With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child, Vol. 4

by Keiko Tobe | Graphic Novels |
ISBN: 0759523851 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 11/7/2015
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, November 7, 2015
I scored a bunch of manga at the Used Book Superstore in Burlington MA today, at 50% off yet! I really love this series, of which I've read Volume 1 and Volume 8, and was delighted to find four more volumes at the sale. The series is about the ups and downs of life with an autistic child, and is quite realistic, mixing heartwarming scenes with harrowing ones.

One of my favorite aspects of the series is the way it brings in characters and issues that I wouldn't have thought of - and then finds ways to integrate the treatment of those things by the main characters, whether it makes their situation more difficult or they find surprising ways to work through it. There are unsympathetic characters who find that they can learn to deal with Hikaru's limitations once they understand; there are well-intentioned but stressed-out parents who fret about whether Hikaru's mother is doing her share of volunteer work, with a very charming resolution; even Hikaru's father Masato gets to shine, as he suffers through a demotion to a remote, force-them-to-quit facility thanks to a grudge-holding manager. Masato, who chose this over an overseas transfer so he could spend time with his family, quickly realizes that he's expected to give up and quit rather than spend days doing nothing in a too-hot office - but he decides he'll use his time to work out plans for businesses to incorporate support for people with disabilities including autism. And later on his plans lead to a very nice turnaround for his career and his family - not to mention for the other employees for whom he manages to find opportunities! He's a lovely example of an ordinary guy who took his role as husband and father for granted, but stepped up once he realized the toll his son's needs were taking on his wife. And his inventiveness and work ethic are admirable!

Most of the book focuses on the continuing struggle to help Hikaru learn, socialize, and achieve some degree of independence - including the ability to get to school by himself on the bus, something that I'm not sure all US parents would be happy about for their 5th-graders, never mind ones with neuro-atypical problems.

Hikaru's actually in a pretty good place, so there are stories focusing on others, including a boy who was once in Hikaru's school but was abandoned by his mother once she realized she couldn't cope with his emotional problems. Hikaru's mother Sachiko sees the boy and realizes he's been beaten; when she and Masato push back and get a doctor involved, the orphange director finds himself fighting a losing battle. (Those scenes are hard to see; a grown man abusing power and beating his charges, threatening employees into keeping silent, lying to parents and doctors... Luckily one employee, initially terrified of losing her job, decides she HAS to speak up.)

Another sub-plot deals with Hikaru's classmate and friend Tanaka, a boy who's become a teen idol. Tanaka is a sweetheart, gentle and friendly, and he's also become good friends with Oota, a strong, blunt girl who's struggled with being teased for not being feminine. When Tanaka has to leave school as his family's moving away, there are a sequence of really charming farewell scenes: at the school itself, and later with Oota, who feared she wouldn't get to say proper goodbyes. Tanaka even comes by to say farewell to Hikaru - but he's been having a tantrum and is in the calm-down stage, and can't take on a visit even with a friend...

Another lovely entry in this touching, informative, and encouraging series!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at LFL - Main St. #214 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, November 24, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (11/24/2018 UTC) at LFL - Main St. #214 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this book in the Little Free Library, just ahead of this evening's Holiday Stroll, the 25th annual one. (There will be a lot of foot traffic on Main Street tonight, though I don't know if they'll be more or less likely to visit the LFLs!) Hope someone enjoys the book!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2018 The The release challenge. ***

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