My favorite Manga series of all time. It is a very realistic and respectful take on what growing up with autism is like, specifically in Japan in the 2000's. Very heartwarming and gorgeously drawn story. This manga helped me develop a deeper understanding of my friends who most of them are on the spectrum (including me, who was not diagnosed until February 2011) and I was crestfallen when I found out about Keiko Tobe's passing. I am still not over her passing. I never will be. However, my biggest criticism would have to be that it is super DATED. Like statistics and science on kids diagnosedwith autism is outdated, it is told from the perspective of adults taking care of kids with autism and not from an autistic person's point of view so there are some things that are stereotyping or treating it as an issue than just a trait of someone, etc. Heck, Tobe herself based this story on a friend's kid, not herself or her own direct experience. Even though it's the first (and only that I know of) representation of autism in manga (I've heard something about one of the characters in Belle being autistic, but not 100 percent confirmed), it does a magnificent job of representing autism on different levels and with different people, and other disabilities as well (there's a kid with dyslexia and another kid with autism and ADHD too!). I wish there were other anime that had confirmed autistic representation.

There needs to be an anime of this, based on the WHOLE manga, no arcs skipped, faithful, no corners cut. However it should be modernized so it's relatable to today's audience. The only thing is that Keiko Tobe wouldn't be able to be involved sadly. It would have to be done SUPER well and respectfully.

How not as much people know about this manga is beyond me! I didn't even discover it in a disability setting, just in my local library at the teen room!

Recommended for everyone. If you have a pulse, then what are you waiting for?!? READ THIS MANGA ASAP! Though IDK how easy it is to find online.