June 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 At its most basic level, Boys Run the Riot is about two high-school boys trying to start a fashion brand. Beyond that is a story of being true to oneself, confronting a society that says "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," and following your dreams anyway. Ryo, a trans boy struggling to accept himself, meets Jin, confident troublemaker, and they bond over their shared taste in fashion. What follows is an adventure as the pair argue, confide secrets and hopes to each other, begin to build an online business, make enemies, and find support from understanding characters. Most striking in the art are occasional photorealistic elements--a camera, graffiti, clothes--that draw the eye and underline the importance of the item. The volume ends with an interview in which author Gaku shares his inspirations and thoughts on being an openly trans manga artist, plus notes about the translation, which importantly share nuances, lost in English, of how Japanese conveys gender. An excellent setup for a teen series.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.