A Silent Voice 1 Paperback – Illustrated, May 26, 2015

I really enjoyed this book. The story line was interesting and well done. The art was beautiful. This book was recommended to me by an English student of mine who loves this author because she knows I also teach the deaf and thought I would enjoy it. It was a really touching book and think it was a good way to show how hurtful and damaging bullying can be for those who have anything that makes them stand out in a way that is seen as negative. The MC was a typical teen so you get angry with him but also root for him to be better.The was my first real manga so the structure of how to read (left to right/right to left) was a little confusing at first but it was easy to figure out. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.

This review is of the first volume alone, so please keep in mind that is how I am judging the story at this point. It's not often a story can get an immediate reaction out of me. Within a single chapter I had an idea of what the story was going for and realized to my horror that the first volume was basically what would become one of the most difficult but fast reads I have done with any series. I blew through the first volume within an hour or so. It's engrossing but mainly because of how well one can relate to it. As an anime and manga fan I was not a cool kid in middle school or high school. It's unlikely that those interests would ever allow for a "popular" kid in that age. So, bullying isn't something I'm unused to. I have also been working with troubled youth and those with learning disabilities for the past 2 years so this story is a painful reminder of what kind of things adolescents will do to one another in their ignorance.It's not difficult to relate to the story of someone being bullied but this story actually takes place from the perspective of someone who is the bully, a non-traditional setup. If you're anything like me, you may have a hard time getting through the story knowing that the main character you're following is the bully in this particular story. While that dichotomy changes a bit as the volume goes on this first volume isn't an easy story to swallow. But the fact that it is so important is what makes it truly shine. The characters are all real and it's not hard to see how many of these people exist in everyday life, even outside of the Japanese culture. The voices of shame of and guilt that resonant after the ignorance and bullying are given light are all too common and when enough becomes too much it really hits home to see how the dynamic of the story changes up.The art for this particular series is beautiful. In fact, in a day and age where stories like this tend to focus on pretty yet great drawing, this particular series has a bit of grit to it which makes it that much more appealing given the tone of the series.Since this is only the first volume it's hard to say where the story will go from here in terms of quality. As far as beginning volumes though, this one definitely has lasting impact even without the continued plot. I'll be very interested in reading what comes to follow.

This was a truly amazing manga. Bullying was portrayed in a very realistic manner and the characters were unique. It portrayed bullying without being too preachy about the evils of bullying and instead relies on the 'show don't tell' approach. The art was crisp but a little clumsy on certain panels but altogether very good. The story was well organized and the characters were interesting The manga pulls you in and before you notice, you'll realize that you've finished all the volumes. Buy the book, I highly recommend it.PS : If you're still unsure, why not watch the upcoming movie adaptation before you decide.

I LOVED IT! I just finished it and of course, I had to order the 2nd and 3rd! I loved this as much as I loved the anime!

I'm a new fan of A Silent Voice after a friend recommended it to me. I have to say this is a beautiful masterpiece. I love how it was written, the characters are beautifully drawn, and the story is amazing. It definitely hits close to home, because I was also bullied in 6th grade, but for different reasons. I absolutely love it!

This manga is about a boy who bullies a deaf girl to the point of a school transfer and the events that transpire afterwards.This volume, however, is entirely about everything leading up to the transfer.That works wonderfully, as we get to see the full extent of his abuse and understand why he does it. The story doesn't skip any details for the sake of an "oooooooo" and I love that. The story also does a great job of showing the effects of bullying and what it looks like without it dragging on a lecture. It is instead displayed rather than described so that the reader understands why the girl transfers and can feel the emotion in the story. I can't say much without spoiling, but know that every character in this series plays a part in the development of the two protagonists. (Technically they're both protagonist, they're antagonist to each other though.)Art: The art style is different from a lot of other manga I've read, and can sometimes not be that pleasing, but it's good overall.Characters: I won't lie, so far the only characters worth giving a damn about are Shoya and Shota. This volume is essentially about building them up, so I understand it. Hopefully we get more insight on some of the other side characters, Shoyas mom for example.Overall: This is a great start and I have already put the next 2 volumes in my cart! Completely recommend it!

Daughter like book like these.