A review by bookishrealm
A Silent Voice, Vol. 1 by Yoshitoki Oima

4.0

I don't know what it is about me reading emotional books these past few weeks, but I definitely didn't expect that from this manga. Sure, I knew it was about bullying BUT I did not expect it to impact me in any way whatsoever. I was completely wrong. There were points where I could actually feel my chest constrict when Shoya bullied Shoko. Regardless of every situation, Shoko was kind, caring, and understanding when she had every right to curse out every student in that class. I was even more surprised by the series of events that took place in the second half of the manga. The artwork was phenomenal and easy to follow. Things that I'm definitely interested in learning more about with the continuation of this series include: the relationship between Shoya and his mother, how Shoya plans to repair the relationship with Shoko, and what exactly happened after Shoko left the elementary school. Do not be fooled by the cover, this manga is definitely more complex than it appears and is a great look at the consequences and trauma associated with bullying.