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thestoryowl's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating look into the life of a Japanese parent trying to raise a child with autism. I don't care that it's manga, it's still worth the time. (Yes, it's thick as all get out)
Dealt with a lot of things I went through with Isaac; the guilt and embarrassment as well as the joy.
Dealt with a lot of things I went through with Isaac; the guilt and embarrassment as well as the joy.
noelles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
continuing on from volume 1. gets a little repetitive, but i'll probably finish out the series.
curiouslibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
(Reusing review from vol 1)
Before I read the first volume of 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 defeats, much like a mother would. I learned much about autism that I didn't already know between this and the first volume. And the interaction of caring for an autistic child in Japanese culture was fascinating.
One thing I liked from a structural point of view was the English translations of sound effects written in small letters alongside the originals. I felt like it allowed the original art and intention to shine through without leaving me, the American reader, behind. It's so much better than the usual lack of translation or glossary in the back.
I would heartily recommend these books. And I would love to know if there are others out there like this in the US!
Before I read the first volume of 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 defeats, much like a mother would. I learned much about autism that I didn't already know between this and the first volume. And the interaction of caring for an autistic child in Japanese culture was fascinating.
One thing I liked from a structural point of view was the English translations of sound effects written in small letters alongside the originals. I felt like it allowed the original art and intention to shine through without leaving me, the American reader, behind. It's so much better than the usual lack of translation or glossary in the back.
I would heartily recommend these books. And I would love to know if there are others out there like this in the US!
nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1506761.html
It concerns the education of Hikaru Azuma, a young Japanese autistic boy, as told largely from the viewpoint of his mother Sachiko. At this stage the series is settling down into being a regular feature in the Japanese magazine For Mrs, targeted at young mothers, so we get a certain amount of recapitulation and also re-education of the reader through new characters - first the parent of a new child in Hikaru's class, who has had a much more difficult time of it and is much more traumatised by her dealings with authority, and then a difficult transition at school with a new special education teacher who isn't really up to it and a new headmaster who doesn't really care. Tobe's art as ever captures the expressions of autistic children brilliantly, and is pretty good on other points too; and I was also fascinated by the various insights into Japanese elementary school culture which were included as local context but were often more educational for me than the main thrust of the story.
It concerns the education of Hikaru Azuma, a young Japanese autistic boy, as told largely from the viewpoint of his mother Sachiko. At this stage the series is settling down into being a regular feature in the Japanese magazine For Mrs, targeted at young mothers, so we get a certain amount of recapitulation and also re-education of the reader through new characters - first the parent of a new child in Hikaru's class, who has had a much more difficult time of it and is much more traumatised by her dealings with authority, and then a difficult transition at school with a new special education teacher who isn't really up to it and a new headmaster who doesn't really care. Tobe's art as ever captures the expressions of autistic children brilliantly, and is pretty good on other points too; and I was also fascinated by the various insights into Japanese elementary school culture which were included as local context but were often more educational for me than the main thrust of the story.
cobwebjr's review against another edition
5.0
This series is so good, I truly think everyone should be required to read it. I’m so sad that Keiko Tobe passed away before she could finish it, but what she made is still incredible. Reading a series that educated me about cognitive disabilities and also gave insight into the daily lives of people with those disabilities and their families helped cultivate a new level of understanding and empathy that I will forever be indebted to Keiko Tobe for.
nerdella_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe I finished the final volume of With the Light in one sitting, but this series has been that engaging. This volume is not like the others in that it is not complete, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
Those fammilar with the series know how much trouble Sachiko has had with her mother-in-law, and it is little changed in this final addition to the series. Mrs. Azuma is making efforts to understand Hikaru and his habits, but she is as deeply rooted in her way of doing things as he is and Sachiko is the one who is the brunt of her criticism and frustration as a result. Even though Mrs. Azuma complains almost constantly to her daughter-in-law, particulary about how she thinks Sachiko is neglecting Kanon (Sachiko's daughter and Hikaru's sister) in favor of Hikaru, she tries to make things run more smoothly by offering to take Kanon to activities she wants to do. Though it is obvious Mrs. Azuma favors Kanon, her attitude toward Hikaru has significantly softened even if the same high expectations and embarrassment remains.
Masato also got a nice subplot, dealing with a coworker of his who has developed a crush on him due to his kindness in regards to her brother developing a disability due to an accident. Masato makes it clear that he thinks of Oka as a daughter and wants her to find her own happiness. Oka says goodbye to him, a little bit broken-hearted but filled with resolved.
The family and publishers of Keiko Tobe were kind enough to include in the final volume scripts and sketches she worked on while she was on her sickbed. They give us a glimpse into the wonderful stories Tobe had planned to finish but was unable to, which include Masto's sister and her family's surprising acceptance of Hikaru due to their living in the U.S. and its more widespread acceptance of autism compared to the of Japan's, a conclusion to Eri's sad story that offers some hope, and a look back on friends Hikaru and Sachiko have had to leave behind as time has passed.
Also included in this volume are two short stories Tobe wrote and drew before the serialization of With the Light. I won't spoil them here, but both are well written and touching in their own ways. Even before she became famous for With The Light it was obvious then the talent she possessed.
It goes without saying that if you want to read this book you should read the others first. Even if you are not looking to learn more about autism and just want a good manga to devour, this series is one I recommend.
Those fammilar with the series know how much trouble Sachiko has had with her mother-in-law, and it is little changed in this final addition to the series. Mrs. Azuma is making efforts to understand Hikaru and his habits, but she is as deeply rooted in her way of doing things as he is and Sachiko is the one who is the brunt of her criticism and frustration as a result. Even though Mrs. Azuma complains almost constantly to her daughter-in-law, particulary about how she thinks Sachiko is neglecting Kanon (Sachiko's daughter and Hikaru's sister) in favor of Hikaru, she tries to make things run more smoothly by offering to take Kanon to activities she wants to do. Though it is obvious Mrs. Azuma favors Kanon, her attitude toward Hikaru has significantly softened even if the same high expectations and embarrassment remains.
Masato also got a nice subplot, dealing with a coworker of his who has developed a crush on him due to his kindness in regards to her brother developing a disability due to an accident. Masato makes it clear that he thinks of Oka as a daughter and wants her to find her own happiness. Oka says goodbye to him, a little bit broken-hearted but filled with resolved.
The family and publishers of Keiko Tobe were kind enough to include in the final volume scripts and sketches she worked on while she was on her sickbed. They give us a glimpse into the wonderful stories Tobe had planned to finish but was unable to, which include Masto's sister and her family's surprising acceptance of Hikaru due to their living in the U.S. and its more widespread acceptance of autism compared to the of Japan's, a conclusion to Eri's sad story that offers some hope, and a look back on friends Hikaru and Sachiko have had to leave behind as time has passed.
Also included in this volume are two short stories Tobe wrote and drew before the serialization of With the Light. I won't spoil them here, but both are well written and touching in their own ways. Even before she became famous for With The Light it was obvious then the talent she possessed.
It goes without saying that if you want to read this book you should read the others first. Even if you are not looking to learn more about autism and just want a good manga to devour, this series is one I recommend.
library_brandy's review against another edition
4.0
Loved loved loved this series, and I wish all the best to Hikaru and his family (though his bitchy grandmother is welcome to take a hike). I wish the author had been able to actually finish (she died instead), but it allows me to believe that Hikaru had a long, healthy, happy life.
plnr14's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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