Boys Run the Riot 1

By Keito Gaku

Book Overview

A transgender teen named Ryo finds an escape from the expectations and anxieties of his daily life in the world of street fashion. This personal, heartfelt, fictional story from a transgender manga creator made waves in Japan and will inspire readers all over the world!

Best Books for Teens 2021 selection, New York Public Library
Winner, 77th Tetsuya Chiba Prize
Nominee, Harvey Awards

AT THE SEAMS

High schooler Ryo knows he's transgender, but he doesn't have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. He can't tell his best friend, who he's secretly got a crush on, and he can't tell his mom, who's constantly asking why Ryo "dresses like a boy." He certainly can't tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully... The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he's wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryo sees someone he didn't expect: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! At last, Ryo has someone he can open up to--and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1646512480
• ISBN13: 9781646512485
• Release Date: May 2021
• Publisher: Kodansha Comics
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

There's no shame in my game.

Ryo is the average boy, he has a crush on a girl in his class, has decent grades, and likes basketball, art (aka graffiti,) and his biggest passion, men's clothing. Problem is, his body is that of a girl and that's how people see him, as something, (someone,) he's not. Will the new delinquent looking transfer student, but kind-hearted Jin, help Ryo come to terms with being himself, free him from being the dreaded outcast, and help him run a fashion empire? Boys Run the Riot exceeded my expectations! I knew I'd like this, but there's so much love that went into this book it morphed into having a life of its own. The emotions in this volume really hit home, not in the same way as Ryo, but you could feel his anger, excitement, sadness, loneliness, etc. jump off the page. Ryu is a great character and there was so much growth in this one volume that I'm so excited to see his progress through the rest of the 3 volumes in the series, but my favorite character is Jin. He is so supportive and stubborn; he is a friend that anyone would be lucky to have. The art is gorgeous! The characters look realistic, even though they do have the signature big manga eyes, they feel more natural than most. One thing though, some of the boy's noses or mouths had lines which made them look more natural, however also made them look incredibly older for their age. Even Ryo's artistic talent is great, I can't wait to see what work he does in the further volumes. This is a fantastic slice of life, true LGBTQ manga that should be on everyone's shelves.