Shaun Tan - The Arrival

Pros: Amazing artwork, prime example of a worldless novel, profound, imaginative story.

Cons: Some will be turned off or confused by the format. 

The Bottom Line: A fantastic, surreal, wondrous book about what it's like to be an immigrant--any immigrant--into any country.

Review: One of the hardest things to do as an American History teacher is make all these white kids realize that they have an immigration story somewhere in their past.  For 12 and 13 year old kids, if it's anything that happened before 2004, it's ancient ...

Pros: Beautiful surrealistic illustrations that tell a moving story without words.

Cons: May require several "readings" to fully understand and appreciate.

The Bottom Line: This book appeals to the imagination as well as the heart in a fantastical and timeless story of the immigration experience.

Review: First, let me tell you how I was drawn to this book. I am the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, I enjoy doing art, I have a very short attention span, and I enjoy creative fantasy. Shaun Tan's The Arrival, the most recent of his graphic books had ...

Pros: Quality of imagery and material; lasting impact

Cons: Weak initial impact

The Bottom Line: This book is art that tells a story and illustrates an experience, in vivid fashion.

Review: This book tells the story of an immigrant, who leaves his homeland for reasons that are unclear but definitely seem to be unpleasant. He is overwhelmed by his new home, and absolutely nothing seems familiar, to the point of no longer being recognizable. ...