This is the book I'd point to if I wanted to (generalizing from its characters) support the argument that kids these days are really messed up and I fret for future generations. Of course I won't generalize from a story to the real world, but the story and characters in this manga do paint a portrait of kids who are struggling, listless, depressed, lacking in the joy to live, and generally troubled. Not troubled in the "I'm a psycho or socio path" - but sort of? It was an unsettling read for me - partly because it also features some very graphic adult scenes as well that I was not expecting.

It's not the sort of book I'd recommend as "this was so much fun" - but I would recommend it as "wow, this was unsettling as hell, and I'm still processing a lot of it". So, it's making me think and reflect - but I'm not sure there are any answers or solutions to be had either. I wouldn't call it a happy story, but neither is it a tragedy...and just sort of sticks there and is uncomfortable.