I did not realize that the book was a graphic novel. It was my first! I was impressed with the artistry and depictions; it was easy to read. I learned more than I ever needed to know about ginseng, but there was much that I didn't know, such as the fact that Wisconsin is considered to be the ginseng capital, and how difficult it is to farm and raise ginseng successfully. Craig Thompson did a masterful job of portraying the struggles of growing up in a very conservative family that expected all members to work on the farm. He later traveled to China, South Korea, and Laos to learn about improvements in ginseng farming. Ginseng is in much greater demand there.