Visitations

by Corey Egbert

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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Mental Health, Comics, Religion, Realistic Fiction, Family

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, too, often wonder how much of my childhood was real. The longer I think about it, the more gaps I find, the more holes I find in my memories, the more broken I feel about the cards I was dealt.

While I cannot fully understand this experience Corey had with his mother, so much of it resonates with me. My mother, to my knowledge, has not been diagnosed with any mental illnesses (mostly because she does not believe in mental health). She has, however, been addicted to drugs likely longer than I have been alive. She filled our heads with so much nonsense but not because she thought that god knew what was best for us or that god was right, but because *she* thought she knew what was best for us, what was right. I never questioned her. Even when I should have. She could lie to my face, she could bully me worse than my peers, she could put her hands on me, she could threaten me, she could say or do whatever she wanted and somehow had the power to make me feel like she was always right, I was always wrong, and it was always my fault. The day that I finally took that power away from her is the day I truly got to start my life; and I only wish that I could have done it sooner.

She made sure that we never had a normal or consistent life. She made sure that we only had friends that she approved of, only contacted family members that she liked (these I could count on one hand. I wasn't even allowed to be upset about the passing of my grandmother in 2021.), only listened to music she liked (if you're wondering why I'm so loud about my love of Taylor Swift at my grown age, it is because I had to spend so much of my youth loving her in secret), only watched shows she liked and approved of, only had political beliefs that aligned with hers, this list goes on and on and on (and yes, the minute you challenged any of that--all hell broke loose). What I'm getting at here, is that reading this and seeing the control and power that Corey's mother held over him and his sister felt so painfully familiar to me that I had to set this down several times just to cry a little. Having a parent like this is so, so hard. Sometimes I don't know that there is enough Prozac or therapy in this world for me to ever truly be free from that woman. And it is because of that that I am so SO thankful that books such as this one exist. I hope that this book finds its way into the hands of kids who have to deal with anything like what we did so that they can realize that their normal is not actually normal, so that they can know that they are not alone, so that they can find and access resources to help them. I did not get my life back until I was in my 20s, and I have spent so much of the last few years beating myself up for not taking back my power sooner than I did, feeling so foolish that I was unable to see my mother for who she was, mourning the life that I could have had.

That being said, I am truly so happy about where I am now. Hell, I read this book for a class for a masters degree that will help me be able to get books like this in the hands of kids that need them. And I think that is really cool.

Yeah, no one asked for me to have a cry-fest/pity-party about my trauma on goodreads, but I definitely can't put all (or any?) of this in my assignment for this book so I've gotta put it somewhere. This book is beautiful in every way, and I know that I'm going to be thinking about it for a really really long time. Sufferers of abusive parents and/or religious trauma--this one is for you (if you like feeling seen, that is).

[Annabel Nied · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately a little too apologetic towards Mormonism. Couldn’t help but read this and think about the Mormon kids who got abducted and killed by their mom and adoptive dad in a very similar situation—Corey is genuinely very lucky to have survived this. I understand that this is a memoir but the situation felt absolutely horrifying and I would not really recommend it to children or as a coming-of-age story, specifically because the gravity of the situation doesn’t really get acknowledged, nor does the role of religious indoctrination.

TLDR: I think this story might have needed a little more religious deprogramming before being marketed to kids :-/

[olivia 𖧷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this at like 12am so i was super tired. imagined this all animated, very vivid ☠️

[Christine Indorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know how to explain this graphic novel. It is based off of the author life as their mother suffered from mental illness takes her children away from their Dad saying he is sexually abusing them. Through her religious beliefs she brain wash them into believing this. The book gets weird and it could have been a better book than what it was. It lost me towards the end. Its sad to think this really did happen in real life. The children lived in a car for weeks and no one did anything about it especially the Mother family. Just a sad story that I don't think I would want my teen to read. 3 Stars.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a lot of things to relate to in this book, even if most of the experiences described were pretty different from my own. I didn’t really like the fantasy scene at the climax of the story, and it felt a little trite, but Egbert stuck there landing regardless.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good, but a very emotionally rough read.

[McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visitations is a graphic novel inspired by true events, exploring themes of mental health, religion, and family trauma. Corey has faith—faith in his Heavenly Father and faith in his mother, both of which he believes would never lead him astray. However, Corey begins to question everything when he, his sister, and mother suddenly find themselves living in their car, on the run from the police.

I had a religious upbringing, and while I am grateful for having gained my best friend through that experience, I have mixed feelings about my time actively attending and being involved in all things related to religion. Considering the experiences of close friends who were involved in the same church, I wouldn’t classify what I went through as religious trauma. However, I have found that my views have changed significantly over the years. This has become even more complicated now that I have a child. Every Christmas feels like a minefield of uncertainty as I try to figure out how, or if, to introduce religion. As my child gets older, I feel an increasing pressure to have these conversations. And now that we live in the Bible Belt, there’s a chance someone else might beat me to it. All of this has led me to find myself drawn to autobiographies and memoirs that explore struggles with religion and the reevaluation of faith.

Visitations covers several triggering topics, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading. However, it’s a story that is important to share. Corey’s struggle with faith is something I can deeply empathize with. As an adult, it’s clear that his mother’s battle with mental health is more than she can handle on her own. But as a child, you believe your parents can do no wrong. The graphic novel format is the perfect medium to tell this story, as the illustrations effectively convey the uncertainty and emotional turmoil that Corey grapples with. The note from the author at the end brings the story back to reality, and the real-life photos provide a complete picture of the characters we've come to know in the book. I look forward to displaying this title at the library.

Visitations is out December 17th, 2024.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visitations is a graphic novel based on Corey Egbert’s childhood. It deals with difficult topics such as divorce, faith and questioning religion — specifically the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and mental illness. Egbert is vulnerable in sharing the stories he experienced when he was younger and navigates complex situations and events. I think this novel though maybe not a comfortable read for some people, is an important voice about family dynamics that don’t always look like the perfect Latter Day Saint picture.
#NetGalleyARC

[Kassy Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I didn't intend to, but I read this in one sitting. I just couldn't stop. I stayed up way too late, and now I am very tired at work the next day. This story is incredibly powerful and so well done. I was in tears by the end.

One caveat: I definitely thought there were going to be aliens. There were no aliens.

[Miz P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful touching story of a young teen trying to believe in what he is told. I loved the reflection and the inspiration from true events

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartrending AND hopeful at the same time. It was so sensitively done. I was absolutely riveted from page one.

[Claudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense read. This memior is based off the authors real life experience of him and his sister being kidnapped by his mother. Its tragic and I feel like it the ending could've delved deeper into how messed up their living situation was for kids as young as them. The author is sympathetic to his moms mental illness, which is fair like ay its his own mom. But wow as an outside viewer it was heartbreaking to read. I went into this book thinking it was about a boy dealing with his parents divorce, but its much deeper than that so fair warning before starting. Great read! Glad the author made a name for himself in the publishing world despite starting out with a rough childhood.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corey Egbert's childhood memoir hits you right in the gut as you watch young Corey slowly realize that maybe his mother's proclamations and demands don't actually stem from reality. The author does a remarkable job of holding back that reality so that you, the reader, experience realizations along a similar timeline as Corey (though, of course, going into the book, you know that something will be off).

Corey and his sister are being raised by their mother after an acrimonious divorce - so much so that Corey and his sister aren't allowed to speak to their father during periodic visitations. Corey's mother is deeply religious, which means that Corey is too. He lacks friends, though, and is denying any of his more...indecent feelings about the other sex. Still, he has his drawings!

But then his mother abruptly decides to uproot the family and, well, things go downhill from there. Like, really downhill. The author expertly portrays these dark times in both the artwork and the pacing, revving the book up into a big conclusion.

That is, with the exception of the lengthy sequence where Corey discusses his life and views with a mysterious ghostly visitor. An afterward explains that this was a real(ish) moment for Corey, but in the book it feels like a heavy-handed dream sequence. Every other element of Visitations is great though! Highly recommended, so long as you have 1 to 2 hours to devote to the book because you won't be able to put it down.

[Andrea Beatriz Arango]

I might be on a graphic novel memoir kick 🤭

This rec came from @richmondcomix & boy did it deliver. If you're near the Richmond, VA area you really do need to check them out!

Anyways, VISITATIONS is for you (or a teen in your life) if you're looking for a memoir about:

🚗 parental kidnapping
🚗 very religious upbringings
🚗 undiagnosed mental health issues
🚗 complicated family dynamics
🚗 faith-related shame

Lots of trigger warnings for this one, obviously, including CSA, so take care while reading 🫂.

[Alyvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woah. This book was way deeper, powerful, and totally different than I expected. The illustrations are stunning, and the story unfolded in such an ethereal way. I loved the ending, especially seeing how the real-life events compared to the story. I saw a lot of my younger self in Corey. Not my typical grab but I enjoyed it.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic memoir highlights just how much children are at the mercy of their parents and/or adults in their lives.

I really appreciated the themes explored here: a sensitive kid, a mentally ill Mom, an estranged Dad, a younger sister, religious factors. The "visitation" section felt strange, but I liked the illustration style and the author sticks the landing.

[Purl Scout · Rating 4 out of 5]

kids are resilient as fuck

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corey lives with his mom and sister, and has always felt safe with his Mom. But he has to visit his Dad every so often with his sister, and his mom always has him look out for her while they're with Dad, "just in case." Corey's family is Mormon and he feels called upon by God to watch out for her like his mom says, too. But then one night his Mom says they don't have to go to visitation and they hide out first at their home, and then go into hiding, running from his Dad or the police who would turn them in. Corey is ultimately forced to make some hard decisions about his life, what he wants, what he knows to be true, and what is right.

This is a book that is sure to be talked about by a lot of readers. It hits on several themes that you just don't see addressed in young adult literature. It deals with parental kidnapping and alienation, mental health, teenager neglect and abuse, and the role of religion in families. It hit a nerve with me, and I'm 53 years old! The author writes about a parent "prepping" a kid to go to visitation with the other parent, telling him that he can't talk about X, Y, or Z, and then afterwards asking how things went, what did you talk about? Did you talk about me? Did you talk about A, B, or C? It just really, really, really resonated with me, because this was something my own mother did when I was a kid. This was every weekend of my childhood drawn on the page. This is why I am giving this book 5 stars. This book needs to be in the hands of all kids who have single parents / visitation. Let them read this so they know this sort of thing is not okay. That they are not alone.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things went downhill for Corey after his parents divorced. His mother, a strict Mormon, believed their father guilty of molesting Corey's little sister, especially after her own father was convicted of sexual crimes. His mother instructs Corey and his sister not to speak to their father during their once-a-week visitations, but soon even that isn't enough. Claiming that God told her to leave, she takes them on an endless road trip, running from police. But Corey's own visions of God are telling him a different story.

