Keiko Tobe (1) (1957–)

Incredible series of graphic novel volumes by Keiko Tobe about a woman who had followed traditions of her culture, the moment she was ready to bear children and had given birth, her child seemed in constant distress and was constantly blamed for the child's cries. She learns to grow along with her newly diagnosed autistic child, and learn together through her parenting trouble and trials, the book is very well written and the amount of emotion pouring out of this book is tremendous. I have laughed, cried, screamed, and blown my cover with anger while sympathizing with this new mother in a world that knows very little about autism.… (altro)

Sachiko Azuma is a new mother and her first born son Hikaru behaves so oddly. As he develops, it is discovered that he has autism and is nonverbal (mostly). This book follows until he is of kindergarten age or 5 and it is full of twists and turns but always carries the same message, autism can't be helped (unknown cause) and it is not an excuse for rudeness, but an explanation to quiet those who are snide. While I wouldn't suggest this for an in school read, I would offer it in my classroom library for an inside look on autism. This is a special topic for me as I am on the autism spectrum. Many things that Hikaru feels and goes through, even reacts to, I react to - maybe not the same way, but I understand. I even got to see what maybe I could have been like for my mother and father. I give this manga novel 5 stars because it is rather accurate, the hardships parents of children with disabilities go through. How the kids suffer from the most trivial things. This is a very real thing that many people brush under the rug, support just for show, ignore the adults on the spectrum, ignore the facts... so many things.… (altro)

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2468998.html

Sadly the last of the series of manga about bringing up an autistic son in today's Japan, curtailed by the untimely death of the writer Keiko Tobe in 2010. At this stage, the setting of wrestling with Hikaru's special education needs was sometimes becoming background scenery for other dramas to play out in the foreground - a younger work colleague's crush on Hikaru's father, for instance, or an abusive relationship between two of his classmates. But the tricky family dynamics are still there, particularly between Hikaru's mother and her mother-in-law, cooped up in a rather small house together and trying to find a modus vivendi. And the book ends, or would have ended, on a note of reconciliation between the generations which is rather sweet.

We also get as a bonus two of Keiko Tobe's earlier stories for the monthly For Mrs. magazine where With the Light was published, one fairly slight piece about a teacher and a difficult class, the other more accomplished about an elderly man who befriends a young neighbouring child. It's good to have all of the stories together, though it's a shame that there won't be any more.… (altro)