One of the most powerful books I have "read" this year was Shaun Tan's The Arrival "written" in 2006. The reason I have the words read and written in quotes is that this book has no words; it is a Graphic Novel. That's right, one of the best books I have read this year has no words. But lest you think that I have returned to Sam's (my seven year old) taste in literature, let me dispel any notion that graphic novels are the lazy and simple-minded. This books shows the developing maturity of a genre that literally takes to heart the cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words."
In a nutshell, The Arrival, details the life of an immigrant family. In the beginning chapter you see the main character carefully and painstakingly packing his few belongings before bidding his wife and daughter farewell. It is apparent he, along with many others, are in search of a new life in another country.
Over the next chapters you experience along with the immigrant the sorrows, delights, and confusions of arriving and living in a foreign place. Things look bizarre - the language, the modes of transport, the foods, the sounds, and the people. But along the way, you meet other immigrants helping the protagonist out by pointing out directions, giving him a job, inviting him for dinner, and sharing their stories of how they came to this new land. Finally, despite the difficulties, the main character saves enough money for his family to join him in their new world. Fittingly, in the last scene, you see his daughter helping another new immigrant get oriented to this foreign place.
As I already mentioned, this is a graphic novel. Unlike a lot of other graphic novels which have some dialogue with words, there are no words in this book. Hundreds of drawings, some simple, some detailed, tell the story. This is a one of its greatest strengths, it invites, no pleads for you get into to story. One interesting technique that the author/artist uses in telling his story is the insertion of bizarre things (such as alien appearing animals) into otherwise normal drawings. In this way the author communicates how strange things really appear to this immigrant in a foreign place.
This unfortunately is also a weakness. My wife bought this book for the kids (it was in the children's section). Some of the drawings are so bizarre and conceptual that even my bright 12 year old has trouble sometimes grasping the story. And to be honest, it will be hard for some adults to understand some of the subtle messages he is sending through some of the abstract pictures in this book. And that is too bad, it is such a powerful story.
So what kind of Kingdom Lessons are to be learned in this fascinating book? First, this books resonates so strongly with me because I have been in those shoes. Living in a foreign country is overwhelming, especially during the arrival and adjustment periods. We can not ever underestimate this. And so, I think that people (especially believers) who really want to understand the challenges that missionaries, or soldiers, or diplomats face living overseas should give this book a read; it will help you better pray for those living in foreign lands.
Secondly, I think the book shows the tremendous opportunity we have to show the love of God to those "not from around here." Despite tougher immigration policies (which is a good thing), there are still thousands of new immigrants arriving on our shores every year (also a good thing). But unlike the past where these arrivals stayed mostly in the larger U.S. cities, today these immigrants are living in more and more communities (big and small) throughout America. This doesn't even include the thousands of foreign students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in our colleges and universities. This book shows why immigrants look confused; and what a difference a kind, compassionate helping hand can make. We as Christians need to be on the forefront of extending a welcome hand to these new arrivals.
Overall, this book gets my 5 Star Rating for its excellence in art and message.
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