This was a gripping tale that I didn't realize was a memoir until the end. The idea of a visitation had many meanings throughout the story. It was easy to see how Corey's mother would have started to slip given her past (growing up with a sex offender either not knowing or having buried memories of being molested) and her religion, and once they were on the run, the lack of food and security would have caused her behavior to escalate quickly. Corey wanting to trust in his mother and in God was completely understandable, and knowing that this was a true story made it all the more powerful.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corey Egbert's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint. His family begins to crack apart when one of his grandfathers is arrested for SA of a child. His mother, after his sister complains of not wanting her dad to put her to bed because he tickles her, takes this complaint seriously. She divorces him and though she's granted a divorce, they share joint custody. She counsels her children not to talk to their father and for Corey not to leave his sister alone with their dad.
One night, they are set to go for their regular visitation, but their mother doesn't answer the door. The police show up. They wait out the cops and take to the road. Corey wants to trust his mom, to trust that she's following God's plan for their family. Weeks pass. They run out of money, out of food, and Corey's faith in his mother wavers.
This book hit me because of my faith (I'm also LDS), and also because of the way mental illness can warp faith. I appreciated the way Egbert didn't demonize the Church, but also showed how challenging it can be when a parent who you've been taught to trust and obey can no longer be trusted for a time because of the way their mind twists what they believe.
Well worth a read. Does contain discussion of dealing with sexual feelings as a teenage boy, but nothing graphic is depicted or described.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow—what a story. Visitations is a raw and deeply personal graphic memoir about a teen boy, Corey, who spends over a month living in a car with his mom and sister as his mother spirals into a mental health crisis. Fueled by religious delusions and schizophrenia, her breakdown creates an atmosphere of confusion, fear, and emotional manipulation. Corey tries to be a good son, even as his mother gaslights him and his sister, insisting their absent father was abusive—claims that were never substantiated.

The art is exceptional; skillfully rendered, capturing both the surreal and painfully real aspects of this family’s experience. It’s an intimate portrait of mental illness, coming of age, and the difficult space between religious belief and personal truth. This is an honest, unflinching, and courageous work—one that feels both brave to share and, hopefully, healing for its author to have created.

[vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was close to four stars, before the book’s resolution via an angel (or otherworldly creature?) helping him confront his mother. I agree with others, the author does not fully deconstruct the way his mother interprets their religion. Instead, he seems to tie her behaviors solely to mental illness. Even all the anxiety he is pushed into feeling because of his religion, regarding totally normal puberty-related thoughts, made me feel bad for him. It doesn’t really say how the author feels about his religion today. I actually didn’t know this would deal with Mormonism before I started reading. The acknowledgements kind of belittle how traumatic this experience was… but then again, the creator’s mother passed away and that probably affects how he views this part of his childhood, many years on. The art is lovely and I especially enjoyed the coloring.

[Brandy {The Review Booth} · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gutting yet inspirational graphic memoir. I picked this one up without reading anything about it and as many times as I’ve done just that with books I always seem to enjoy the story more. Book synopses help us find books that we think we will enjoy but I’ve found more impactful books by just winging it. I would like to thank Michelle for gifting this copy to me - I don’t believe I would have come across it otherwise.

This book is chock full of what it is to struggle with being human. We all make mistakes and we all have to deal with the fallout of our choices. I highly recommend reading this graphic novel AND going in blind. Thank you Corey for sharing your story with the world - it’s an important one.

[Darth Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was 100% not expecting this to be about Mormons, went in blind. Art was great, but holy Moroni, Mormons/deeply religious folk are batshit insane and, yeah I'm gonna say it, truly evil. For those who haven't been to Utah (namely Happy Valley), you just won't get how utterly, absolutely soul crushingly omnipresent the LDS is there. Glad I lived there long enough to know I would never, ever, ever, ever live there again, beloved Red Rock Desert be damned.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite the graphic novel memoir, written from
a young boys perspective. He and his younger sister dealt with a mentally ill mom that indoctrinated them with some messed up thinking. God “led her” to flee with them and they were eventually starving with no money left. Finally the police found them and they were reconnected with their dad and were able to receive help.

A worthwhile but somewhat hard read!

[Tom Garback]

I love the artwork, and it’s not poorly told, but I’m not interested in a story about the abusive reality of religion from a guy who, flash-forward to now, writes Christian books for kids…denial, much?

[katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and full of religious + motherly trauma.

[Claire is a Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Well written, interesting, and heartfelt. Everything about this story was very well executed and beautiful. It has such a compelling plotline. I cried at the end.

[Maggie Chesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. I can’t believe it’s based on true events as well. Wowowowow

[kiki thelibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5