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noelles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
jasmiinaf's review against another edition
5.0
I like how positive this manga series is and how much you can learn by reading this, even though you wouldn't know anyone who is autistic.
hoshitoyume's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
slipperbunny's review against another edition
5.0
I like how positive this manga series is and how much you can learn by reading this, even though you wouldn't know anyone who is autistic.
nwhyte's review against another edition
4.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2242270.html[return][return]Hikaru has started to hit puberty, and has to be dissuaded from touching himself or pretty women inappropriately; family and school dynamics continue to be a strain; and we get sidetracked for a couple of diversions, when his father attracts too devoted an admirer at work and a couple of his classmates come to terms with their own fannish obsessions. But the core narrative remains sound, of Hikaru and his mother Sachiko dealing with a world which has not been designed for his needs, and doing the best they can. I have the next volume ready to read.
emmylee04's review against another edition
5.0
This is a manga about a family's response to their son being diagnosed with autism. Being my first manga, I don't feel completely equipped to judge the manga itself, but I will say that I found it completely engrossing. Many of the translations were worked into the (beautiful) artwork and I never felt lost or confused in the reading itself.
The story was really beautiful. I don't feel like it shied away from the hardships of having an autistic child at all. I mean - the mother literally beats her son and sinks into a deep depression in the first installment. But as he grows and as the family learns about how to communicate with him, they all find hope and love.
This was a really beautiful story, obviously well researched. I'm sure it's an excellent resource to anyone living in Japan who faces this challenge, but I thought it also communicated really well the ways in which outsiders and friends can be supportive and helpful.
Parts of this really wrecked me - I found myself crying along with the parents every time their son reached a new milestone. I will definitely be checking the next one out from my library as well.
The story was really beautiful. I don't feel like it shied away from the hardships of having an autistic child at all. I mean - the mother literally beats her son and sinks into a deep depression in the first installment. But as he grows and as the family learns about how to communicate with him, they all find hope and love.
This was a really beautiful story, obviously well researched. I'm sure it's an excellent resource to anyone living in Japan who faces this challenge, but I thought it also communicated really well the ways in which outsiders and friends can be supportive and helpful.
Parts of this really wrecked me - I found myself crying along with the parents every time their son reached a new milestone. I will definitely be checking the next one out from my library as well.
kellymy's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! I wish I had been given this book series when my son was 2 and 3 years old! This book covers 4/5th grade, and is very true to real life for me. Difficulty with major life changes, intolerant teachers, public shame - all the struggles most parents of autistic children face. I would recommend this to any parent, reluctant extended family member, or friend of an autistic child!
evila_elf's review against another edition
4.0
It was a little preachy, and the mother, who was the narrator, was a little too defensive to warm up to.
This was a manga/graphic novel. The drawing was really good, and the story started to pick up. There are 3 or 4 more of these, and I really have no idea how they are going to keep things fresh. Might pick another up eventually.
This was a manga/graphic novel. The drawing was really good, and the story started to pick up. There are 3 or 4 more of these, and I really have no idea how they are going to keep things fresh. Might pick another up eventually.
richard's review against another edition
High melodrama meets an authentic and fairly nuanced depiction of autism. At times it reads like an educational pamphlet and the art is mostly boring. However, it is especially interesting to see how autism is perceived in Japan and the soap operatic moments are pretty rich. I am left with one question: is it true that pregnant women in Japan don't ride in moving vehicles? Is that true for pregnant women everywhere?
sasaboba's review against another edition
5.0
If you have never read a manga before, let this series be your first. I cannot recommend this manga enough. The series is told through the eyes of a young mother, Sachiko Azuma, raising her son, Hikaru, who has autism. She is wildly unprepared and her husband is unsupportive. He is uncaring to the point where he completely neglects his family and becomes antagonistic toward Sachiko and Hikaru. And it will upset you. However, stick it out—he will come around and it is beautiful. Trust me. The story is told with the nuance and care that the subject matter needs. Unfortunately, it is an unfinished series as Keiko Tobe passed away in 2010 (may she rest in peace). It is still great nonetheless. With The Light reads like a collection of stories rather than one large fluid arc so you could easily stop on any volume and pick it up again whenever you feel like it. I would recommend it to everybody, especially if you are considering having a child.