Before this particular manga, I had yet to read any work by Kyōko Okazaki, but heard nothing but wonderful things about her work. I knew this particular manga was highly celebrated for its depiction of what it was like to grow up in an early 1990s Tokyo, so when I came across it at one of my favorite bookstores— I finally had to give it a go.

River’s Edge is a raw, immodest manga that follows the interwoven lives of six teenagers. Primarily focused on the bleak, tragic, and messed-up side of growing up— this slice-of-life tale is fairly dark.

Both the plot line and characters in River’s Edge are dramatic and intense. Kyōko Okazaki does a phenomenal job at rubbing mature themes in our faces that are hard to accept, and sometimes harder to read.

While Okazaki pushes uncomfortable circumstances to the forefront— she does so with a sort of youthful exuberance and her tone is well, exceptionally compelling. I couldn’t put the book down as lives began to spiral and situations dipped into dangerous and unstable territory.

And Okazaki writes her characters with tough love. By letting them make their mistakes, cross one another with wrongdoings, dabble in unhealthy and treacherous habits, exploring the darker sides of life, we are able to watch the teenagers experience their highs and lows— readers given the gift of observance—while the story wraps up with a violent, horrific, and bloody climax that not everyone recovers from.

Now, listen here. Things in River’s Edge don’t get better. The teenagers don’t change, good things don’t happen, and there is no redemption. You’re just along for the ride— quietly witnessing the randomness and pain that six kids are subjected to. If you’re looking for some big takeaway, you won’t find it. The lack of resolve is disquieting, to say the least. There is no resolution to the unease, everything just is, and you have to be okay with that.

Again, darkly compelling with no real resolution— River’s Edge will either become a favorite of yours or will ultimately leave you both unsatisfied and annoyed. I have to say while it was bleak, it has moved its way up to becoming a favorite manga of mine. From its disorienting and wild art, to its even wilder and unpredictable story, this is a piece of work that leaves me feeling kind of empty by its end. But the fact that there is feeling is what made me love this manga. An easy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ stars to give, and while it may not be for everyone, it was absolutely for me.

Dive into the somber waters of River’s Edge— the kids are not alright.