Book Review: The Arrival

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tan, S. (2007). The arrival. Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN: 0439895294

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This wordless graphic novel was designed to look like an old photo album that shares the journey of an immigrant moving to a new place. Through Tan’s illustrations, readers get a glimpse at a man’s journey and the challenges he faces in a new country in an effort to build a new future for him and his family.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a must have! I have to admit, it took a bit to understand some of details Tan considered with this book. Writing a review for this novel was a bit challenging because the book itself has no words. However, the illustrations are MAGNIFICENT! Each illustration clearly describes what is happening in the story.  Even with no words, the story line is easy to follow. Using sequence of events, readers see some of the challenges this man faces in his new home. Tan thought of everything!!!! The illustrations are meant to depict and old photo album, the colors used are dark and gloomy which perfectly represent the mood of the story. At the beginning of the story, you can see the sadness in the man as he prepared to leave his family and make that difficult journey to a new place far from home. Adding the dragon’s tail to symbolize a difficult circumstance was genius. This also adds to the mood of the story.  As I continued with the book, several ideas came to mind. Was this novel written wordless to represent language barriers when moving to a new foreign place? Then we see how the man struggles to communicate with others and resorts to drawing pictures as a form of communication. Sadness and loneliness are also seen in each page as the man finally arrives to his destination without his family. One detail I found specifically sweet was the picture of the man with his family. We saw that image several times throughout the story. We saw it at the beginning, then again when the man was on the steam boat, when he settled into his new home, and finally when they are reunited at the end. This signifies the importance of family. Additionally, through each picture, readers get to know the main character. This book has so much symbolism, every detail is added with purpose.  Tan took every detail into account, the story was well illustrated, and in all honesty, words aren’t needed to understand what is happening.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review in School Library Journal: "Tan captures the displacement and awe with which immigrants respond to their new surroundings in this wordless graphic novel.”

Starred review in Booklist:  "Filled with subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Lead students on a discussion about the different themes found throughout the story.

* Group students in small groups, and using FLIP, have them share a summary of the story. The summary should follow sequential order…beginning, middle, and end.

* Engage students in a class discussion about different challenges individuals face when moving to a new place. More specifically to a new country. Have share their ideas a write a short narrative explaining some of these challenges. When done, students can share their writing samples with classmates.

*Other Graphic Novels for Young Adults:

Takei, G., Eisinger, J., & Scott, S. (2019). They called us enemy. National Geographic Books.

ISBN: 1603094504

Yang, G. L. (2021). American born Chinese. First Second. ISBN: 1250811899

Book review was written for SHSU MLA course. 

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