Gr 9 Up-It's 1983 in South Korea, and Hyun Sook is on her way to her hard-won first day at college. Excited to study literature, she dodges her mother's arguments about the safety and necessity of schooling, but at school, she's greeted by violent demonstrations. Though she tries to ignore the students protesting President Chun's totalitarian regime, Hyun Sook starts to realize that the art and literature she loves are hardly apolitical. When she accepts an invitation to attend a seemingly benign book club that turns out to focus on banned books, her political awakening begins and she becomes involved with the underground student rebels. Husband and wife team Kim and Estrada walk readers through a complicated story, based on Kim's experiences as a young activist. Intermittent scenes of friendship and romance lighten a heavy narrative that features several depictions of police interrogating and torturing students. While the text is didactic at times, the superb storytelling and artwork keep pages turning. The black-and-white line artwork pairs deftly with the text. Ko plays with proportions, panel size and spacing, and overall style, moving seamlessly from cartoonlike to serious, detailed executions to suit the many moods of the tale. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers passionate about activism or political history, or for those who are simply looking for an excellent comic book. Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

South Korea, 1983-the height of military dictatorship and three years after the infamous Gwangju Uprising. Against this backdrop of political oppression, bookish Hyun Sook defies her parents- wishes and attends Anjeon University, a hotbed of student protest. Initially ignorant of government propaganda and terrified of attracting the attention of authorities, Hyun Sook-s views are slowly challenged after she joins the Banned Book Club and befriends a group of student activists. Her transformation into a pro-democracy activist mirrors the real-life experiences of the author. Kim and Estrada bravely address a period of history little-known outside of South Korea and depict the often-violent consequences of defying an authoritarian regime. Less successful are the moments of levity, which feel jarringly sandwiched between scenes of violence and tension; Ko-s gritty style, marked by deep shadows and sinister rendering of characters- expressions, also feels incongruous with humorous moments. Certain cultural and historical references may be lost on readers less familiar with Korean history, yet the messages of hope are universal, as are the poignant reminders that change can happen when people are willing to speak up. Ages 14-up. (Feb.)