What do you think?
Rate this book
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child #3
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child
A little effort goes a long way-that's what Sachiko, Honda-san, and Gunji-sensei learn as they struggle to work together to make life easier for the Special Education children. With the help of gadgets and the support of more people in their environment than meets the eye, Hikaru and Miyu become able to communicate better with the world around them. But when Hikaru's teen idol classmate sends some mothers into a flashbulb frenzy that causes Hikaru to panic, other parents begin to question his presence alongside "normal" students in the classroom. Hikaru's first school trip also ends in disaster, when he gets separated from the group, and Sachiko begins to worry that Hikaru is losing his hard-fought place in society.
528 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2008
12 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Keiko Tobe
24 books38 followersKeiko Tobe (1957-January 28, 2010) was a mangaka who wrote primarily josei manga. She was best known for creating With the Light, which won an Excellence Prize in the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 2004 from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and inspired a television drama.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 2, 2010
Sachiko is my hero. She doesn't have superpowers, she doesn't kick butt or have witty insults or defy the system. She doesn't spend a lot of time "finding herself" or search for love in all the wrong places or have a troubled childhood or fight crime. She is totally different from every other protagonist in that what makes her special is her goodness. When there's a problem, she really tries to understand the other person's point of view, but she doesn't back down, either. When a teacher is not helping her son at school, she doesn't just sit around and do nothing, nor does she gossip about the teacher or send her rude e-mails -- she thinks about it, comes up with a good idea, and then talks to the teacher politely and explains the situation and, even though things don't improve right away, she is patient with the teacher and persistent in helping to make the school a good place for her son to learn.
I think we need more heroes like that.
I think we need more heroes like that.
March 19, 2011
Third in the series of graphic novels about a Japanese child with autism by the late Keiko Tobe. I found the first half of the book, where a new special education teacher repeatedly fails to rise to the occasion and deal with the needs of the children under her care, really quite tough reading; Sachiko Azuma, the viewpoint character whose child is at the centre of the story, displays much more patience than I could bear to in that situation. The second half of the volume has young Hikaru on a four-day school trip, which presents fairly huge challenges from a developmental psychological point of view. (Tobe throws in a couple of more standard soap-opera elements as well, as his schoolfriends engage in classroom politics and his father is demoted at work, but that's forgiveable local colour.) Anyway, once again a fascinating and beautiful book.
March 30, 2026
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child is an amazing series about an autistic child named Hikaru, his family, and the community around them who embraces him for who he is. I really cherish this series due to the following:
1. We are able to frequently witness autistic joy/what Hikaru is passionate about or finds himself immersed in (shiny, shimmery objects, the sparkle of water).
2. There is an emphasis on figuring out what's underlying Hikaru's "challenging behaviors" and on folks in his support system creating environments that are accommodating of his sensory sensitivities or needs, recognizing that his needs are not exclusive to neurodivergent children and that in fact even neurotypical children do better in inclusive environments. For example, his family built him an obstacle course to maneuver when he was stuck at home with chicken pox. There is also an emphasis on finding the "just right challenge" to promote his development.
3. The series critiques institutions that disabled children and their families are forced to rely upon, as well as demonstrates how systemic oppression and poverty as well as other notable circumstances can influence families' abilities to care for their disabled children as well as become educated on how best to support them.
4. The series presents very real struggles of autistic children, their caregivers, and their therapeutic providers/educators, such as a support teacher acknowledging how he felt pressured to comply with the class schedule, forcing Hikaru to leave an environment before he was ready and thereby in part triggering him eloping later on that evening.
5. The series (whether knowingly or unknowingly since it doesn't utilize the term even once) educates us on gestalt processing in autistic folks and what gestalts may mean or strategies for contemplating their meaning.
An example of this is when Hikaru was upset when his class crushed a watermelon on their school trip, repeating, "It was crushed. Oh no. It was crushed." His classmates considered why he could be upset, inquiring about the following:
6. The series not only focuses on and affirms the struggles of being autistic - acknowledging how difficult it is for Hikaru to do certain things, like speak, or tolerate sensory input with elevated sensory processing - but also focuses on Hikaru's strengths, such as his hyperlexia.
