This intimate manga anthology is about the struggles and triumphs of individuals learning to navigate daily life with a developmental disorder. The comics follow the stories of nine people, including: a junior high dropout finding an alternate path to education; a former “troublesome” child helping kids at a support school; a so-called problem child realizing the beauty of his own unique quirks; and a man falling in love with the world with the help of a new medication. This inspiring volume illustrates their diverse anxieties and finding self-empowerment in a world not quite built with them in mind.
I found myself envying the ability of Japanese people to go to the doctor for a screening and diagnosis, and the support system there that is presented in a way that made it feel like… it was more accessible. That said… man.
It took me a minute to read but man… man. It’s concerningly relatable. It’s also comfortably relatable. You see people at their worst and you see them learning to cope and you see people who think they don’t have any disorder learning that they could benefit from even just a little more support.
It’s… it’s so good.
