![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mangavillage.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/With-the-Light-5.jpg\")
<\/a>Publisher: <\/strong>Yen Press\nAge Rating:<\/strong> Older Teen
\nGenre:<\/strong> True to Life Drama
\nPrice:<\/strong> $14.99<\/p>\n
It continues to be \u201ctwo steps forward, one step back\u201d for Sachiko as she struggles to get her son accepted by the people around her. A new teacher and Principal at school sets her back to square one with explaining Hikaru\u2019s disabilities, neither of which are very sympathetic. Neither are the administrators who think Hikaru should be in a school for the disabled instead of the regular junior high with a program that Sachiko and Masato want. These are supposed to be people who understand the circumstances and should want what\u2019s best for the student. Instead they all come off as not wanting to deal with it.<\/p>\n
Things aren\u2019t any better outside of school, as Sachiko has to deal with Japanese society\u2019s obsession with politeness and appearance. Sachiko is constantly having to explain Hikaru\u2019s actions and apologize for his perceived rudeness. Even his own grandmother, Masato\u2019s mother, still can see past his disabilities and expects him to act like a normal child. She is constantly saying or thinking how embarrassed she is by Hikaru. Even Hikaru\u2019s sister, Kanon starts to feel the pressure as she starts elementary school, and people remember how Hikaru used to act. There is no place for people with problems like Hikaru\u2019s in such a society.<\/p>\n
One of the things I really like about these volumes is that Hikaru and his problems weren\u2019t the sole focus. In volume 5, two classmates are introduced who have different disabilities that aren\u2019t as crippling as Hikaru\u2019s , but are just as misunderstood, especially since they can\u2019t generally be diagnosed at birth. The children are just seen as being difficult or lazy by both teachers and parents. Volume 6 spends very little time on Hikaru, and more on the growing responsibilities Sachiko has to deal with. When her mother is hospitalized, she has to help out her father who doesn\u2019t know how do things like cook, or do laundry. So she has to balance helping him, with her other responsibilities.\u00a0 Even though Sachiko is always so positive and upbeat, even she can get worn down, and it does cause some problems between her and Masato.<\/p>\n