With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child (With the Light, #1) by Keiko Tobe

Jun 22, 2008 Sonya S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

I marked this book as "to-read" for fairly personal reasons. As a person with a disabled sister and as someone who provides respite care for families with disabled relatives, this was something that sparked my interest. As far as the art itself is concerned, I felt it fairly standard "manga" fare; large-eyed women, bobble-headed children, flowery/bubbly backgrounds. Clean, certainly. There was a very nice grace that the character designs maintained throughout the novel, and the proportions were...more I marked this book as "to-read" for fairly personal reasons. As a person with a disabled sister and as someone who provides respite care for families with disabled relatives, this was something that sparked my interest. As far as the art itself is concerned, I felt it fairly standard "manga" fare; large-eyed women, bobble-headed children, flowery/bubbly backgrounds. Clean, certainly. There was a very nice grace that the character designs maintained throughout the novel, and the proportions were accurate. Unfortunately, color panels were reproduced in black and white, but this is common enough in manga that it wasn't terribly off-putting for me.

What gripped me more than the art, however, was the story. Throughout it all, I was amazed at the universality of circumstances when raising or working with a mentally disabled child. The story is set in Japan, but it could have easily taken place anywhere. The depictions of Hikaru's autistic behavioral issues was amazingly accurate. The authoress did her homework, and it shows. More poignant for me,however, was how the outside world saw Hikaru, and by extention, his family. To say "I could relate" would be an understatement of massive proportions.

This novel should not be limited to those in the disabled community. It gives a sharp insight into what exactly families with disabled children are going through, an insight that the rest of the world direly needs. One of the themes throughout this book is that all people, especially those with autism, respond more to visual cues. How better, than, to relate such a story than through a graphic novel? The pictures invite a greater understanding through commonality. Because autism is such a difficult subject to comprehend, even for those who do have children with the disorder, this novel gives a very accurate view with image alone.

The only drawback I had with this novel was the amount of love and support the family found. It has been my personal experience that teachers are not quite as lenient, and that strangers are not as understanding. However, this is fiction, so allowances can be made. They family in this graphic novel have it really, really, really good. If I had one wish, it would be that everyone could have that kind of fortune. (less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Synesthesia rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who Care about People with Autism

These have got to be the best books I've read about autism ever. Even better than these sort of scientific kind of things, and books by parents.
It's just so sweet. The way they try to include Hikaru and understand him. It's a book filled with sweetness and compassion and it's best not to read it in public if you are like me and get wet eyes over people being kind to people.

Seriously, Read this book about autism and not age of autism and sites like that. I mean it! Those sort of sites are all neg...more

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Mar 27, 2009 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those unfamiliar with autism; anyone who wants to try manga but is unsure where to start

Shelves: borrowed, manga, graphic-novels

Though fictional, this is an enlightening look at what it is like to raise an autistic child, based on several true stories. Even though it is often frustrating, Hikaru's parents and everyone around him grow tremendously because of their contact with him and his unique way of interacting with the world. Even unpleasant characters are given their own stories and sympathetic moments rather than simply being cruel and unlikable. It is wonderful to see Hikaru grow too, and although there are more vo...more

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Mar 13, 2009 Elizabeth McDonald rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

So... this is a manga (Japanese comic) about autism. Really. That was so unusual that I kind of had to check it out of the library.

I'm not sorry I did, either, aside from the fact that I stayed up too late a few nights this week because I was reading it. The story follows a young Japanese mother as she struggles with raising her first child, both before and after learning that he is autistic. The plot, which focuses on the daily life of the family, is sometimes a bit sappy, but I still found mys...more

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Jan 07, 2009 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: relatives of autistic people and people fond of dramas

Recommended to Rebecca by: my friend Katie

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, comics, modern-earth, relationship-driven

This is proof that I read something other than science fiction and fantasy. With the Light is the story of Sachiko, a newlywed who has her first son, Hikaru. Hikaru is a highly-strung baby and hates to be held and Sachiko can't figure out what's wrong with him until his pediatrician diagnoses him with autism.

