The Arrival

One of our family favorites. It spans ages and attention spans, so is an excellent permanent addition to a library. I find it a fascinating example of a story told best with pictures. Tan communicates perfectly the confusion and loneliness and wonder of a man in a new country. It's hopeful and full of insight for children who understand living in a new culture, and also for those who have never experienced a different culture. I love to share it with reluctant readers, and also for those who dismiss graphic novels entirely.

A moving story told entirely in pictures about immigrating to a foreign place. With some of the whimsy of Dr. Seuss and some of the surreal horror of Hieronymous Bosch, it deftly conveys the confusion, dislocation, and adaptation experienced by those who leave behind their home and way of life in exchange for the new and unfamiliar.

I have finally sat down with this book and followed it to the end, here in the big octagonal reading room at the Mountain View library. Such a moving compilation of immigrant stories and impressions, full of the perseverance of so many generations as they escape poverty and war to forge new lives in an utterly strange place. I felt the smallness of each individual in the face of a grand, daunting, and mysterious world. At the same time, each enounter leads to a new relationship, a new story, and a feeling of kinship as the man realizes how many have gone before him and generously wish to encourage him forward. So much discussion possible about the migrant experience with this work. It is also heartwarming to read the author's show more acknowledgements at the end — referring even to specific images that inspired him. The Arrival is filled with loneliness, yet it becomes a story of the links among us. show less

Despite the Arthur A. Levine imprint, this gorgeous and startling book is not a children's or young adult publication, though it would be appropriate for readers of any age. Tan depicts the immigrant's experience poignantly, viscerally, and with great complexity, all without any text. (Text does appear, but like the unnamed immigrant protagonist, we cannot read it.) Tan has done a wonderful job of evoking the wonder and the fear inherent in new surroundings. Each of the characters the protagonist interacts with has his or her own back story to explain the circumstances that compelled their travel (or flight) from their homelands. Tan's drawings depict emotion and action very clearly and it is easy to follow the narrative. Subsequent show more readings reveal both ominous and hilarious details.

The creatures that accompany people in the new world reminded me a little of Philip Pullman's daemons, as visualized by Edward Gorey.

Books of the World players, note that Tan is Australian. show less

The most beautiful graphic novel I've read in I can't remember how long. Tan's immigrant narrative is made universal by its wordlessness, and its refusal to give the 'narraror' or his new home a recognizable identity. The art is phenomenal, as though drawn from the dreams of an imaginative child. I love this book intensely.

It's difficult to explain just how powerful The Arrival is because it felt deeply personal to me. Tan manages to tell this deeply moving story without any words whatsoever. The Arrival is the story of a man who leaves his family behind to travel to a new country where he hopes to establish himself and send for his family. Everything seems alien and surreal and Tan depicts this by using fantasy elements such as tentacled animals for pets, giants sharing the skies with skyscrapers, and huge men in hazmat suits who spray poison at the unsuspecting people scurrying below. It's the wordless story of fear of the unknown and the desire to find a better place to escape the troubles of home. It struck me right in the solar plexus. The art is show more beautiful, the story is stirring, and the delivery is spot-on. If you want to learn what it's like start over and feel like you've entered an unfamiliar landscape then I highly recommend this book. 10/10 show less

Shaun Tan's *The Arrival* is a powerful graphic novel that beautifully captures the emotional journey of relocating to an unfamiliar world. Through stunning visuals and a wordless narrative, the story follows a man’s experience as he moves to a new place for work, portraying the challenges of adapting to a foreign environment. The novel illustrates the universal feelings of displacement, fear, and hope that come with starting fresh in a new setting. Readers can connect with the theme of discovering new friendships, unfamiliar surroundings, and unique experiences. *The Arrival* is not only visually captivating but also emotionally resonant, making it a must-read for anyone who has faced the complexities of transitioning to a new life.