Keiko Tobe: With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child (Volume 8)

Excerpt

With the light: Raising an autistic child (Volume 8) is the final installment in the series. As in prior installments of the series this volume is structured identically to the previous volumes. Most notable to western readers is the orientation of the book is from right to left or back to front. This was done in order to maintain the integrity of the story and the flow of the artwork. The publisher provides reading tips to the neophyte reader who might be disoriented to the structure at first. Cultural notes with an explanation of the usage of honorifics are located toward the beginning of the book as was done in previous editions. Likewise, translation notes are located toward the end of the book with explanations of certain holidays, sayings, or food that are unique to this particular volume. Also, as in previous volumes a narrative is included by an expert in the field of child development or autism. In Volume 8 Akira Komori writes about two characters from a subplot of the series concerning domestic violence, substance abuse, and child protective services. Her take on the subplot is from the vantage point of an adult with Asperger syndrome who was not diagnosed until later in life. She wonders about children with autism who grow up in circumstances where the families are not warm, nurturing, and supportive like Hikaru’s family in With the light. …