The award-winning modern classic about a girl who can't hear and her bully, which inspired the acclaimed anime film from Kyoto Animation, returns in a beautiful, two-volume collector's edition. Each extra-large, deluxe hardcover contains about 700 pages of manga on crisp, premium paper, and more than fifty pages of new content. Watch for Part Two in 2022!
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten Selection; Eisner Award Nominee
"A Silent Voice isn't just a potential conversation starter about bullying, it also teaches empathy and has the potential to change behavior." -School Library Journal "A very rare chance to see characters with disabilities represented on the page and a harsh light shed on the way that Japanese culture handles this difficult topic." -Comics Bulletin
This deluxe, large-sized hardcover includes the first half of the story of A Silent Voice, extending from Vol. 1 through half of Vol. 4, as well as over fifty pages of content never published in English before, such as the early drafts of the story, behind-the-scenes details from creator Yoshitoki Oima, and color art and concept sketch galleries. Collectors and new readers alike won't want to miss it!
Even though her one-shot Koe no Katachi won critical acclaim, it took a longsome law suit to get a magazine to publish it because of its socio-critical theme. Eventually, it was featured in the February edition of Bessatsu Shounen Magazin, where it placed first, and later in the 12th edition of the 2013 Weekly Shounen Magazine.
She has also collaborated with UBUKATA Tow for the manga adaption of his novel Mardock Scramble.
Since this collection encompasses four manga volumes, I will count this as manga reads 9-12 in my 30 in 30 Manga challenge for the month of November 2022.
Quick review for a progressive read. Oh this special collectors edition of "A Silent Voice" is so beautiful. I'm reading through the series for the first time beginning to end for this entire collection (I've read a few volumes before, but this is my first time going through the completed series.) I have to say that this is one of the strongest stories I've seen of its kind. Not just in the portrayal of a character with a disability (Shoko is deaf) but also showcasing the very real consequences of bullying, and ultimately becoming a story of reconnection despite the characters' respective history.
It starts with the characters meeting in elementary school. Shoko is a new transfer whom stands out among her peers as her communication is limited due to her disability. Shoya is a daredevil, reckless boy who instantly hates her because she's different and begins to bully her. When his bullying becomes so much that Shoko transfers schools, Shoya (soon after) becomes the target of bullying himself.
Fast forward to when the two are in high school, Shoya and Shoko reunite and it's definitely not under the best of circumstances. Shoya realizes what he did to Shoko was wrong, and has to navigate how best to make things right. It's a realistic, often heartbreaking portrayal, with moments of levity as the two main characters reconnect and try to learn about each other more. I found getting to know them, as well as the surrounding cast of characters, to be refreshingly open and honest, as well as a joy to follow. Shoko and Shoya's reconnection doesn't come without its bumps in the road, and there are a number of characters who are more than willing to call Shoya out on his past treatment of not only Shoko, but other characters.
This volume leaves off at a place where Shoya and Shoko's relationship is deepening and taking a turn, but not without some wedges to work through, particularly when certain other characters are not exactly willing to change their previous behaviors. I liked that this special collectors' edition included sketches, illustrations, interviews, and even the OG short one-shot manga that eventually lead to the expanded series. It's definitely worth getting in this version if you want the whole series in a collection of two volumes and if you are a manga collector like me who also likes the extras. It's 700+ pages with beautiful art quality and pristine pages, alongside depicting the start to a brilliant story.
I will definitely be reading the second part of this volume very soon.
Kann mir jemand mal verraten, wie ein Manga von außen so niedlich wirken und sich gleichzeitig mit so schweren Themen wie Mobbing und Suizidgedanken herumschlagen kann?
Ishida ist als Geundschüler wirklich alles andere als sympathisch. Doch spannend wie sich das Blatt wenden kann… ich musste die ganze Zeit an „wer einmal lügt, dem glaubt man nicht.“ denken. Dennoch ist sein darauf folgendes Schicksal nicht gerechtfertigt. Die art wir Ischida alle anderen plötzlich wahrnimmt, wird grafisch interessant umgesetzt.
Die Geschichte zeigt, wie schwer es ist sich zu ändern, aber dass das kriegen einer zweiten Chance ein ganzes Leben verändern kann.
Was mir dabei besondern gefällt ist die Philosophie darüber, was Freundschaft bedeutet. Irgendwie hat mich das berührt und eine Weile beschäftigt.
I love this manga. But I think its movie express its core message of the story better than manga. The ending of the movie is more logical and brilliant than manga. Manga i felt dragged unnecessary. I like silent voice Manga undoubtedly but still I suggest movie more than its manga for story, Animation and its awesome music.
This story is so beautifully complex and deep. I haven't seen the movie and I definitely loved bein surprised by everything. Sahara is my fave so far. I thought it was gonna be super depressing, and it is, but it has a hopeful undertone that makes me feel warm.
