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.
"One of the top 10 manga of the year… This series from trans creator Gaku eschews the tropes and pitfalls of manga’s comedic takes on gender identity and instead presents a grounded, character-driven look at life as a trans guy in Japan. A standout title among a selection of recent manga addressing the reality of queer life, this is a must-have for teens." –School Library Journal
"The English-language release of Boys Run the Riot is a true labor of love, from the gorgeous presentation of every volume to Kondansha US’ all-trans localization team… Keito Gaku is a powerful new voice in manga, and we can only hope that he will soon have more to say." –SOLRAD
"If you give Boys Run The Riot to a trans person in high school, it will not insult their intelligence, and if you give the volume to a cis straight person in high school, they will find parallels in their own life. I closed volume one wanting to know what would happen to Ryo and Jin. I think you will too." –Bleeding Cool
"This manga shows how exhausting it is to tuck yourself away every day. Ryo’s struggles are instantly relatable – even if you yourself aren’t trans." –The Mary Sue
Keito Gaku is a manga artist and transgender man living in Japan. Gaku is winner of the 77th Tetsuya Chiba Prize. His debut manga series and first work to be published in English is Boys Run the Riot.
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.
Praise
"One of the top 10 manga of the year… This series from trans creator Gaku eschews the tropes and pitfalls of manga’s comedic takes on gender identity and instead presents a grounded, character-driven look at life as a trans guy in Japan. A standout title among a selection of recent manga addressing the reality of queer life, this is a must-have for teens." –School Library Journal
"The English-language release of Boys Run the Riot is a true labor of love, from the gorgeous presentation of every volume to Kondansha US’ all-trans localization team… Keito Gaku is a powerful new voice in manga, and we can only hope that he will soon have more to say." –SOLRAD
"If you give Boys Run The Riot to a trans person in high school, it will not insult their intelligence, and if you give the volume to a cis straight person in high school, they will find parallels in their own life. I closed volume one wanting to know what would happen to Ryo and Jin. I think you will too." –Bleeding Cool
"This manga shows how exhausting it is to tuck yourself away every day. Ryo’s struggles are instantly relatable – even if you yourself aren’t trans." –The Mary Sue
Author
Keito Gaku is a manga artist and transgender man living in Japan. Gaku is winner of the 77th Tetsuya Chiba Prize. His debut manga series and first work to be published in English is Boys Run the Riot.
