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With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child #5
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child
Another school year might be over for Hikaru Azuma, but his mom has no time to rest. With both a new teacher and new classmates of different ages and varying disabilities ahead in fifth grade, Sachiko starts preparing for the difficulties that come with sudden changes to her autistic son's routine. Despite her best efforts, Sachiko meets with much opposition from the new teacher, and the Azumas have to cope with Hikaru acting out as a result of the stressful changes at school. Moreover, when the time comes for the family to decide on Hikaru's junior high, the local education administrators seem to think that a school for the disabled is the best fit for Hikaru, partly because of his recent behavior. But Sachiko, who has done her research, knows this to be false. Will she and Masato be able to convince the authorities and specialists that they know what is best for their son?
528 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2009
6 people are currently reading
166 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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 4, 2010
Volume 5 in the With the Light series is quick-moving, but serves primarily as a transition between volume 4 and the events foreshadowed for the next installment; after Hikaru's elementary school teacher Gunji-sensei retires, he begins sixth grade with a young male teacher who's been transferred from another district due to anger problems. The teacher improves but never really excels, with Hikaru graduating and another student transferring before he's had much of a chance to settle in. Meanwhile, Hikaru's mother, Sachiko, visits every school in Tokyo trying to find a good fit for junior high. Hikaru's "buddy" class counterparts struggle with their own applications, admissions tests, and decisions for junior high school.
And so volume five offers a deeper look into the workings of the Japanese school system (which, to an outsider, seems less inscrutable than only the British options). We can tell that big things are going to happen to Hikaru and his former classmates, although it's uncertain how much of them we'll be seeing again. Characters have a way of coming back in Keiko Tobe's world, though, so I wouldn't expect to be saying goodbye to anyone permanently. I was disappointed that a few plot threads seem to have been dropped from the previous installment, such as Oki-kun's bullying in the foster care system.
And so volume five offers a deeper look into the workings of the Japanese school system (which, to an outsider, seems less inscrutable than only the British options). We can tell that big things are going to happen to Hikaru and his former classmates, although it's uncertain how much of them we'll be seeing again. Characters have a way of coming back in Keiko Tobe's world, though, so I wouldn't expect to be saying goodbye to anyone permanently. I was disappointed that a few plot threads seem to have been dropped from the previous installment, such as Oki-kun's bullying in the foster care system.
October 21, 2018
I'm losing faith in the kid. Not my kid, but Hikaru. Let's get this straight: Barron's doing great. Just terrific. But this Hikaru kid is really troubled. I'm talking straight-jacket troubled. I ain't seen bullshit this bad since Melania got laid up after popping Barron out. Doctor told me it was something called "postservice degression", I don't fuckin' know. I needed some comfort, what guy doesn't? So I got my needs met with that piece Stormy Keibler or whatever. I tell ya, she should have been more loyal, what with all the money I threw at her. I gave her money BEFORE and AFTER, and that bimbo still didn't get the hint! Nobody around here appreciates my honesty. Anyway, Hikaru's parents are really fumbling the fuckin' ball. That twerp Hikaru is screaming so loud, I can hear it in my fuckin' head. Good writing.
November 20, 2022
Continuing as a strong slice of life piece examining raising an autistic child. This volume feels like you've got into a rhythm, but if you're looking for any kinds of massive action, probably a bit dull.
July 9, 2021
Aw Hikaru has graduated elementary school and will start junior high next volume!
July 31, 2014
My overall review of the series is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately, in this volume, I'm starting to see more of the subtle negativity towards autism that I've encountered in real life, both in the text and in the supplemental information at the end-- traces of pity, tragedizing, and judging of those who don't "fit in" rather than those who treat them as outcasts. The cultural notes have also diminished greatly (this is due to the translator, I presume, rather than the author), and I find myself with many questions about events and topics referred to in the story.
On the plus side, this story introduces characters with other developmental differences -- ADHD and Learning Disability/Dyslexia. Sadly, both children are initially characterized as troublemakers by the school and their parents. Interestingly, this is a cultural opposite from America, where (at least until very recently), Dyselxia was relatively easily identified and accommodated, but an Autism diagnosis left people completely baffled.
As Hikaru, the main character who is autistic, gets into middle school, it becomes less comfortable to see his family making all the decisions about his future without consulting him. They take his observed preferences into account, but don't discuss options with him (such as school placement) until they have made a decision.
Hikaru's mother, Sachiko, is searching for a high school to send him to. In her visits, she sees some of the more negative options-- places where the children are maltreated or ignored, or places where they seem happy but are doing mere busywork with no goals or individualized lesson plans. She even visits one school that seems ideal, until another parent warns her that they double the staff for visiting days to make it seem more well-run than it is. Since these are all common problems in special education classrooms, I'm glad the story addressed these possibilities.
In contrast to this dose of reality, Hikaru's family seems to have a ridiculously rosy view of the idea of having some form of legal guardianship put in place for him. Their concerns are reasonable-- that people will cheat him and take advantage, that he may not be able to manage his own finances-- but to jump so easily to the idea of giving another person (and not even a family member!) so much power over him... I really wish they'd acknowledge that this is problematic, and that many disabled people wind up getting cheated by the very people who are hired to protect them. I also think it's important to discuss his right to make independent life decisions in spite of his disability.
One thing I did really like was that, in episode 41, Hikaru's father brought a tape recording of a very noisy train station to a meeting with Hiukaru's school officials, and made them listen to it as an aid to explaining Hikaru's auditory sensitivities and inability to function academically in a noisy space.