7. This series handles sensitive, emotionally evocative topics gently. An example of this is when Hikaru put his hands in his pants in front of others and Gunji-sensei told him "it's disgusting." His mother gently and firmly thanked her for stopping him but requested she not call it disgusting. She requested the teacher redirect him to somewhere he CAN put his hands.
This series examines and critiques the institutions Sachiko (Hikaru's mother) and Honda (Miyu's - another autistic child - mother) are forced to rely upon for the care and well-being of their disabled children and demonstrates how powerful it is to have a teacher (Aoki-sensei) who cherishes each child, recognizes their brilliance, and knows how to provide individualized care. It also demonstrates how vulnerable disabled children - especially those that are non-speaking and unable to advocate for themselves - are to victimization and abuse by people who are in positions of power over the child.
The juxtaposition between Hikaru's teachers - Aoki-sensei and Gunji-sensei - and their perception and treatment of him is painful to witness. Aoki-sensei is knowledgeable about autism, consistently utilizing strategies such as visual schedules, visual timers, and breaking tasks into step-by-step instructions to support Hikaru's processing, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and motor planning. He affirms autistic children's communication in whatever form it presents in, emphasizing how crucial self-advocacy skills are for autistic children to develop.
He even acknowledges how sometimes staff working with autistic children might use "words and pictures to make [autistic children] do something [they] don't want to do" and how this is coercive. He acknowledges how generally even neurotypical child-adult relationships can be one-sided and authoritarian because the adult is in charge and has full control.
He states that,
Gunji-sensei on the other hand is cruel as well as initially very unaware and unknowledgeable about autism. Hikaru and Miyu are forced to endure emotional abuse and educational neglect in Gunji-sensei's care. As is expected in this series, this volume portrays the complex circumstances around both Sachiko and Honda's decisions regarding confronting this teacher; Honda is critical of Gunji-sensei from the very start, likely due to having to be a fierce advocate for her autistic daughter, Miyu even in her home since her husband is physically and emotionally abusive. Honda feels like she has no other option but to rely upon the school because she has no one else to rely upon. Sachiko, on the other hand, has a wider support network and is more sympathetic towards Gunji-sensei, stating that she's "trying so hard to understand" autistic children and also because she recognizes that critiquing Gunji-sensei could influence how she treats her disabled child who is already vulnerable to mistreatment. However she becomes less sympathetic after Gunji-sensei said, "I get so tired when they cry like that" after Hikaru became dysregulated.
Sachiko thought,
Eventually we observe Gunji-sensei reading books on how to work with autistic children, being willing to learn from more knowledgeable sources (the families and other teachers) though often begrudgingly, and even engage in self-reflections about some her approaches and the impact on the children.
One teacher stated,
Another thing the series does well is having complex, nuanced characters whose circumstances we witness first-hand (such as seeing Gunji-sensei's feelings of insecurity about her teaching abilities and discontentment with her relationship with her husband). We also witness many characters undergo moral development in regard to their perception and treatment of Hikaru. I have complex feelings on this because on one hand, I really value nuanced characters. On the other hand, however, I struggle when it feels like I am being provided the circumstances so that I sympathize with someone who enacted cruelty upon autistic children. Fortunately this isn't the case with the majority of the characters in this series.
A few other things I haven't liked about the series are the pathologization of autism (calling it a "disease" and a "malfunction of the brain", saying it's "incurable") and that there was a moment Sachiko forced Hikaru to stop stimming with his hands, though this was also done at a time when she was stressed out and overwhelmed by caring for him on a break. But given how old this series is, I'm impressed with how neurodiversity-affirming it is overall.
1. We are able to frequently witness autistic joy/what Hikaru is passionate about or finds himself immersed in (shiny, shimmery objects, the sparkle of water).
