The Arrival

The Arrival

Shaun Tan

2006 * p. 128 * YA Graphic Novel

This is the first graphic novel that I have ever "read." When I first heard the term, I thought it meant graphic as in explicit and offensive material. But a graphic novel is essentially book that is mostly drawings and read almost like a comic book.

The Arrival, however, is solely pictorial. The drawings are beautiful, whimsical, and emotional.

Tan "tells" the story of an immigrant who leaves his home for a new country. He experiences the fustrations and awe of being introduced to a new language, culture, and way of life.

No nationalities are given, except I think that the main character, the man on the front cover, is European. I think the new country is America. America is portrayed as a bizarre and beautiful planet. The new country is so foreign and strange to the man that he feels like he is in another galaxy. Tan continues this almost sci-fi feeling througout.

The following are some images from the book:

-Reading level: grade 7 & up

-Themes: Immigration, loneliness, adaptation, community

-No text, only images.

-Read the book in about half hour

-Beautiful pictures