A Silent Voice, Vol. 1

Ah, I think I'm really going to like this book. This was a great start and I like dynamics and relationships going on between the main two characters especially. How interesting it can be where the deaf girl was once welcomed and everyone wanted to help her then she just kinda interrupted their schedule and became an inconvenience which lead to the others tolerance of her being bullied or bullying her themselves. Interesting also to see that her main bully (and our man character) did bully her but also became a scapegoat for students to blame and became bullied and isolated himself. AH! This isn't even the whole book! The obvious theme her is bullying but I feel this could be a blown out discussion. Is it his fault? Could she have done something more? The teacher (who sucks btw) is to be to blamed? Is bullying a part of life? He has such a kind and nice mom, why is he bullying people? Did the students that started to ignore the problem become the problem? There is such a discussion to be had here which I think would be really nice for students or parents to really take a look at this book. So, if any of you want to read this and talk to me I would be so delighted!

The story and the art work is really what make this stand out. The characters aren't exactly likable or un-likeable (they only have a couple of characteristics) because I think they were working more on the plot and story. ~Ashley

The score would not have been repeated if it weren't for the collectors edition format. The interviews after the story really bring out aspects of the story in hindsight which really help with understanding the narrative and small things that are missed

This was on our high school's summer reading list a while ago and I finally picked it up while at the desk the other day. (Don't tell.) I enjoyed it but it's definitely the first volume. I have a feeling if I continue I will be emotionally devastated.

2.5 stars Excuse the rant, but YIKES. So this is a story about bullying: Shoya is a ~daredevil who bullies people because he's bored and Shoka is the poor girl being bullied because she's deaf... I mean, I enjoyed the story, but the characters are ALL horrible! Shoya is so rude to his mother (he calls her an old hag and she basically thinks its funny), he's being awful to Shoka who can't really defend herself (but fear not cause karma is a bitch? no.) and nobody ever calls him out on it until it's fucking too late and things have gone too far. The teacher is just as hopeless. I kid you not, when another teacher suggests they all learn sign language he basically goes: “meh, why should we, it's not going to help”!!! The entire class is mean/annoyed with Shoya because she's “slowing everybody down”. And Shoya's mother tells Shoko he has a “vulgar face, just like his mother”. WHAT IS GOING ON PEOPLE?

I have mixed feelings about this series. I still can't decide whether I like it or not.

Meh.