Visitations - by Corey Egbert

About the Book

"Corey's mom has always made him feel safe. Especially after his parents' divorce, and the dreaded visitations with his dad begin. But as Corey grows older, he can't ignore his mother's increasingly wild accusations. Her insistence that God has appointed Corey as his sister's protector. Her declaration that Corey's father is the devil. Soon, she whisks Corey and his sister away from their home and into the boiling Nevada desert. There, they struggle to survive with little food and the police on the trail. Meanwhile, under the night sky, Corey is visited by a flickering ghost, a girl who urges him to fight for a different world"--

Book Synopsis

Inspired by true events, this haunting yet hopeful young adult graphic novel weaves together family dynamics, mental illness, and religion--perfect for fans of Hey, Kiddo.

Corey's mom has always made him feel safe. Especially after his parents' divorce, and the dreaded visitations with his dad begin. But as Corey grows older, he can't ignore his mother's increasingly wild accusations. Her insistence that God has appointed Corey as his sister's protector. Her declaration that Corey's father is the devil.

Soon, she whisks Corey and his sister away from their home and into the boiling Nevada desert. There, they struggle to survive with little food and the police on the trail. Meanwhile, under the night sky, Corey is visited by a flickering ghost, a girl who urges him to fight for a different world--one outside of his mother's spoon-fed tales, one Corey must find before it's too late.

Drawing inspiration from his own upbringing in the Mormon church, Corey Egbert welcomes readers on an emotionally stirring, nuanced journey into the liminal spaces between imagination and memory, faith and truth.

Review Quotes

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews 150 Most Anticipated Books of the Fall
A Junior Library Guild Selection

★ "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 . . . Nuanced and real; impressive and valuable." --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

★ "[A] searing graphic novel memoir . . . 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." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

★ "A haunting, complex memoir about religion, mental illness and broken families." --BookPage, STARRED REVIEW

"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." --Booklist

"An empathic, nuanced look at difficult family dynamics and mental illness that YA readers will connect with . . . 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." --School Library Journal

"Using a cleverly mutable, limited palette of corals, peach, and dusky navy, Egbert warms and cools the narrative's tone as needed, extending sincere gentleness to both the characters and readers of this semi-autobiographical graphic novel. The simple artistic style and flowing, cozy linework, using Japanese brush pens and Sharpie, commendably balance the complexity of a child's experiences with a parent's mental illness with themes of religious and parental abuse. Corey's story is an excellent fit for any high schooler who likes their comics on the contemplative, compassionate side." --BCCB

"Visitations is a skillfully drawn and heartfelt reminder that stories are every bit as complicated as the people who tell them." --Ethan M. Aldridge, New York Times-bestselling creator of Estranged

About the Author

Corey Egbert is an illustrator based in Virginia. He believes in creating imaginative and hopeful art that empowers young people to make their world better. He lives with his wife, son, and three cats in a little house by the woods.