The first volume covers Hikaru's life from birth to midway through elementary school. A lot of it resonates with me because my little brother is high-functioning autism, and I ended up givi...more

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Jan 05, 2009 CuriousLibrarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, best-reads-2008

Before I read this book, I thought I just lacked the "manga gene." I love American comics, but Japanese comics were incomprehensible to me. But it turned out I was just reading the wrong genres of manga. This book instantly grabbed me, and wouldn't let go. (Which is not to say that I didn't struggle at all with it, just that it was much easier to follow, and gave me an incentive to figure it out when I had trouble.)

I fell for little Hikaru, and soared when he triumphed and sorrowed for his defea...more

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Sep 14, 2012 C rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-recommend, graphic-novels

This is a Japanese graphic novel (Manga or "Mahn-ja" if you, like me, have always wondered exactly how you should say it). This was set out with other books on autism, in preparation for Temple Grandin's visit next week at the library. I came across it and, having not read Manga for a while and pleased to find it on such a unique subject, snagged it.

There's a heartbreaking honesty to this and it's very well researched. The story is inspired by real people and their experiences with their own aut...more This is a Japanese graphic novel (Manga or "Mahn-ja" if you, like me, have always wondered exactly how you should say it). This was set out with other books on autism, in preparation for Temple Grandin's visit next week at the library. I came across it and, having not read Manga for a while and pleased to find it on such a unique subject, snagged it.

There's a heartbreaking honesty to this and it's very well researched. The story is inspired by real people and their experiences with their own autistic children. Some of those stories are added into the margins and chapter breaks, and some are at the end of the book. She brings up issues that have been related to her by parents... locks on doors, the judgment of poor Mothering skills, children getting lost, doctors misunderstanding the child's behavior, etc.

It is really well done and I liked it enough I tore through most of it in one sitting, then stayed up late to finish and made sure I had the second book handy.

I always think of Autism in context of an American setting. The confusion and difficulty Japanese parents might meet in trying to diagnose and raise an autistic child is clearly laid out here.

One reviewer points out here that these problems are universal. I find myself trying to imagine this same scenario in China, Africa, India... in doing so, I think an interesting companion to this first book in the series might be the movie "Babies" - not because it covers the issue of raising a disabled child, but because it covers the concept of parenthood across a few different cultures and provides food for thought:what would those parents encounter if raising an autistic child?

With the Ligh educates and lends some insight into how an autistic child's mind works. I want a bit more for my own interest's sake, but there are 8 or 9 books in the series, so I'm sure there will be plenty more. In one case, the child sees someone leaning in to talk to him and feels like they are looming over him like giants. In another, he sees the spikes on an aloe plant and to him, they are gigantic. The author explains that autistic children cannot "tune out" certain sounds and "zero in" on others, but that they hear them all as a cacophony. She further explains that autistic children experience the senses differently than others.

I like Manga and like more adult oriented issues. This combines both a good story with education on a topic I'm interested in.
(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Kirstie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, manga, pure-awesome, strong-female-characters, josei-manga

With The Light is an amazing manga about mother, Sachiko Azuma as she raises her autistic son, Hikaru. As you read the manga not only do you enjoy a story full of family pains and triumphs but you also learn a great deal about autism and autistic people.

Sachiko struggles with the diagnoses at first, panicking in response before finally accepting and seeking help to learn what she can do. Her next hurdle is a disinterested and then even ignorant husband. Afterwards she does her best to find Hikar...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Sara Thompson rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was the first graphic novel I have ever found in the parenting section of the library. I thought it was such a cool idea that I picked it up without really looking at what it was about. With the Light is the story of a couple in Japan who has had their first child to find out he has autism. If I understand correctly this is volume 1 and out there somewhere is a volume 2.
This story was amazingly touching. I told my husband it was too hard to read because it made me want to cry. As a par...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Kerfe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, fiction

The graphic novel format works well as the reader is gradually immersed frame by frame in the realization and acceptance of Hikaru Azuma's autism. The diagnosis is resisted by the Azuma family, but acceptance brings help, relief, and a strength they did not know they had.