And a very great quote from episode 39, on the topic of children whose needs do not get accommodated:
"I'd like all adults involved with children to know that there are children who can't learn in a standard classroom.
"And I want them to understand that it's the children who suffer from the ignorance of the adults around them.">
Unfortunately, in this volume, I'm starting to see more of the subtle negativity towards autism that I've encountered in real life, both in the text and in the supplemental information at the end-- traces of pity, tragedizing, and judging of those who don't "fit in" rather than those who treat them as outcasts. The cultural notes have also diminished greatly (this is due to the translator, I presume, rather than the author), and I find myself with many questions about events and topics referred to in the story.
On the plus side, this story introduces characters with other developmental differences -- ADHD and Learning Disability/Dyslexia. Sadly, both children are initially characterized as troublemakers by the school and their parents. Interestingly, this is a cultural opposite from America, where (at least until very recently), Dyselxia was relatively easily identified and accommodated, but an Autism diagnosis left people completely baffled.
As Hikaru, the main character who is autistic, gets into middle school, it becomes less comfortable to see his family making all the decisions about his future without consulting him. They take his observed preferences into account, but don't discuss options with him (such as school placement) until they have made a decision.
Hikaru's mother, Sachiko, is searching for a high school to send him to. In her visits, she sees some of the more negative options-- places where the children are maltreated or ignored, or places where they seem happy but are doing mere busywork with no goals or individualized lesson plans. She even visits one school that seems ideal, until another parent warns her that they double the staff for visiting days to make it seem more well-run than it is. Since these are all common problems in special education classrooms, I'm glad the story addressed these possibilities.
In contrast to this dose of reality, Hikaru's family seems to have a ridiculously rosy view of the idea of having some form of legal guardianship put in place for him. Their concerns are reasonable-- that people will cheat him and take advantage, that he may not be able to manage his own finances-- but to jump so easily to the idea of giving another person (and not even a family member!) so much power over him... I really wish they'd acknowledge that this is problematic, and that many disabled people wind up getting cheated by the very people who are hired to protect them. I also think it's important to discuss his right to make independent life decisions in spite of his disability.
One thing I did really like was that, in episode 41, Hikaru's father brought a tape recording of a very noisy train station to a meeting with Hiukaru's school officials, and made them listen to it as an aid to explaining Hikaru's auditory sensitivities and inability to function academically in a noisy space.
And a very great quote from episode 39, on the topic of children whose needs do not get accommodated:
"I'd like all adults involved with children to know that there are children who can't learn in a standard classroom.
"And I want them to understand that it's the children who suffer from the ignorance of the adults around them.">
August 27, 2012
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1983218.html[return][return]I'm working through this excellent manga series about the difficulties of raising an autistic child in contemporary Japan; in this volume, Hikaru Azuma finishes elementary school and moves on to junior high, his mother Sachiko dealing with the problems of a new and tremendously unsympathetic special education teacher in his old school and with the insanity of the system for choosing the next step - is there any country that gets this right? They also have to deal with bullies from a neighbouring school and also help Hikaru's fellow students (and their parents) with other difficulties: the dyslexic kid, the ADHD kid, and also the kid whose father gets drunk and beats her mother. The elementary school years end fairly triumphantly with Hikaru participating in the graduation ceremony in his own particular way, but then the last three installments are a bit disjointed as we establish the junior high setting. Still a gripping read, though.
August 24, 2012
With the Light is the touching tale of Sachiko Azuma and her autistic son, Hikaru, and their daily life. Spoilers ahead.
Gunji-sensei retires as Hikaru enters the final year of elementary school and somehow the new teacher is even more obstinate than Gunji-sensei when she first took over, so the teacher struggle begins anew and is worsened by the addition of new classmates. These new classmates have very different disabilities to Hikaru and Miyu, which can prove to be disruptive to the autistic children. Graduation is fast approaching as well so Sachiko needs to think about what junior high she will send Hikaru to. Bullies from the local junior high (the previous first preference) force Sachiko to go on a city-wide trek to find the perfect school.
Plenty of action and upheaveal in this volume and an ending that makes me hungry for the next volume - which my comic book store doesn't have! Argh! To the online stores!
I recommend this series to any manga fan or anyone wanting to try out manga as well as anyone interested in learning more about life with an autistic family member.
Gunji-sensei retires as Hikaru enters the final year of elementary school and somehow the new teacher is even more obstinate than Gunji-sensei when she first took over, so the teacher struggle begins anew and is worsened by the addition of new classmates. These new classmates have very different disabilities to Hikaru and Miyu, which can prove to be disruptive to the autistic children. Graduation is fast approaching as well so Sachiko needs to think about what junior high she will send Hikaru to. Bullies from the local junior high (the previous first preference) force Sachiko to go on a city-wide trek to find the perfect school.
Plenty of action and upheaveal in this volume and an ending that makes me hungry for the next volume - which my comic book store doesn't have! Argh! To the online stores!
I recommend this series to any manga fan or anyone wanting to try out manga as well as anyone interested in learning more about life with an autistic family member.
August 12, 2016
It’s been forever since I read the previous volume, but it wasn’t hard to remember what had happened. This is a great manga series, but now I’d like to read more about Eri… I hope we get to see her again
December 30, 2010
Reviewing for Manga Village
July 1, 2016
Must read for all parents and friends of children with autism. The child is transitioning from 6th to 7th grade in this book. The parents struggle to find a good school for him.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews