5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Moving, Educational, Essential Nov 24, 2007
reviewed by Safety
There's a lot of manga out there, so many different types that don't reach our side of the Pacific, and this is one treasure that's managed to make it across. Running in a magazine aimed at young married women, With the Light is the story of an ordinary couple who just had their first child, Hikaru. But he doesn't act like a regular baby, and the diagnosis is autism. Some of the characters could be more filled out; sometimes it borders on the melodramatic, but it doesn't take away from that it's a very moving story. If you know someone with autism, this story may hit some familiar notes; if not, it's a look at a condition that still has so much about it that is unknown. The story is sometimes painted with broad strokes, but it manages to hold a good line inbetween hopeful and being grounded in the realities of Hikaru's life. It's told from the mother's point of view, but grows to encompass the family and their community as Hikaru grows up.
The translation was well-done, even little, incidential objects have been translated so you don't miss anything. It's a huge book at over 500 pages, but it's not daunting, as it's incredibly hard to stop once you begin.
If you enjoy stories about real emotions you should read this; or stories on a smaller, intimate scale, this will appeal to you. Even though it is a mommy manga, one doesn't need to be a parent or even older to empathize with the characters and be able to get something from the story. I don't know what else on the market here compares, but it's a good first step for Yen Press and hopefully speaks of a wider genre of manga that could make it here.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
More people should read this manga. Mar 27, 2009
reviewed by Res
It's incredibly educational about the disorder, Autism, but not boring at all. In fact, With the Light has brought me to tears at some points. It's heart tugging, watching the progress of autistic boy, Hikaru, throughout his life.
I recommend this manga to everyone! I'm sure that if more people were to read it, there would be less disabled people being prejudiced in the world. The reason why people with Autism are prejudiced so much is because people don't understand their disorder. With the Light helps people to understand.
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