As they navigate social situations and the already competitve and difficult Japanese education system, the reader learns both about autism and how an autistic child can be accomodated and even integrated into the larger world. A...more

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Nov 04, 2009 Firiel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, manga

Though fictional, this is an enlightening look at what it is like to raise an autistic child, based on several true stories. Even though it is often frustrating, Hikaru's parents and everyone around him grow tremendously because of their contact with him and his unique way of interacting with the world. Even unpleasant characters are given their own stories and sympathetic moments rather than simply being cruel and unlikable. It is wonderful to see Hikaru grow too, and although there are more vo...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic

The first book in Keiko Tobe's fascinating series about raising an autistic child in Japan is actually the third I've read; unfortunately my local comic store isn't particularly good at making sure I can buy them in the correct order, though you'd think they'd be a little more sensitive to that in a book about autistic children.

No matter, it's still great out of order. Here we get the story of how Hikaru was first diagnosed with autism, and his mother Sachiko's struggles to get him into mainstre...more

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Jul 13, 2010 Shannon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: manga, graphic-novel, fiction, autism-spectrum, read-in-2010

This is an amazing story of a woman's search for understanding and compassion for her son who is autistic. The story itself is very engaging, and I found myself very emotionally invested -- I cried for Sachiko's heartbreaks and I cried happy tears for the good days, too. I appreciate that the story gives some useful information without getting too into the medical aspects, making it accessible for anyone. I appreciate as well the emphasis that everyone with ASD is unique and have different strug...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Lila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

Genre: Graphic Novel, Manga, Autism
Hikaru is a boy born to a newly-wed couple in Japan. However as he grows up they discover he has Autism and at first this causes a rift between the husband, Masato, and his wife, Sachiko. Sachiko doesn't understand what autism is and her whole family blames her for not being a good mother and raising a well-disciplined child. However as the book progresses that family comes back together and Masato and Sachiko as well as friends in the community all work togeth...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Douglas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, manga

Such an aggressive, massive work. So much research. It truly is impressive.

I related with the plight of the mother not because I have an autistic child, but because Tobesan created such believable characters struggling with a real issue of our day: disabled children. Invisible disabilities affect millions of humans, yet even in this day and age their struggle is a matter of inconvenience for others. Tobesan captured this struggle in a moving yet informative way. Even if you do nor have an autis...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Sasha Boersma rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those new to autism & those looking for a relatable story.

Recommended to Sasha by: Librarian

This book was recommended to me by one of the local librarians when we were chatting about literary graphic novels. I actually want to give this one a 4.5, but that isn't an option, so I went with 5.

I was a little worried about this one, as there is so much literature out there about autism that is negatively positioned, and was very pleasantly surprised with how balanced and smart this story is.

It follows the life of the parents of a little boy, the discovery of his condition, their efforts in...more

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May 07, 2013 Deirdre rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book made me cry, but in the hopeful way. It's an honest, clear, helpful account of what it is like to raise a child with autism, from diagnosis to the early years of school. Keiko Tobe writes clearly and openly about the journey from birth to diagnosis and from diagnosis to acceptance. I was very interested in the differences between Japan and Ireland in terms of the support available also. I think this series would be a fantastic addition to any class library- it really gives a much neede...more

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Jul 24, 2009 Emilia P rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-books

Pretty good, a little after-school-special-education-y. But it's stuff you need to know, and it's kind of good to just go along with the mom of an autistic child as she goes through various challenges. I'm not in a rush to read the other volumes, since there's not tons of narrative thrust in the memoir format , but I'm sure I will get to them.

The manga-ness of it was ok, a little too pretty, but I guess I did enjoy the Japanese cultural setting! My educational readings about Salarymen helped me...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Nicole Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. GRAPHIC NOVEL
NONFICTION

This book was great. It tells the story of a young mother living in Japan. They think at 18 months that her baby boy might be deaf, but then they decide it's more likely that he's autistic. She doesn't know anything about autism and is scared to death. Her husband doesn't support her, and her mother-in-law blames her for Hikaru's "impolite" and "selfish" behavior. Others in her mother's group are rude towards her and Hikaru. Feeling completely alone, she goes home where sh...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Talyn rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Autistic people, Asperger's Sydrome, those wanting to learn more about this disorder

Recommended to Talyn by: http://www.anime-planet.com recommendations

Shelves: mental-illness, manga, loveable-child, personal-favorite, worth-rereading

A beautiful manga, a beautiful, sad, heart-wrenching, but with-a-glimmer-of-hope-story.

