Graphic Novel Review: My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders
Author: Monzusu, translated from Japanese by Ben Trethewey
Format: Paperback
Pages: 184
Publish Date: April 12, 2022 translation (original 2020)
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment (Macmillan)
Catalog ID: ISBN: 978-1638582359
Where to buy: https://bookshop.org/lists/recently-reviewed-on-graphicmedicine-org
Author website: https://monzusu.blog.jp/
Review
by Soph Myers-Kelley
Monzusu, illustrator and curator of the stories in this book, is a Japanese adult with ADHD as well as a parent of children in the “gray zone of developmental disorders” (2). She created My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders, because she had such a hard time finding the stories of regular, neurodivergent people when researching for herself and her children. At the time she wanted “a frame of reference, real examples of how I should raise my sons, and to see stories of people with my condition holding down a job, doing housework, and caring for their children” (2). Lucky for us, Monzusu created the resource that she lacked in the beginning of her journey- a manga covering 9 real stories of people with ADHD or other developmental disorders. Warning, there are references in the manga to abuse, self-harm, complicated familial relations, and suicide attempts or ideation. The conditions covered also vary widely, including ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, as well as potential ways to manage or treat the difficulties that can come with those experiences.
The language used to describe some of these diagnoses in the stories may be out of date or offensive to some. Monzusu addresses this tactfully, writing: “There are terms in this book… that are controversial but have been retained out of respect for the time and place in which these stories were written and the voices of the individuals who appear herein” (4). I think the stories are well balanced in accurately representing the people who shared their experiences with Monzusu and catering to a larger audience of readers.
The art style is classic manga in black and white. As such, this would be a great book to introduce to anyone whose deep passions include anime, manga, or Japanese culture.
As a neurodivergent person myself (Autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety) I became emotional seeing versions of myself in so many of the stories. Whether people were struggling with school, making and keeping friends, being bullied, difficult family dynamics, or getting, keeping, and not burning out from a job, you’ll find multiple accurate and unique developmental disorder experiences in My Brain Is Different.
One of my favorite stories is Mamu’s, a woman in her early 30’s with ADHD and depression. Upon being diagnosed with ADHD in her adulthood, Mamu thinks to herself while crying: “Really? It wasn’t that I didn’t push myself hard enough? Oh… So I… really did try my best!” (110). Mamu realizes, after a childhood and adulthood of not being able to keep up with the expectations of her school and her workplace, that she wasn’t lazy, not trying hard enough, or deficient. She had a reason to explain why doing her best sometimes didn’t fit the expectations others had of her. Through Mamu’s and all the other examples, we can find it healing to realize how hard we’ve been overcompensating, and that we don’t necessarily have to work so hard all the time.
This book is nested in the medical model framework for looking at disability and neurodivergence. I think recognizing that this was written in Japan, where the neurodivergent culture, related laws, and support systems can be very different from our home countries (if we live elsewhere), helps contextualize the book and its storytelling choices. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about neurodivergence, whether they are part of the neurodivergent community or not!
______________________________________________
Soph Myers-Kelley is a medical librarian, herbalist, and activist living in North Carolina. They can be contacted at https://www.smyerskelley.com/ and followed at https://www.instagram.com/thesofakingofficial/
Originally posted on graphicmedicine.org here: https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic-reviews/my-brain-is-different-stories-of-adhd-and-other-developmental-disorders/