Review By: Liz Geist
Published: 2024
Genre(s): Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Mental Health, Religion
Audience: Grades 11–12
Content Warnings: Sexual assault, mental illness, religious extremism, kidnapping
Goodreads Link: Visitations
Summary:
Based on true events from author Corey Egbert’s life, Visitations follows a teenage boy caught between loyalty to his mother and the truth about her mental illness. After his parents’ divorce, Corey’s mother convinces him that his father is evil, and one day, she kidnaps Corey and his sister, taking them on what she calls an “adventure” guided by God. As reality unravels, a spirit visitation helps Corey see beyond the lies and find a way home.
Review:
Visitations by Corey Egbert is a deeply personal and unsettling graphic novel exploring faith, trauma, and truth through the eyes of a teenage boy. Egbert blends vivid, expressive art with powerful storytelling that captures the disorientation of living under the influence of a parent’s paranoia and delusion.
The book’s emotional intensity lies in its honesty. Readers witness Corey’s internal conflict as his love for his mother clashes with the growing awareness that her beliefs and actions are dangerous. The inclusion of a ghostly guide adds a symbolic layer of hope and healing amid despair.
While the story is haunting and beautifully illustrated, its mature themes including mental illness, religious extremism, and implied abuse make it suitable only for older teens and adults. It is a challenging but impactful read that raises important questions about faith, family, and recovery from trauma.