It is about a mother in Japan who gives birth to a boy named Hikaru. She is initially overjoyed that she has a bundle of joy to take care of, but soon he grows up and by toddler years she realizes there's something amiss. He screams and cries whenever she tries to hold him, he doesn't speak, he goes crazy and has a tantrum/crying fit whenever something really loud goes off (a bell, a slam of the door). She is...more A beautiful manga, a beautiful, sad, heart-wrenching, but with-a-glimmer-of-hope-story.

It is about a mother in Japan who gives birth to a boy named Hikaru. She is initially overjoyed that she has a bundle of joy to take care of, but soon he grows up and by toddler years she realizes there's something amiss. He screams and cries whenever she tries to hold him, he doesn't speak, he goes crazy and has a tantrum/crying fit whenever something really loud goes off (a bell, a slam of the door). She is branded as a terrible mother by her mother-in-law, and she is even told that Hikaru is deaf and will never be able to speak. Just as soon as she gives up hope that Hikaru will ever function right, she meets a doctor who diagnoses him with autism, then a practically unknown and obscure mental illness back in the 1990s, which I believe is the rough estimate of when this takes place, at least the last 90s.

There the door opens to counselors and other doctors who help her with the seemingly alien habits, mannerisms, and personality that Hikaru possesses, along with trying to steer her in the right direction when dealing with Hikaru, the best ways to nudge him in the right direction, and give her support and reassurance that 1) It is not her fault he's autistic 2) It will get better and 3) He will be able to function, just give it time and patience.

As a person with Asperger's Syndrome, what some call high-functioning and some call a 'mild form' of the mental disorder, my heart went out to both Hikaru and his mother. His mother because I understand that as a child I was pretty crazy. I hated change and would scream and cry when I didn't do what I thought was to be done i.e. 'I should've been the one to close the door! Why didn't I get to close the door?! ..' and 'What do you mean, preschool is over! I played my Candyland game for 2 hours, now it's time to go to preschool!'

And I obviously connected with Hikaru like we were one and the same most of the time because I understood how crazy the world was:

Examples:

I, even to this day at 16 years of age (as this is being typed), will shed a tear when I'm working on something and very focused and then suddenly, BAM! desk or chair gets tipped over and makes a loud noise. I am snapped out of my routine, the world is broken, if only for a second. The air is shattered by this noise, this noise that shouldn't have been made, and my senses -- my ears to be precise-- are overloaded by that sudden sound and I cry, but only for a minute before picking my self up again and resuming my work...

I also DESPISE change in routine. I need to be told ahead of time if something different will happen, like if we will be having an assembly at school instead of 7th and 8th period. I get annoyed and a little disgruntled but I used to scream and throw a tantrum because I couldn't cope with the fact that people were taking what I thought was fact and cutting and pasting something else into my daily routine. They changed it so easily, it unnerved me and made my head spin.

Anyways, enough about me. I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about autism, especially about raising an autistic child. DON'T be discouraged, potential readers, by the fact that it is a Japanese comic, or manga , and is read right-to-left. It is worth the trouble learning how to read it, and it will charm you and make you root for this family as they struggle to make a life for Hikaru despite his mental setbacks.(less)

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Apr 08, 2009 Nicholas Whyte added it

