Ginseng Roots: A Memoir, acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson’s first major work since his bestselling Blankets, is set for release on April 29th, 2025. The memoir delves into Thompson’s personal history and intertwines it with the global legacy of the ginseng trade.
Thompson, best known for Blankets, a poignant coming-of-age story that earned him numerous accolades, including two Eisner Awards, returns to autobiographical storytelling in Ginseng Roots. This graphic novel, however, goes beyond a mere personal account; it examines the 300-year history of ginseng cultivation, labor, and global trade.
Set against the backdrop of rural Wisconsin, where Thompson spent his youth working in ginseng fields for a dollar an hour, Ginseng Roots explores themes of agriculture, labor, and family. Thompson recounts his childhood summers spent weeding and harvesting the prized root alongside his siblings. In his signature pen-and-ink style, he weaves together the personal and the historical, tracing the ginseng trade’s roots from its origins in ancient China to the industrial farming practices in the American Midwest.
The graphic novel also delves into the broader implications of the ginseng industry, examining how it has impacted generations of workers, from the indigenous ginseng hunters of China to the migrant laborers of the U.S. Midwest. Through this, Thompson reflects on the changes in labor practices and the broader cultural and environmental shifts that have shaped his own life and his family’s history.
Ginseng Roots: A Memoir is more than just a memoir; it is a deeply immersive work that blends personal narrative with a larger cultural history. Already generating buzz, the book is featured on The Guardian’s “Books to Look Forward to in 2025” and Paste Magazine’s “Most Anticipated Nonfiction Books and Memoirs of 2025” lists, cementing its place as one of the most highly awaited releases of the year.
With Ginseng Roots, Thompson pushes the boundaries of graphic memoir, offering readers a profound exploration of heritage, identity, and the complexities of modern labor. As with Blankets, Thompson’s storytelling prowess is poised to make Ginseng Roots a landmark work in the graphic novel genre.
