My Brain Is Different

Paperback, 190 pages

English language

Published April 11, 2022 by Seven Seas Entertainment.

ISBN:: 978-1-63858-235-9
ASIN:: B09WZS171N

(2 reviews)

This intimate manga anthology is about the struggles and triumphs of individuals learning to navigate daily life with a developmental disorder. The comics follow the stories of nine people, including: a junior high dropout finding an alternate path to education; a former "troublesome" child helping kids at a support school; a so-called problem child realizing the beauty of his own unique quirks; and a man falling in love with the world with the help of a new medication. This inspiring volume illustrates their diverse anxieties and finding self-empowerment in a world not quite built with them in mind.

1 edition

pdotb reviewed My Brain Is Different by MONZUSU

A tough read, but worth it

5 stars

Pretty hard going in parts as most of the stories involve the people concerned struggling through school and being bullied, and then the teachers joining in :( Ultimately pretty hopeful, though, as each contributor receives a diagnosis which at minimum allows them to make sense of their earlier life, and often allows them to make adaptations or receive accommodations to make things easier in the future.

CWs for suicidal ideation/attempts, abusive parenting, and bullying

Tsundoku reviewed My Brain Is Different by MONZUSU

An anthology of Neuro-divergent people in Japan; if you are Neurodiverse, you can probably relate to this even if you have never lived in Japan

5 stars

Content warning CW: Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempts (no successful attempts), bullying by both teacher and peers, take care of yourself reading this

Basically, the only reason I am not giving 5 stars is I would have felt a trigger warning at the beginning of the book (if I find out there was one and I simply didn't see it I will update this) would have been a REALLY good idea. This is an extremely dark anthology. I recommend it, but read with care--I had to take several breaks reading this.

I will say, the people in this book are ultimately hopeful that things ARE improving / will improve.

I am jealous that Japan seems to have better occupational therapy than the place I tried lol.