Brief Manga review
Mar. 24th, 2008 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
msagaraI've mentioned here that I read some manga. I would probably read more of it if I had bookshelf space. But the manga I've been reading lately is a bit unusual.
With the Light Vol.1 and With the Light Vol 2 written by Keiko Tobe, are the first books in a series that deals with autism.
I was surprised enough when I saw these in the Diamond catalogue that I had to order them (I assumed that maybe there was inaccuracy in the ad). But they're pretty much exactly what they say they are: The story of a woman, Sachiko, who discovers that her son, Hikaru, is autistic. The book glosses over some things, but it covers a lot, including the isolation, the guilt, and the marital stress that such discoveries often cause. The first two volumes of the series take Hikaru through to the end of grade 5, and as a brief and accessible primer about the difficulties autistic children and their parents can face, it would be of interest to anyone. They can be accused of oversimplification, and that's not an unfair accusation, but I think that most of what's handled here is handled thoughtfully, and sensitively.
With the Light Vol.1 and With the Light Vol 2 written by Keiko Tobe, are the first books in a series that deals with autism.
I was surprised enough when I saw these in the Diamond catalogue that I had to order them (I assumed that maybe there was inaccuracy in the ad). But they're pretty much exactly what they say they are: The story of a woman, Sachiko, who discovers that her son, Hikaru, is autistic. The book glosses over some things, but it covers a lot, including the isolation, the guilt, and the marital stress that such discoveries often cause. The first two volumes of the series take Hikaru through to the end of grade 5, and as a brief and accessible primer about the difficulties autistic children and their parents can face, it would be of interest to anyone. They can be accused of oversimplification, and that's not an unfair accusation, but I think that most of what's handled here is handled thoughtfully, and sensitively.
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 03:42 am (UTC)I think that's why I was surprised to see this as well. As I said, it does simplify, because it covers birth to grade 5 in 2 volumes, but while it simplifies, it does touch on all of the problems and difficulties. I really liked them. I think what she got absolutely right is the way that younger children will adapt -- and help out -- if they are encouraged to do so; that they're more forgiving and more understanding in a supportive environment, and that their understanding and the social network it provides makes the autistic child's life -so much- easier.
How old is your son?
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Date: 2008-03-25 04:04 am (UTC)We're lucky, he's a high functioning moderate and in one of the best (if not THE best) public school county for autistics. His current classroom has 3 students, 1 teacher, and 1 or 2 para-pros. We've had a hard time since moving from California, but for his sake I am sooooooooo glad we did. He advanced more in a school year here than he did for most of his elementary years there.
I've considered writing about him, or using him as a template for a fictional character, but I've not really been able to approach it. Parenting an autistic takes a lot out of you, even when they are high functioning and not in the severe category. It's one of the reasons I couldn't substitute teach in a special ed classroom--I already have enough going on with my own son. Love him dearly, but having to deal with more than one of him would just be too hard.
You can read more about him on our rather out of date website about him here: http://taz.domynoes.net/