In South Korea, not many people celebrated Christmas in the 1980s. It was the perfect time for a group of college students to go hiking in the mountains. But when their organizer, Hoon, is stopped in the street and arrested for listening to banned music, the group members are forced to go without him.
They end up on the mountain with nothing but potatoes for food. Not everyone has the right equipment for a night in the cold and snow. Despite the missteps, everyone is excited to have a night away from the oppression of their everyday lives.
Hyun Sook isn’t sure how to move forward after Hoon is arrested. He was trying to pass along the leadership of the banned book club to her. She’s not sure she wants that responsibility. Even though some of the rules are relaxed, there’s still a curfew and people are still being arrested for small infractions.
As the night wears on, secrets are shared and friendships are forged. Christmas is a time for magic.
No Rules Tonight is the graphic novel that follows Banned Book Club. Hyun grows over the course of both installments. She’s hesitant to share books that are banned because it’s not safe. Many in the group have secrets that are not safe. It’s hard to imagine a society with curfews and people being jailed over the types of music they’re listening to. As a reader, I can’t help but cheer on the characters when they find the courage to be themselves in a safe environment. I loved having the epilogue.
From the creators of Banned Book Club comes a young adult graphic novel about unveiling secrets, confessing your crushes, and finding yourself: all in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve.
It's time for the annual winter camp at Anjeon University. A full weekend, deep in the mountains, with no parental supervision. But this is no ordinary getaway. It is 1980s South Korea where the police are always watching and even the slightest bit of self-expression can lead to arrest. Luckily, it's the only night of the year when generations of Korean had no curfew, no obligations, and no rules: Christmas Eve.
In the snowy mountains, everyone has a different plan for their one night of freedom. Hyun Sook is trying to restart her banned book club but has to hide from a boy she suspects of being a spy. Taehee and Kiwoo are trying to build up the nerve to confess their feelings for one another, while Suji pines after her crush, ready to risk it all and finally tell someone the secret she's been hiding for her entire life.
Acclaimed creators Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada deliver a cinematic, hilarious, and heartfelt story about the universality of growing up, making friends, and falling in love.