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1282675.html[return][return]This is a Japanese graphic novel about autism, told from the point of view of young mother Sachiko Azuma, who realises quite early on that her baby, Hikaru, doesn't respond like other children do, and in due course gets the diagnosis of her son's disability. Most of the rest of the story is about her navigation of the Japanese social welfare system, and especially the education system: Hikaru is quite seriously disabled but is at least ab...more http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1282675.html[return][return]This is a Japanese graphic novel about autism, told from the point of view of young mother Sachiko Azuma, who realises quite early on that her baby, Hikaru, doesn't respond like other children do, and in due course gets the diagnosis of her son's disability. Most of the rest of the story is about her navigation of the Japanese social welfare system, and especially the education system: Hikaru is quite seriously disabled but is at least able to talk and participate in normal elementary school classes some of the time.[return][return]Every situation is different, and there was a lot here that didn't especially resonate for me. Belgium's services for people with disabilities score over Japan's, at least by this account, as they score over those in most countries. On the other hand, I can't help feeling a twinge of jealousy at the fictional Hikaru's progress; sadly, not every case of autism has that element of positive progression. (Another important difference is that we have never had to deal with my wife giving birth while being rescued from a typhoon while I was on a business trip to Sweden, but I think we can allow Tobe some dramatic licence there.)[return][return]There were several things that really resonated with me. First, Keiko Tobe has really caught the look in the eyes of the autistic child - the manga style of enlarging the pupils emphasises her success - which makes everything else much more credible. Second, it's fair to say that once parents have got the diagnosis, it is an awful shock but also a relief - at least you know your child isn't dying, at least you know it is unlikely to get any worse. Most parents plan their lives around their aspirations for their children, after all; we simply have an unusual set of data points to deal with, and after a while one just gets on with it.[return][return]Third, and most of all, the real hell of raising an autistic child is dealing with other people. There are some godawful episodes here of drive-by parenting from know-nothing outsiders (and relatives), as well as hurtful encounters with uncaring professionals of the caring professions, which I found all too familiar. At least we haven't had the equivalent of the unsympathetic family acquaintances who twice put Hikaru's life in danger through callous negligence (though here I felt that Tobe let them off too lightly by pointing to a bad marriage as being at the core of the problem; I am afraid that people in good relationships are just as capable of being assholes).[return][return]The translators have printed the English version right-to-left, which I understand is fairly standard for manga but was new to me. I got used to it after a bit; young F, whose interest in the subject is every bit as keen as mine, was fairly racing through it earlier as well. [return][return]I would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who actually has an autistic child, as they will already have their own local source of expertise on the subject and may possibly wish to read about other things in the small hours of the morning; on the other hand it will certainly be useful for their friends and relatives. It is also a pretty good human story in its own right.(less)

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Feb 23, 2008 Beth Chandler rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Kat, Tom, Stasa, just about anyone

Shelves: manga-general, general-fiction

Based on the manga-ka's interviews with families and research on autism, this is the story of a young couple whose little boy is diagnosed as having autism. I hoped and worried and learned along with Sachiko and her husband and those they know, through all the frustrations and misunderstandings and criticisms and gifts joys and triumphs.

The tone is a bit sentimental but no more (in the opinion of this childless prospective mom anyway) than should be from a mom's POV. The manga series was created...more

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Nov 05, 2007 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK: Manga. What images does that word create?

Images of biologically impossible physical feats, computer super-brains, cybernetically or anatomically enhanced young people (usually female), mega-weapons and all-out Armageddon spring to mind?

Perhaps.

However, those who know a little about the topic (which I admit, I am not one) will tell you that in Japan there are as many types of manga as there are genres in fiction. Not all manga is like the suggestions given above, though outside Japan, to be f...more

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Nov 18, 2007 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was handed a copy of “With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child – Vol. 1” at a recent librarian preview. A heavy 527-page tome, the book broke every expectation I had regarding the Japanese form of comic books, called manga. First of all, it’s realistic fiction. Second, it’s honestly informative and interesting. And third, at no point do you encounter inappropriate bouts of nudity or other moments that a person might think to expect from manga. To read “With the Light” is to do away with the p...more I was handed a copy of “With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child – Vol. 1” at a recent librarian preview. A heavy 527-page tome, the book broke every expectation I had regarding the Japanese form of comic books, called manga. First of all, it’s realistic fiction. Second, it’s honestly informative and interesting. And third, at no point do you encounter inappropriate bouts of nudity or other moments that a person might think to expect from manga. To read “With the Light” is to do away with the prejudices surrounding Japanese comics in general. I still have a lot to learn about the form, but if enough books like this one keep coming out, that shouldn’t be a problem.

