Wandering Son, Vol. 3

A sensitive sophisticated work of literary manga. As shown in the first two volumes of this acclaimed series Shuichi and his friend Yoshino have a secret: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy. But one day abruptly their secret is exposed and the two find themselves the target of sixth-grade cruelty. Their friendship is strained as Yoshino makes a half-hearted effort at being a normal girl... and their mentor Yuki reveals the harder reality of being transgendered. Meanwhile Shuichis sister Maho realizes her dream of becoming a model and drags Shuichi along for the ride. Shuichi meets another boy who wants to be a girl and finds himself on an arranged date with a boy who doesnt know that the girl he has a crush on was born a boy. After an unhurried almost leisurely buildup that gave us an opportunity to get to know and understand our protagonists artist Shimura picks up the pace in this latest volume with tears and laughs aplenty. A sophisticated work translated with rare sophistication by veteran translator and comics scholar Matt Thorn. Black & white throughout