2. There is an emphasis on figuring out what's underlying Hikaru's "challenging behaviors" and on folks in his support system creating environments that are accommodating of his sensory sensitivities or needs, recognizing that his needs are not exclusive to neurodivergent children and that in fact even neurotypical children do better in inclusive environments. For example, his family built him an obstacle course to maneuver when he was stuck at home with chicken pox. There is also an emphasis on finding the "just right challenge" to promote his development.
3. The series critiques institutions that disabled children and their families are forced to rely upon, as well as demonstrates how systemic oppression and poverty as well as other notable circumstances can influence families' abilities to care for their disabled children as well as become educated on how best to support them.
4. The series presents very real struggles of autistic children, their caregivers, and their therapeutic providers/educators, such as a support teacher acknowledging how he felt pressured to comply with the class schedule, forcing Hikaru to leave an environment before he was ready and thereby in part triggering him eloping later on that evening.
5. The series (whether knowingly or unknowingly since it doesn't utilize the term even once) educates us on gestalt processing in autistic folks and what gestalts may mean or strategies for contemplating their meaning.
An example of this is when Hikaru was upset when his class crushed a watermelon on their school trip, repeating, "It was crushed. Oh no. It was crushed." His classmates considered why he could be upset, inquiring about the following:
"I wonder if he thinks it's his fault? Or maybe the image of something breaking sticks in his mind and he can't get rid of it?"
"Maybe it's because we crushed it instead of cutting it. Hikaru'kun might think a watermelon is to be cut, not crushed."
"He probably doesn't understand that we're crushing it for fun."
6. The series not only focuses on and affirms the struggles of being autistic - acknowledging how difficult it is for Hikaru to do certain things, like speak, or tolerate sensory input with elevated sensory processing - but also focuses on Hikaru's strengths, such as his hyperlexia.
"The sound of a pencil box dropped in the corner of the room .. or coughing, or chatting.. he heard all of them at once. That must be really overwhelming."
7. This series handles sensitive, emotionally evocative topics gently. An example of this is when Hikaru put his hands in his pants in front of others and Gunji-sensei told him "it's disgusting." His mother gently and firmly thanked her for stopping him but requested she not call it disgusting. She requested the teacher redirect him to somewhere he CAN put his hands.
"It's not strange for children to touch their own bodies and Hikaru doesn't understand that it's embarrassing to do that in front of others. .. He hasn't started touching his genitals yet so I don't think it's anything like that. He might have a rash."
This series examines and critiques the institutions Sachiko (Hikaru's mother) and Honda (Miyu's - another autistic child - mother) are forced to rely upon for the care and well-being of their disabled children and demonstrates how powerful it is to have a teacher (Aoki-sensei) who cherishes each child, recognizes their brilliance, and knows how to provide individualized care. It also demonstrates how vulnerable disabled children - especially those that are non-speaking and unable to advocate for themselves - are to victimization and abuse by people who are in positions of power over the child.
The juxtaposition between Hikaru's teachers - Aoki-sensei and Gunji-sensei - and their perception and treatment of him is painful to witness. Aoki-sensei is knowledgeable about autism, consistently utilizing strategies such as visual schedules, visual timers, and breaking tasks into step-by-step instructions to support Hikaru's processing, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and motor planning. He affirms autistic children's communication in whatever form it presents in, emphasizing how crucial self-advocacy skills are for autistic children to develop.
He even acknowledges how sometimes staff working with autistic children might use "words and pictures to make [autistic children] do something [they] don't want to do" and how this is coercive. He acknowledges how generally even neurotypical child-adult relationships can be one-sided and authoritarian because the adult is in charge and has full control.
He states that,
"But [that] true communication is an exchange of feelings. If we don't give them an opportunity to express themselves, autistic children won't communicate with us. For example, if they have bell peppers in their lunch and they don't like them .. we should teach them to leave them out and say, 'no thanks'."