When the son of Sachiko Azuma was born she named him Hikaru, which means, “to be bright”. Bright, however, doesn’t seem to fit Hikaru. He’s slow to develop, doesn’t like to be held, and is generally unresponsive to his mother. At first there’s some suspicion that Hikaru may be deaf, but when a doctor suggests the possibility that the boy is autistic, Sachiko doesn’t want to hear it. She’s already getting enough grief at home with a husband who works all the time and doesn’t interact with her or her child. And, of course, there's her mother-in-law who is constantly putting her down and blaming Hikaru’s problems on “bad parenting”. It’s only when Sachiko seeks the help that she so desperately needs that she realizes how best to help her son. And when her husband Masato becomes newly committed to his family, they learn together how to help Hikaru become the happy adult they know he’ll someday be.

There are deep issues addressed here. At one point Sachiko takes Hikaru to a welcoming ceremony at his new school. He freaks out predictably enough, and she begins to ponder what is truly in the best interests of a person with autism. “I want Hikaru to live in this city and interact with those who aren’t disabled. But is my wish just hurting Hikaru more?” Another time a teacher tries to suggest handicapping the school’s track race so that Hikaru can finish with everyone else, but his parents point out that they don’t want to hold other children back. As long as Hikaru finishes they’ll be happy, and that’s a distinction that deserves a little credit, I think. Of course, a lot of this book concentrates on showing readers how differently a boy like Hikaru reacts to the world around him. At the same time, the author cleverly shows other children and makes it clear that autism varies from person to person. Hikaru doesn’t like to have his ears touched, but that doesn’t mean that this would be the case for another child.

Seeing something like autism explained not only through the eyes of someone from a foreign country, but via a foreign format as well, is striking. It will certainly open a lot of children’s and teen’s eyes to autism itself, while at the same time offering a glimpse into another culture that is different and not different from our own. I can say with certainty that you have almost undoubtedly never seen a book like “With the Light” before. Depending on its success here in the American marketplace it remains to be seen if you’ll ever find the like of it again. Original and gripping. (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my first "Japanese" book and at first it was difficult to understand and read. The translation was sometimes litteral and it was written to read right to left instead of left to right. Once I over came those reading blocks, I understood the book.
As I read, I couldn't help but feel for Azuma each time she had to go through another trial with her autisitic son. This is a wonderful book and has beautiful illustrations that help the reader understand what is going on.

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Jan 03, 2011 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: autistic-asd-as-character-memoir, contemporary-fiction, graphic-novel, best-books-i-read-in-2011

This graphic novel about raising an autistic child, reads like a memoir, for it is from the mother Sachiko’s POV. Her son is Hikaru and she learns about autism and her son as she raises him. It’s also about her husband, their marriage and how they create a community to raise their son. This takes Hikaru up to third grade, I would have easily read another 500 or 1500 pages to find out more about Hikaru’s life. This is delightful .

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Dec 25, 2010 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series is amazing. Created from interviews and essays of families with autistic children, it really captures the struggles of the Azuma family in a realistic and poignant (sometimes heartwrenching) way. It also teaches the reader a lot about autism and how to accommodate people with autism in a dignified and respectful way. I recommend his series to anyone who has a person with autism in their family or is interested in learning more about it.

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Jul 01, 2011 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not done yet, but this manga has me totally captivated! I've become teary-eyed in several places, and have truly connected with the story. A very accurate depiction of what it can be like to have a child with autism (or in my case a sibling) and how the people around you act (some good, some total dicks).

UPDATE: Finished the book, and cannot wait to read the other 7 installments. A touching series.

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Nov 18, 2010 Stacie Streck rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series is absolutely terrific. I was a little worried at first because of the subject, but over the last couple years it's become one of my favorite series. It's very realistic tale, and I know this from personal experience. A good friend of mine has an autistic brother and I've watched him grow over the years. It's a definite read, whether you're a manga fan or not.

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Jul 28, 2011 Sarah added it

Shelves: manga, memoir, graphic-novels, nonfiction

An amazing and wonderful story about a family with an autistic child. The story was very gripping, and worked really well in manga form. The particulars of his disability come across vividly in illustrated form and the writing style blends a breezy page turner tone with serious drama and strife. One of my favorite manga stories.

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