Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Tan, Shaun. Tales from Outer Suburbia. 2008, 94 pg, New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 9780545055871.

Annotation

A collection of short stories, poetry, and accompanied by Shaun Tan’s stunning, pleasantly strange thought provoking artwork.

My thoughts

These modern stories completely captivated me with their stunning illustrations, strangely quirky characters and mysticism that left my imagination wanting more. Suburban life is typical portrayed as a white picket fenced middle class lifestyle of normalcy. These stories, however, are ideal for anyone wanting to escape the normalcy of daily life in or out of the suburbs. Strange situations like the enigmatic nut-sized foreign exchange student, a sea creature on someone’s front lawn, a new room discovered in a family home, a sinister machine installed in a park, a wise buffalo that lives in a vacant lot, and 10 other extraordinary stories.

Artwork

The art is rich and surreal. In his website, Shaun Tan discusses his art for this book. Tan states that to “treat each story individually, as a separate little universe (which is how they were more or less conceived)” he used different media to suit the “atmosphere of each tale.” The range of media is impressive as is the skill evidenced in the illustrations. This is a collection for artists and dreamers, and for anyone in need of a jolt of inspiration.

Literary devices

Use of Sophisticated Language: incomprehensible, frayed, perilous, melancholy, etc.

Reading level/ Interest Age

Grades 7-12

Reviews and Awards

Awards: CBCA Book of the Year, 2009, Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2009, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books, 2009, BCCB Blue Ribbon Book 2009, Washington Post Best Kids' Books of the Year, Booklist Editors’ Choices for 2009, A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults-2010, An ALA Notable Book for Children-2010, USBBY Outstanding International Book-2010, LA Times Book Prize-Finalist

Author website: http://www.shauntan.net/

Media: Pencil/ oil on canvas/ acrylic and oils on paper/graphite and coloured pencil on paper/ gesso, acrylic and oils on paper/ paper collage and other people’s handwriting/ oil on wood/ ink watercolor and ball-point pen/ digital/ scraperboard/ gouache/ photocopied text/ pastel crayon

Genre: Graphic novel

Blankets: A Graphic Novel by Craig Thompson

Thompson, C. (2003). Blankets: A Graphic Novel. Marietta, Ga.: Top Shelf. ISBN: 978-1891830433.

Annotation

Autobiographical graphic memoir that takes major “coming of age” themes (first love, spirituality, angst, anxiety) and puts them into comic-strip form.

My thoughts

Blankets details the story of Craig Thompson’s life starting from his childhood to adolescence.  It tells the story of his first-love, Raina, his wish to become an artist, and his search for faith. Even though, this is the story of a specific person in a specific place (Wisconsin), it really can be a story for everyone. The tenderness and sincerity make this a beautiful story that should be experienced.

There is so much to write about and so many great interpretations of this near 600-page story, and I encourage readers to seek out other opinions after reading the memoir. A couple of things that must be noted- this will be the quickest 600-page book that most readers will encounter. This is not because the pages are lacking content but because they are quite full and will draw the reader’s heart into the story.

In addition to the story, there is Thompson’s art. He knows how to take advantage of the comic median. There were panels that left my eyes teary (his account of his brother’s molestation and the cubicle incident along with all of his recounting of his first love experiences). The art creates a great part of the book’s emotional tone and the line work is beautiful and expressive.

I can’t seem to write anymore. This really is a sentimental book. I highly recommend it.

Curricular connections

Thematic connections with religion, family issues, and literature. It would be great to see this in the classrooms, but high school is so brief and there are so many great literature choices. Plus, there is some mature content that parents might see as inappropriate for the classroom setting.

Favorite Quotes

“Which is scarier-- lust or temptation? ”

“Sometimes, upon waking, the residual dream can be more appealing that reality, and one is reluctant to give it up. For a while, you feel like a ghost -- Not fully materialized, and unable to manipulate your surroundings. Or else, it is the dream that haunts you. You wait with the promise of the next dream.”

“On my first visit to the public library, I was like a kid at a candy store where all the candy was free.

I gorged myself until my tummy ached.”

“I wanted a heaven. And I grew up striving for that world-- an eternal world- that would wash away my temporary misery.”

“Shame is always easier to handle if you have someone to share it with.”

“How satisfying it is to leave a mark on a blank surface.”

“To make a map of my movement--no matter how temporary.”

“I couldn't fathom that the soul trapped in my child body would be transplanted to its grotesque adolescent counterpart.”

“Maybe I'm sad about wanting you. I'm not too comfortable with wanting someone.”

“We both knew that nothing existed for us outside of the moment.”

“Even a mistake is better than nothing.”

“But in that little pathetic clump of blankets there was comfort.”

Reading level/ Interest Age

High school and up.

Reviews and Awards

2004 Harvey Award for Best Artist

2004 Harvey Award for Best Cartoonist

2004 Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album of Original Work

2004 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album

2004 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist

2004 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist

2004 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection

2005 Prix de la critique

Author website: http://www.dootdootgarden.com/

Media: Pen and ink

Genre: Graphic Novel, fiction

The Cartoon History of the Modern World: Part II: From the Bastille to Baghdad by Larry Gonick

Gonick, Larry. (2009). The Cartoon History of the Modern World: Part II: From the Bastille to Baghdad. Harper, New York, NY. ISBN:  978-0-06-076008-3.

Author website: http://www.larrygonick.com/

Media: pen and India ink

Genre: nonfiction, history, cartoon, graphic novel

Annotation

The last volume of Larry Gonick’s 30+ year magnum opus Cartoon History of the World series. Like the other volumes, this volume takes Modern history presents assiduously diligent research and scholarly data, while illustrating finer historical nuances, then adds memorable twists and scintillating comical information, then puts it all into graphic novel format.

My thoughts

Voila. This is a history book that is anti-textbook boredom and provides insights, perspectives, wisdom, irony, and humor. There are disasters, near disasters, and should have been disasters. Along with history that does not make it into the typical world history book. Importantly, this book takes textbook history and condenses it into memorable easy-to-learn history in a contemporary format that will appeal to teenagers and adults.

It starts by covering China and Japan then continues to Enlightenment then propels forward onward for the next 300 pages to conclude the journey of modern history with the recent economic crisis. The panels don’t sugarcoat history or try to leave out unpleasant details. It’s real history really funny.

Curricular connections

Larry Gonick interview* quotes- 

“Humor is a teaching tool. The best humor, the best jokes, the most meaningful are the ones that come out of some unexpected connection in the narrative.”

In response to why do people respond to the cartoon histories, Larry Gonick comments “because in general history is such a dull subject and people are so happy and relieved to find something that treats it in a way that entertains them and makes it come alive. To me, history is the record of all the best stories that have happened to human beings. Everything that you want in good literature.”

*This is from a video accessible on youtube see below.

Reading level/ Interest Age

Teen and up

Reviews and Awards

“Lively cartooning and pretension-puncturing wit.” (Booklist )

“The final installment of Gonick’s deeply funny and impeccably researched series has finally arrived... Brilliantly funny, the series finds the inherent humor in history...” (Publishers Weekly )

“Funny, informative, and comprehensive, Gonick’s history concludes with this second volume. His unique wit, sense of irony, and passion for humanity’s complex story of triumphs, compromises, and disasters are as evident here as they are in his previous books... An insightful review of history.” (School Library Journal)

… and many other positive reviews.