Gunji-sensei on the other hand is cruel as well as initially very unaware and unknowledgeable about autism. Hikaru and Miyu are forced to endure emotional abuse and educational neglect in Gunji-sensei's care. As is expected in this series, this volume portrays the complex circumstances around both Sachiko and Honda's decisions regarding confronting this teacher; Honda is critical of Gunji-sensei from the very start, likely due to having to be a fierce advocate for her autistic daughter, Miyu even in her home since her husband is physically and emotionally abusive. Honda feels like she has no other option but to rely upon the school because she has no one else to rely upon. Sachiko, on the other hand, has a wider support network and is more sympathetic towards Gunji-sensei, stating that she's "trying so hard to understand" autistic children and also because she recognizes that critiquing Gunji-sensei could influence how she treats her disabled child who is already vulnerable to mistreatment. However she becomes less sympathetic after Gunji-sensei said, "I get so tired when they cry like that" after Hikaru became dysregulated.
Sachiko thought,
"Hikaru must be really tired too! There's so much uncertainty in every day! He can't express his frustrations, so he throws a tantrum. How much easier it would be if he could complain, like us!"
Eventually we observe Gunji-sensei reading books on how to work with autistic children, being willing to learn from more knowledgeable sources (the families and other teachers) though often begrudgingly, and even engage in self-reflections about some her approaches and the impact on the children.
One teacher stated,
"Gunji-sensei seems to think all the problems lie with Hikaru-kun. She should consider why he's reacting a certain way."
Another thing the series does well is having complex, nuanced characters whose circumstances we witness first-hand (such as seeing Gunji-sensei's feelings of insecurity about her teaching abilities and discontentment with her relationship with her husband). We also witness many characters undergo moral development in regard to their perception and treatment of Hikaru. I have complex feelings on this because on one hand, I really value nuanced characters. On the other hand, however, I struggle when it feels like I am being provided the circumstances so that I sympathize with someone who enacted cruelty upon autistic children. Fortunately this isn't the case with the majority of the characters in this series.
A few other things I haven't liked about the series are the pathologization of autism (calling it a "disease" and a "malfunction of the brain", saying it's "incurable") and that there was a moment Sachiko forced Hikaru to stop stimming with his hands, though this was also done at a time when she was stressed out and overwhelmed by caring for him on a break. But given how old this series is, I'm impressed with how neurodiversity-affirming it is overall.
May 27, 2025
Finding our stride now….reading much more comfortable as a late diagnosed lsn person. I feel like I’m finally getting to know Hikaru as a person. There’s a really great portion where his prior teacher talks about the power dynamic between children and adults and how we must respect children and their decisions.
May 28, 2014
My main review of the series is here: Series Review.
Additional quotes and notes from this volume:
"Hikaru and Miyu-chan [nonverbal autistic children] have the need to express themselves./ ...I want to always accept the messages from our children." (episode 13)
From the endnotes "What is Autism?" section(warning: again, neurodiversity right folks will be frustrated at some of the language used here). "Autistic people experience what they see, what they hear, what they touch, and what they taste differently from most people. It is not that they cannot see or hear. They can see objects and hear sounds, but what they focus on is a little different from the norrm. Because of this, they do not like to play with friends, make conversation, or guess what others are thinking." p 508.
While I am not entirely happy with this description of autism, I do like some of the phrasing (and it should be noted that the variety of autism described in this series is generally the nonverbal, sensory-avoidant type, which is more limited than the range of conditions described in America as "autism spectrum disorder"). This section also lists the 3 primary "problem" areas of autism to be 1) social skills, 2) communication, and 3) insistency (which I like better as a term than the American "restricted/repetitive behaviors"-- I think it better captures the need for structure and sameness that so many autistic people rely on, as well as their tendency to focus very intently on certain things). However, the story itself holds much more closely to the "intense world" theory of autism-- it is regularly shown that Hikaru's difficulties with communication and socialization result from his sensory differences and tendency to become overwhelmed by typical inputs.
The section concludes: For autistic children, the world may be full of things they cannot comprehend. It is important for surrounding adults to understand the disability and make an effort to lessen their pain as much as possible so that they may live their lives comfortably." p 509. Again, I have mixed feelings about this statement. While it is true that autistic children (and some autistic adults) struggle with understanding certain things, stating it this way seems to imply a lack of intelligence on their part, which is often not the case. And I dislike the pitying implication that autistic children's lives are inherently painful... but I very much like the idea that their parents need to be aware of how much their children struggle and do what they can to mitigate those difficulties.
Again-- I enjoy this series very much on the whole. If I am overly critical of certain details, it is because I think these manga are worth careful critique.
Additional quotes and notes from this volume:
"Hikaru and Miyu-chan [nonverbal autistic children] have the need to express themselves./ ...I want to always accept the messages from our children." (episode 13)
From the endnotes "What is Autism?" section(warning: again, neurodiversity right folks will be frustrated at some of the language used here). "Autistic people experience what they see, what they hear, what they touch, and what they taste differently from most people. It is not that they cannot see or hear. They can see objects and hear sounds, but what they focus on is a little different from the norrm. Because of this, they do not like to play with friends, make conversation, or guess what others are thinking." p 508.
While I am not entirely happy with this description of autism, I do like some of the phrasing (and it should be noted that the variety of autism described in this series is generally the nonverbal, sensory-avoidant type, which is more limited than the range of conditions described in America as "autism spectrum disorder"). This section also lists the 3 primary "problem" areas of autism to be 1) social skills, 2) communication, and 3) insistency (which I like better as a term than the American "restricted/repetitive behaviors"-- I think it better captures the need for structure and sameness that so many autistic people rely on, as well as their tendency to focus very intently on certain things). However, the story itself holds much more closely to the "intense world" theory of autism-- it is regularly shown that Hikaru's difficulties with communication and socialization result from his sensory differences and tendency to become overwhelmed by typical inputs.
The section concludes: For autistic children, the world may be full of things they cannot comprehend. It is important for surrounding adults to understand the disability and make an effort to lessen their pain as much as possible so that they may live their lives comfortably." p 509. Again, I have mixed feelings about this statement. While it is true that autistic children (and some autistic adults) struggle with understanding certain things, stating it this way seems to imply a lack of intelligence on their part, which is often not the case. And I dislike the pitying implication that autistic children's lives are inherently painful... but I very much like the idea that their parents need to be aware of how much their children struggle and do what they can to mitigate those difficulties.
Again-- I enjoy this series very much on the whole. If I am overly critical of certain details, it is because I think these manga are worth careful critique.
February 28, 2013
This book is so good. If you are the parent of an autistic child or just want to understand autism better, this is a good series to read. It does offer the message of, let's help and understand this child on his own terms and work with him. His friends understand him and try to help him. So do his parents. I do like how even bad guy characters are redeemed too.
December 23, 2011
This was, quite simply, a joy to read. Seeing the struggles and opportunities that Hikaru encounters in this volume shows just much he's grown and progressed over books one and two. I read this in one sitting and can't wait to get my hands on the next volume.
July 8, 2017
A very thorough look into what it takes (mentally, emotionally, etc.) to raise autistic children, what autism is, and even how to work with and help these kids and their caregivers. This is all discussed within the context of a slice-of-life narrative which follows the mother Sachiko Azuma, and her son Hikaru, as well as a cast of other parents, kids, teachers, and more. While some of the technology, and even methods may be a bit dated, and some aspects may not be as culturally relevant to westerners, overall it is an excellent work for those in a similar situation. Not only does it provide information that could actually be useful, it also gives readers a measure of reassurance; the character Sachiko is someone who experiences the same sort of thoughts and feelings that they do because she goes through similar situations. It takes enormous dedication and love to raise an autistic child, it can be a struggle, not just to keep them healthy and happy, but to communicate and connect with them. Creator Keiko Tobe gets this, and it is clear that she has done very thorough research into autism. Currently, there isn't really anything else like With the Light, so it is fortunate that it is such a superb work. This is a series that can be recommended to even those who have never read manga before. The illustrations are clean, the panels are easy enough to follow, there is a fair amount of text, and you can start with any volume because important plot and character points get reiterated.
