Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy

About the Mangaka

Sadly, despite looking everywhere (english sites that is) I can’t find anything else on Tobe Keiko. If anyone knows anything about her, please drop me a line through the contact page.

About the Manga

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NOOOOOOOO!!! This awesome series is almost over, this is the penultimate release, only one more volume to go *sobs*

This volume, while not as heart wrenching or touching as the others, still has a lot of power and really does draw you in.

Art wise there isn’t really a lot to say, I’m liking how the characters are aging properly. In Hikaru certainly looks older, as so the other characters. And Kanon is just as cute as ever :)

I.m not liking the fuzzy art though. Granted it only crops up occasionally, and at first I liked it. However now it feels weird, and does spoil the art a bit.

However it’s clear that Tobe really researched her stuff, as the various characters we’re introduced to, with autism are very life like.

This volume carries on where the last one ended, with Hikaru being in elementary school. Thing progress mostly smoothly, and while there is a lot of focus on Hikaru, I do like how Tobe-sensei spreads the love this volume. With characters from the older volumes returning, with some surprising results.

The other thing I liked about this volume was that they’re starting to look towards the future, about how Hikaru is going to live when he’s older and living in society.

As always Tobe includes loads of information on autism, how it effects people around them, and how people can work with those that suffer from it. It was definitely a good idea of hers to bring these two areas together and mix them.

For things that are hard to understand (or people just don’t want to understand), mixing it with manga gets the message across, teaches loads, and gives them something to enjoy. I’ve been in love with this series since volume one, and I’ve learnt loads in the process.

The final aspect I love is the Tobe-sensei includes real life case studies to back up the manga. We’re given testimonies from both sides of the fence, as well as insights into Japanese law, and how it effects disabled people.

As always Yen Press did and excellent job with this release. No guttering issues, a great and smooth translation. Backed by nice and heavy weight pages which really feel good in the fingers.

One of their simple choices, which I’ve always found to have a great impact, is the cover designs. It’s soft and subtle, lacking everything you’ usually associate with manga. This is in truth effecting how many places are handling the series.

I’m both looking forward and dreading the final volume, I don’t want this excellent series to end. I would of liked it to have carried on through Hikaru’s life as he got older and moved through society.

Where to Buy

This volume is due for release on the 24th March 2009

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