Book summary: A
collection of illustrated short stories that expand the imagination and stir
deep emotions.
APA Reference of
book: Tan, S. (2008). Tales from
outer suburbia. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Impressions: This
book was shelved under regular Teen Fiction, not graphic novels, in my library
with a “Short Stories” label on the spine. I was surprised that the book was a
collection of illustrated short stories, but I was very pleased with its
contents. Each story had its own mood and tone, and the illustrations matched
that (whether it was gritty, hopeless, heartwarming, or brilliant). Themes such
as family, being kind-hearted, imagination, and adventure are present in all of
these short stories. The illustrations accurately capture the overall tone of
the stories and there were a few stories which, after reading, I had to set the
book down and ponder further.
Professional Review:
“Nameless, ageless, genderless first-person
narrators bring readers into offbeat yet recognizable places in this sparkling,
mind-bending collection from the creator of The
Arrival (2007). In “Our
Expedition,” siblings set out to see if anything exists beyond the end of their
father’s road map. Dysfunctional parents and the child they ignore are brought
together when a dugong appears in their front lawn in “Undertow.” With these
and other short stories, Tan brings magic to places where magic rarely happens
in books. These are fairy tales for modern times, in which there is valor, love
and wisdom—without dragons and castles. The accompanying illustrations vary
widely in style, medium and palette, reflecting both the events and the mood of
each story, while hewing to a unifying sense of the surreal. In some stories,
Tan has replaced the sparse, atmospheric text entirely with pictures, leaving
the reader to absorb the stunning visual impact of his imagined universe.
Several poems—and a short story—told via collage are included. Graphic-novel
and text enthusiasts alike will be drawn to this breathtaking combination of
words and images. (Graphic
anthology. 12 & up).”
Reference
[Review
of the book Tales from Outer Suburbia]. (2009 February 1). Kirkus.
Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/shaun-tan/tales-from-outer-suburbia/.
Library Uses: This
would be a selection for a teen book club, showing that book clubs can read
non-traditional titles and still produce an in-depth and lively discussion. This
book is a great introduction into graphic novels, so I would promote similar
titles to the book group so they can experience more books within the genre.
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