Description

Palimpsest is a powerful graphic memoir by Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom that delves deep into the complex emotions surrounding adoption, particularly focusing on her own experience as an adoptee from South Korea. In the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of South Korean children were adopted by families around the globe, with more than nine thousand finding their new homes in Sweden. Lisa, who was adopted at the tender age of two, recounts her struggle to fit into the predominantly homogeneous Swedish culture during her formative years.

Throughout her childhood, Lisa faced the recurring message to suppress her innate curiosity about her origins. ‘Be thankful,’ she was often told, as if her life in Sweden was inherently better than what she might have experienced in Korea. Like many adoptees, she learned to bury her feelings of abandonment, grappling with her identity and the narratives imposed upon her.

The memoir takes a poignant turn when Lisa becomes pregnant with her first child. During this transformative period, she discovers a document that reveals the names of her biological parents. This revelation sparks a profound internal conflict, forcing her to confront the discrepancies between the story she had been told her entire life—that she was an orphan without a background—and her newfound understanding of her history.

As Lisa embarks on a journey back to Korea, revisiting the orphanage where she spent her early years, she uncovers a truth that is far more intricate than the simplistic narrative of adoption as a purely humanitarian act. The memoir challenges the notion of who truly owns the story of an adoption. Through her compelling illustrations, characterized by beautiful autumnal tones and a clear-line style, Lisa invites readers to reflect on the deeper implications of her journey and the broader context of adoption.

In Palimpsest, Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom not only shares her personal story but also opens up a dialogue about the stories that adoptees inherit, the challenges they face in understanding their identities, and the often unacknowledged truths of adoption. The graphic memoir serves as a reflection on the past and a beacon for future conversations surrounding adoption, identity, and belonging.

This beautifully illustrated journey captivates readers, drawing them into the emotional landscape of adoption and the profound questions it raises. With each page, the memoir invites us to consider our own perceptions of family, history, and the narratives that shape our understanding of who we are.