Ich habe vor Jahren den Anime gesehen. Als ich diese Luxury Edition im Buchladen gesehen habe, musste ich sie einfach kaufen. 🙊 Tatsächlich muss ich sagen, dass ich den Manga etwas mehr mag als den Anime. 🙈 Am Ende gibt es auch noch tolle Hintergrundinformationen. 😍
It's like a romcom but not overly rom, not overly com. So maybe more like a FrienDram?
I do like that this, unlike most romantic type stories, presents us with a genuinely unlikable protagonist, who genuinely was a little dickhead. ENOUGH with the protagonists whose main flaw is being "too hardworking." C'mon, guys, that's some job interview bullshit that people don't even say because it's TOO obviously a way to suck up instead of actually talking about a flaw.
At the same time, why do people in job interviews ask questions like, "What are your biggest flaws?" That's such a dumb question. Because my biggest flaws?
"Thanks for asking, I've thought about this a lot because one of my flaws is overthinking and having anxiety over things that really don't matter. Actually, that's probably my biggest flaw. You might be about to say something about how there's an advantage there, or maybe you're about to toss it off like, 'Well, better than not thinking at all!' but please don't do that, it's much worse. Because, like, why am I thinking through a dozen different scenarios when I try to pick a sandwich from a menu board? Why does it have to occur to me that, gee, I don't really like French Dip sandwiches, of things arbitrarily labeled "French," those sandwiches are pretty low on the list of ones I like, but what if this is the BEST one and I'm missing out on the quintessential French Dip? I mean, sure, I probably still won't like it, but at least then I'd know for sure, I could close that tab in my brain that's running in the background, wondering if maybe the French Dip is for me."
Unbelievable piece of work. There is so much depth and meaning in this story. A Silent Voice is the exploration of communication, bullying, friendship, change, regret, redemption, and so many other things. It follows Shoya Ishida from childhood, showing who he is and why he thinks the way he thinks. Shoya’s sister says that “Life is a war against boredom,” a quote that I’ve been thinking about a ton and that forms the basis of the young character’s mindset. When a deaf girl joins his class, we watch as over time Shoya begins to bully her. We see every moment that leads to this decision and understand exactly why he does what he does. Then, we see the table turn on him. An older, more mature Shoya has spent years regretting how he acted and decides he has to at least try to make amends. Shoya’s battle to make up for the past, make peace with himself, discover the true meaning of friendship, and earn the right to be happy ends up bringing together some new faces with a lot of faces from his past. With Shoya and Shoko, the girl he used to bully, at the center of the story, A Silent Voice just hammers away at so many themes so wonderfully. There are some gasp-worthy moments and a ton of emotions, but man is this an important story. It should probably be required reading honestly lol. So delighted to be reading this series and the deluxe books are just gorgeous. Masterpiece
A Silent Voice is the story of a Deaf girl and the boy who bullied her in elementary school. Shoya eventually becomes bullied himself, and by the time he's a high school senior, he greatly regrets his actions and seeks out the one he bullied, if only to apologize for what he did.
Truthfully, the manga is unsettling. Why? Because it's so painfully realistic. Around one in five students report being bullied. While the manga sometimes depicts extreme bullying, it also shows the more insidious side that people experience. It's utterly heartbreaking. At the same time, there's a hopeful undertone to the story as Shoya and Shoko reconnect and start to learn more about each other.
This collector's edition includes early sketches, translation notes, and several full-color spreads. Also included is the one-shot, originally published in 2008, that would become A Silent Voice, as well as interviews with the author.
TW: bullying, ableism, child abuse, and suicidal thoughts
Tämä hyppäsi lempimangojen joukkoon kertalukemalta <3 Tarina on ollut tähän mennessä koskettava, hahmot ovat kaikki moniulotteisia ja kiinnostavia, ja raskaista aiheista huolimatta tästä jäi hyvä mieli. En osaa arvioida, onko Shokon hahmo vähän turhan kiltti marttyyri, joka ottaa kiusaamisen liian nöyrästi vastaan eikä kanna kaunaa mistään, mutta hänen hahmonsa muistuttaa paljon Fruits Basketin Honda Tohrua, joka on yksi minun lemppareistani :D Tämä sarja muistutti myös, että olen jo kauan halunnut opetella viittomakieltä. Mahtaisikohan kansalaisopiston kursseille päästä vielä...
A Silent Voice will forever be one of my favorite animated movies. I've watched it at least four times and every time I end up bawling like a baby.
I just had to read the manga. And I couldn't resist the collector's edition.
What I love about the manga is all the extra details that weren't captured in the movie. The art is beautiful, and the interactions are wonderful, but there are so many layers in here that further shed light on why Shoya acted the way he did, and I feel like I understand the characters better now.
