuni, on the other hand, came across as a laid-back individual.
I recommend this book to history enthusiasts who appreciate narratives that elicit feelings of nostalgia.

Pub Date: October 1, 2024

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @netgalley & @penguinworkshop, for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Review ✨ No Rules Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook; Illustrated by Ryan Estrada

Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Made by the creators of Banned Book Club, this graphic novel brings us to 1980s South Korea. It's set in a police state where someone is always watching and there are fears of the peace, of spies, of the military, and more.

Hyun Sook and her college performance club at Anjeon University are headed to the mountains for a full weekend to hike and camp and live without supervision. While there aren't adults around, there's still a lot of fear and uncertainty. Eventually, the students explore their identity, make new friendships and strengthen old ones, and pursue their crushes.

The book mixes sweet coming of age feelings with the really intense feelings of fear of individuality, queerness, and exploring banned books and ideas. I really enjoyed reading this and thought the narration from different POVs and the colorful art styles brought this to life.

This is perfect for YA audience, and even perhaps older middle grades audiences ready to explore political suppression and book banning, and definitely can still be appreciated by adult readers. Kudos to these two for delivering again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: YA graphic novel, historic fiction
Setting: South Korea, 1980s
Reminds me of: Kim Hyun Sook's previous book, but a bit lighter and brighter
Pub Date: Oct 01 2024

Read this if you...:
⭕️ like coming of age stories
⭕️ enjoy learning about South Korean history and culture
⭕️ can handle the tension of political and police suppression
⭕️ love graphic novels

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 (rounded up to 5)

CW: police brutality, violence

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book as part of my duties as a CYBILS Awards judge. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this sequel-adjacent to Kim Hyun Sook's Banned Book Club, No Rules Tonight tells of a fictionalized account of Kim Hyun Sook's experiences with her college folk dance troupe as they take their annual Christmas Eve trip to Suri Mountain.

While readers don't get much of Kim Hyun Sook's personal background in fighting against censorship efforts in No Rules Tonight, this book does take the time to dive into the hopes and dreams of young people living under a dictatorship as they go about their one night of "freedom". You do get a better sense of connection with the characters and even the anti-censorship message still lingers in this book despite not having as much of a presence compared to Banned Book Club.

I think books like these are so important in times like these and I hope you do get the chance to read No Rules Tonight and/or Banned Book Club. Not only do these stories tell us of our past, they also shine a light on how we can fight against injustice.

[Julesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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!

[TheNurturingLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Penguin Workshop, Kim Hyun Sook; Ryan Estrada and Netgalley for access to theis free digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This graphic novel is a gem. The combination of coming of age in a story set in 1980s South Korea on Christmas Eve is just not something that you would expect but it is just what you need if you are looking for a different kind of holiday heart warming tale.

I have tried to become more aware of my own bias toward stories that reflect my own lived experience and widen my horizons with books that give me the opportunity to learn about others' lived experiences and rejoice when there is room for more diverse stories to be told and POVs to be appreciated. The world is so big but smaller when we take the time to learn about each other.

Told in colorful panels over a brief period of time a diverse group of South Korean teenagers is free to roam about on Christmas Eve (wonder why? you'll have to read to find out.) The separate but interrelated plots involve very real human joy and pain and you will leave this story after 208 pages but it will not leave you.

A nod to a love of and right to read whatever we want, this graphic novel is not to be missed.