Fantasy Graphic Novel: THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

The Arrival

by Shaun Tan

Tan, Shaun. 2007. THE ARRIVAL. New York : Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 0439895294

Plot Summary

 A father is forced to leave his wife and daughter to immigrate to a new land full of strange creatures, food, and ways of life. He struggles with understanding what’s going on, communicating, and surviving. He is helped by people, and even a creature, to figure things out while they share their harrowing stories. He eventually earns enough money to bring his family to this new land, which soon settle in, assimilate, and help others in return.

Critical Analysis

In this graphic novel with no words, the reader never knows the names of the characters, but the main character is clearly personified. He is a father who loves his family and becomes an immigrant who struggles with feeling out of place and fitting in a strange place. The father’s expressions are easy to relate to, and he mirrors the reader’s confusion of trying to make sense of the unfamiliar and strange.

Though it takes place in a fantasy world, the situation and experiences are very realistic with a familiar story from history. The vivid experiences of immigrants are easily relatable to those who have either experienced it themselves or anyone who has struggled to succeed in a new place fitting in, communicating, and being alone. The detailed images, from a series of small pictures to full page illustrations, create a fantasy world with strange creatures, buildings, and ways to travel. Though, the world is somewhat familiar with its reflection of real setting reminiscent of Ellis Island, New York City, etc.

Though never communicated in words, the themes of overcoming, survival, helping each other, and working for a better life come through in the depictions of the father’s experiences. The end is satisfying with success and togetherness after trials, depicting the family happy in their new life. The sepia toned pencil drawings (reminding me of Chris Van Alsberg’s Jumanji) show a surprisingly deep and real story with the humorous, tragic, and mundane, reflecting true life. From the many small dog-like creatures, the odd food items, to the imaginative forms of balloon travel and landscapes, the fantasy captures the imagination, while the characters and story connect to reality.

Awards, Honors, Best Book Lists

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2008 Special Citation United States Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Most Unusual Picture Book of the Year United States Cybil Award, 2007 Finalist Graphic Novels Teen/Young Adult United States Mind the Gap Award, 2008 Best foreign language book United States New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 2007 Winner United States Parents' Choice Award, 2007 Gold Fiction United States

Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 10 Books, 2007 ; United StatesBest Books for Young People, 2007 ; Washington Post; United StatesBest Children's Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education; New Beginnings: Life in a New Land; United StatesBest Children's Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United StatesBooklist Book Review Stars , Sep. 1, 2007 ; United StatesBooklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2007 ; American Library Association; United StatesBooklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth, 2008 ; Booklist; United StatesBulletin Blue Ribbons, 2007 ; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United StatesCapitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United StatesChoices, 2008 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United StatesHorn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book; United StatesKirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007 ; Kirkus; United StatesKirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2007 ; United StatesMiddle and Junior High Schoool Library Catalog, Ninth Edition Supplement 2008, 2008 ; H.W. Wilson Company; United StatesNotable Books for a Global Society, 2008 ; Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group IRA; United StatesNotable Children's Books in the English Language Arts, 2008 ; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United StatesNotable Children's Books, 2007 ; New York Times; United StatesNotable Children's Books, 2008 ; ALSC American Library Association; United StatesNotable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2008 ; National Council for Social Studies; United StatesOutstanding International Books, 2008 ; United States Board on Books for Young People/Children's Book Council; United StatesPublishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United StatesPublishers Weekly Book Review Stars, July 16, 2007 ; Cahners; United StatesSchool Library Journal Best Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United StatesSchool Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2007 ; Cahners; United StatesYALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ; American Library Association; Top Ten; United StatesYALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 ; American Library Association; Top Ten; United States

Review Excerpts

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 17))
An astonishing wordless graphic novel blends historical imagery with science-fiction elements to depict—brilliantly—the journey of an immigrant man from his terror-beset land of origin to a new, more peaceful home.

Jesse Karp (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2007 (Vol. 104, No. 1))
… Strong visual metaphors convey personal longing, political suppression, and totalitarian control; imaginative use of panel size and shape powerfully depicts sensations and ideas as diverse as interminable waiting, awe-inspiring majesty, and forlorn memories; delicate alterations in light and color saturate the pages with a sense of time and place... Filled with subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form.

Connections

·       Other works by Shaun Tan:

-        Tales from outer suburbia
2009 Shaun Tan. Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, NY : U.S.A

-        Trapped
2008 by James Moloney; illustrated by Shaun Tan. Stone Arch Books, Minneapolis : U.S.A

-        The haunted playground
2008 by Shaun Tan ; illustrated by Shaun Tan. Stone Arch Books, Minneapolis : U.S.A

·       Use in conjunction with a Social Studies unit/project about immigration and experiences of immigrants. This book helps students to understand what it was like for them.