Story: In elementary school, a deaf girl joins Shoya's class. Shoya bullies her, breaks her hearing aids and writes mean things about her. Years later Shoya tries to reconnect with her and apologize.
Language: Japan, near present - themes of bullying, communication, suicide, friendship.
Characters: Shoya lives with his hairdresser mom and older sister.
Wow, excellent storyline. I liked the depictions of X's and the struggles in Shoya's head. I hope I can get a copy of part two.
No sé que poner bien aquí porque sigo con la mezcla de emociones que me provocó esta primera parte del manga.
Me pareció una obra muy triste y dolorosa, algo muy real con lo que cualquier puede simpatizar con personajes con los que facilmente te puedes identificar.
La vida diria de alguien con una discapacidad y la reacción que tienen los demás ante esto. Desde la crueldad e ignorancia de los niños hasta la culpa y rencor de los grandes.
Hermosos dibujos con una historia muy bonita, espero con ansias leer la segunda parte.
4.7*/5 The movie was on my letterboxd top 4 for a good reason. This is one of my favourite anime's/manga oat. The characters feel really realistic and I find each one relatable in some sense even if it's in a quite confronting manner. Some of the scenes with Naoka in this book made me kind of uncomfortable, but at the same time I'm just as drawn to her wretchedness. I think the author does such a good job at showing each character's feelings in a way that I cant help but understand and sympathise with, even if it comes from intolerance.
Heartbreaking portrayal of bullying, deafness, and repairing friendships. I really admire Shoya's determination to make the past right.
I wish we knew more what Shoko was thinking and feeling! I know that's her whole character, but it's just so mysterious. Why was she so kind to Shoya even when he was cruel to her? Did she understand what he was doing? Where does her need to say "I'm sorry" come from?
A lover of Yamada's 2016 film, I knew I had to eventually read the manga. I cannot overstate how much I love it. The art is beautiful and thoughtful. The characters are poignant and interesting. The story is real with its frustrations and tiny triumphs. To me, it is the best representation of depression I've come across. Thank you, Yoshitoki Oima. I am so grateful that you labored over this book so I could read it one day.
Really disappointing book. I really feel that the writer was going for an honest and heartfelt examination of the consequences of bullying. But in the end the story did not work. There is so much teen angst, repressed emotion and unintentional misunderstanding in this story that I started to get frustrated with pretty much all the main characters. I guess I'm not the target audience for this.
OH MY GOSH I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!! I literally read it in 2 days… I loved the portrayal of a deaf character. But when I started reading the book I was like “what the heck is this?” Because it’s about bullying and stuff… it’s pretty intense in some parts. BUT IT’S SO GOOD!! Would definitely recommend!!!
'A Silent Voice' Early Sketch Gallery Translation Note Color Illustration Gallery "A Silent Voice" - One-shot later adapted into 'A Silent Voice' (80th Kodansha Manga Awards, Best Newcomer, 2008) Interview with Author, and Voice Actress Kasumi Arimura 'A Silent Voice' Q&A Long Interview with Yoshitoki Oima, Part 1
I have loved this story ever since finding the movie on Netflix several years ago, and when I learned it was a manga I wanted to read it. Books always tend to give a better opportunity for delving deeper into the characters and story than movies, and this one was a TRIP.
It’s a sweet, cute, and fun story about a couple of awkward teens becoming friends after rough childhood experiences. It’s also a deep, moving, and thought-provoking story about miscommunication, disability, and bullying; how it can break a person and how difficult it can be to heal. But what’s so triumphant about this story is the stark contrasts and how the two main characters struggle at the brink of oblivion to find the courage and the will to rise above the hurt done to/by them and the lies they’ve come to believe. To change. To make connections. To value themselves. To forgive—both themselves and others—and to move forward.
I honestly can’t get enough of this story. These kids make my heart ache and rejoice all at the same time. Absolutely wonderful.
I adore this series. I haven’t watched the movie, and somehow avoided any spoilers, so I went into this completely blind. In the 28 chapters, this book made me both laugh and cry a whole bunch of times.
Love this - kids struggling to figure themselves out and how (and who) they want to be as they grow up. This is a great collector's set - I like having these single (or in this case, double) volumes for my shelves.
I loved the movie and the book is even better. I especially loved the interviews featured in the collector's edition, and the one shot that inspired the manga. If you are a big fan of the movie, then you would love this collector's edition.
My gosh this manga! I’ve never read anything in my life that had me in my feelings quite like this. There is so much to think about and reflect on when/after reading it. It touches on many really deep themes and in a way where it connects with you personally. Cannot recommend this enough!!
The score would not have been repeated if it weren’t for the collectors edition format. The interviews after the story really bring out aspects of the story in hindsight which really help with understanding the narrative and small things that are missed