October 21, 2018
Christ almighty, that Hikaru won't stop having these fits. Don't know what the hell those China people are feeding their kids. Probably no better than that Little Rocket Man, givin those skinny bastards corn flakes in year old milk. What a disaster! Meanwhile over here we got all these healthy, beautiful kids who aren't spazzing out because they're dining on decent fuckin' cuisine, like those Fish Delights at McDonald's. Barron eats that stuff all day, and I give him a 6 pack of Mountain Dew to keep the mind workin right. Astonishing kid, you should really see those IQ scores. Through the fuckin' roof. Hikaru's bum parents could really learn a thing or two from your great and brave President. Still this is a definite must-read, makes you really happy you don't have one of these circus acts banging down the walls everytime theres a loud fuckin' noise.
July 6, 2021
I like this series but it is moving too slow. I’m getting bored.
I’m not saying that learning about autism is boring… The story is spending a lot of time in elementary school, so it gets repetitive. I am happy to see Hikaru, as well as his classmates, grow and learn though!
I’m not saying that learning about autism is boring… The story is spending a lot of time in elementary school, so it gets repetitive. I am happy to see Hikaru, as well as his classmates, grow and learn though!
October 15, 2019
Loved this one
April 15, 2022
Continues to be a beautiful story of real love. Manga really is an amazing story telling tool.
August 23, 2012
With the Light is the story of Sachiko Azuma and her son Hikaru, an autistic boy, and the trials and tribulations of their lives. (Mild Spoilers ahead)
Volume 3 starts with kaleidoscopes and the unknown dangers thereof and follows through as Gunji-sensei tries to be a better teacher to the special education class (in her own way) even though the crayfish project is the last thing she wants to be involved in! Most exciting is Hikaru's participation in the school field trip, three nights and four days away from Sachiko!
As before, the depth of the characters and the fun of the story makes it all too easy to devour the 3 in 1 size volume in one go.
I recommend this series to lovers of manga, those who want to try manga and would like to start out with the best and anyone who is interested in a story involving and autistic child.
Volume 3 starts with kaleidoscopes and the unknown dangers thereof and follows through as Gunji-sensei tries to be a better teacher to the special education class (in her own way) even though the crayfish project is the last thing she wants to be involved in! Most exciting is Hikaru's participation in the school field trip, three nights and four days away from Sachiko!
As before, the depth of the characters and the fun of the story makes it all too easy to devour the 3 in 1 size volume in one go.
I recommend this series to lovers of manga, those who want to try manga and would like to start out with the best and anyone who is interested in a story involving and autistic child.
January 14, 2010
I wish the D.C. Library was better about buying whole series. Checked this out of Champaign and will send it back with my parents. -- I liked this because I am really starting to get a sense of how an autistic person learns and develops - at their own rate, but definitely impressively well and by way of many innovations devised by his caretakers here and there. The little family dramas and the personalities of other children in this book were pretty great too. As Hikaru grows older, his parents and teachers have more chances to figure out how to communicate with him, and so he is able to develop more in turn.And I'm finally starting to not hate the big-eyed manga style! I wonder what challenges 4 will bring!
October 7, 2012
These are great books as far as educational value. The personal stories at the end of each book give some wonderful insight into autistic people and their families, their struggles.
That said, the actual storyline in the book moves very slowly. I finished this one, and may pick up the others just to read the stories at the end of each book, but won't likely continue with the rest. I found myself wanting to skip ahead and see what happens - when that happens, I know I've lost interest.
That said, the actual storyline in the book moves very slowly. I finished this one, and may pick up the others just to read the stories at the end of each book, but won't likely continue with the rest. I found myself wanting to skip ahead and see what happens - when that happens, I know I've lost interest.
January 30, 2016
Excellent! This book in the series covers 5th grade. Talks about the beginnings of puberty, peer relationships, and other changes our tweens experience. I love the opportunity to read more about what is happening to my son. Again, the book reminds me to appreciate how far we've come, forgive myself for small mistakes, and lean on others for support.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews