The Arrival by Shaun Tan is a rare storytelling gem. It is a migrant story told entirely through art. For people of all ages interested in the experience of those who have had to leave their homelands and start over in a strange world, this is a graphic novel to be cherished. Without the familiarity of words, the viewer is forced to experience alongside the protagonist the confusion of a new land: the food, animals and language. It's not just different, it's surreal.
The storyline is told cleanly in an easy-to-follow format of boxes, so even a novice to the graphic novel can enjoy it. The artwork is not cartoony at all. Instead, each of the small squares could be framed. When the artist chooses to devote a whole page to one scene, it is breathtaking. The colors are black and white blending to sepia at different points of the story. Sometimes the main character meets others who tell their own tale--and the coloring is just different enough to let you know it's a new POV, without losing the continuity.
It is hard to put into words why this book had my children and me so entranced. Each of us has spent time staring at the pictures quietly absorbing the beauty. The emotional impact is strong, and because of the fantastic surrealism of the art, I would recommend it for school-age children and up. So far, I have not been able to share this book with people without tearing up. This is a magnificent example of what the graphic novel can achieve.
