Arias, Brandon: Scars Volume 2

A love story between a boy with a scar and an abused, misgendered classmate, both victims of bullying at school, Scars is an ardent coming-of-age manga about acknowledging our differences and finding self-acceptance The second volume in a stunning and heartfelt manga trilogy from debut author-illustrator Brandon Arias, Scars deftly tackles childhood trauma, bullying, and the issue of growing into one's own identity. Two school kids, Kyonosuke and Akira, live in a little village by the Japanese countryside. After an accident, Kyonosuke recieves a skin graft to his face, leaving him permanently scarred. This disfigurement makes Kyonosuke a target for constant bullying. Akira, his classmate, is trying to come to terms with her gender dysphoria, but is beaten by her father for saying she wants to be a girl. When they meet and fall in love, they decide to escape their toxic environment together. But are they strong enough to accept each other, and themselves, for who they are? This gorgeous, fresh slice-of-life drama is sure to become a classic alongside such timely and relevant manga titles as Orange by Takano Ichigo and Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani.