Graphic Novel Review: The Restorer’s Home

Published by: Ablaze

Written by: Kim Sang-Yeop

Illustrated by: Kim Sang-Yeop

ISBN: 9781684970964

Ages: 15+

Sungwoo Yoo is a student with a very unique ability. He is able to see the souls of objects and use the information they provide to perfectly repair them and restore them to their original glory. You would think that this would be able to earn him all the money he needs to survive, but Sungwoo does not flaunt the skill, instead taking on part time odd jobs to make ends meet.

One day, on his way home from school, Sungwoo is approached by two groups that will change his life forever. The first is a gang who claim that his absent father owes them money. Paying it back with interest will make it right, but he will probably have to sell his grandfather’s mansion estate to do it.. Sungwoo decides to run. This is when he meets Ran, a seemingly odd girl who appears to be in cosplay. She tells him the story of how his father desecrated the burial site of her patron, an ancient Korean King. Since the father promised to restore the tomb, and instead skipped town, the house will now serve as the new tomb.

With life trying to push him from all sides, will Sungwoo be able to conform to his new situation? AND, will his skills as a Restorer continue to grow?

When reading a book like this, it would be easy to mistake it for manga. Manga is Japanese. This is manhwa, which is Korean. Very similar style and context, but different in ways. THE RESTORER’S HOME has many references to Korean history and culture. Kim Sang-Yeop has done a wonderful job in mixing the traditional and the modern in this tale, bringing humor to unite it all together. The amount of research and dedication to getting details correct shows that the author cares as much for his creation as Sungwoo does with his repairs.

Both educational and fun, you’ll definitely enjoy this fun tale and eagerly await subsequent Volumes.

Ages 14+

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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