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whatiswithin's review against another edition
5.0
This book surprised me.
It's a book of tales, sort of like fairy tales, but sort of not. It's a collection of feelings and ideas, presented in stories.
One moment, there is a heartwarming tale of a visiting student. Another is a story of mercy. Yet another is of love and struggle. Each one is completely unique and beautifully illustrated. Each one makes you feel happy and sad and confused all the while. There are poems, instructionals, stories told in first and third person. Told by narrators. All completely separate. Yet they all seems to fit together.
Even better, I purchased this book from a second hand store on a whim. Each tale charmed me more than the last, and I'm still thinking of the meanings they imply. To be able to write one of these is charming, and makes you think. To have so many of these tales together seems impossible. But there they are, and here I am writing this review.
This book is, in two words, whimsical and deep, and many wouldn't like it. But I did. I really did.
It's a book of tales, sort of like fairy tales, but sort of not. It's a collection of feelings and ideas, presented in stories.
One moment, there is a heartwarming tale of a visiting student. Another is a story of mercy. Yet another is of love and struggle. Each one is completely unique and beautifully illustrated. Each one makes you feel happy and sad and confused all the while. There are poems, instructionals, stories told in first and third person. Told by narrators. All completely separate. Yet they all seems to fit together.
Even better, I purchased this book from a second hand store on a whim. Each tale charmed me more than the last, and I'm still thinking of the meanings they imply. To be able to write one of these is charming, and makes you think. To have so many of these tales together seems impossible. But there they are, and here I am writing this review.
This book is, in two words, whimsical and deep, and many wouldn't like it. But I did. I really did.
juli_mod's review against another edition
5.0
This is an enchanting picture book with magical short stories which read like whispered secrets. A delightful read, I am totally head over heels for this gem!
cornmaven's review against another edition
5.0
Very quirky, bizarre collection of short stories supposedly set in suburbia, but it's really an alternate take on life in the suburbs. The book has an altered book sort of feel, with some of the illustrations looking like an altered book or a collage. The illustrations are just exquisite. The stories themselves have what I call open endings, where the reader would naturally think, 'what's next.' The plots are equally bizarre for most of the stories.
My thought as I read this book was that it would make a great creative writing vehicle for MS-HS classes. Tan's imagination has clearly gone into overdrive, and one could use this book to help students get theirs going. The first story begins with a question. You could use the same question for a writing exercise, and see what develops. Or have the kids continue the story. Or something else.
I particularly like the story about a couple getting married. There's a deep and universal theme in it, and it would be interesting to see if any high school student could detect it.
Maybe I liked this book so much because I have zero talent in this kind of thing, and I always admire those whose imaginations are alive, well, and active.
My thought as I read this book was that it would make a great creative writing vehicle for MS-HS classes. Tan's imagination has clearly gone into overdrive, and one could use this book to help students get theirs going. The first story begins with a question. You could use the same question for a writing exercise, and see what develops. Or have the kids continue the story. Or something else.
I particularly like the story about a couple getting married. There's a deep and universal theme in it, and it would be interesting to see if any high school student could detect it.
Maybe I liked this book so much because I have zero talent in this kind of thing, and I always admire those whose imaginations are alive, well, and active.
hrjs9223's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
erine's review against another edition
4.0
Tan, Shaun. (2008). Tales from Outer Suburbia. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
• 92 pages
• Intended audience: middle school and high school, grades 5-10
• Awards:
Spring 2009 Kid's Indie Next List
• Reviews:
Coats, Karen. (2009, March). Tales from Outer Suburbia. Review of book Tales from Outer Suburbia. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 62(7), 298-299. Retrieved June 23, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1660504151).
Karen Coats, in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, writes about how Tan engages the reader in a mysterious examination of things that are just at the edges of our world. “…the craftsmanship is impeccable; here the combination of words and visual creates a stunning overall effct, inviting lingering and many return visits.”
Sutton, Roger. (2009, March). Tales from Outer Suburbia. Review of book Tales from Outer Suburbia. The Horn Book Magazine, 85(2), 204-205. Retrieved June 23, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1653973541).
Roger Sutton, in The Horn Book Magazine, places much more emphasis on the pictures, but largely brushes off the text part of the story. “many of the selections don't get much beyond their premises, and Tan's lowkey expository prose offers few rewards of its own, the real story here is the pictures.”
• Themes: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Urban Legends
• Main Character: first person, various
• Setting: “Outer Suburbia” in a community near you
• Censorship: Saw one “damn”
• Plot: Walking a little on the weird side, Shaun Tan has put together a collection of stories and pictures that won’t take very long to read but create quite a trip. Water buffaloes offer directions, boys dangle their legs over the edge of the world, grandparents have exciting wedding days, a strange exchange student decorates the pantry, a turtle is rescued, and backyard missiles are decorated.
• Strengths: The Pictures
• Weaknesses: As a picture book, may be seen as juvenile
• Passage(s): “it’s funny how these days, when every household has its own intercontinental ballistic missile, you hardly even think about them.” (76)
“Those who stay awake long enough are rewarded by a momentary sound that never fails to draw a sharp intake of breath – the delicate tapping of hoofs descending on roof tiles. It’s always so startling, so hard to believe at first, like a waking dream or a rumor made solid.” (71)
• Library Pomotion: could be part of a display of picture books for older readers; could read aloud an entire chapter; several chapters would spur some great discussion about ethnic customs, armament and war, or poetry.
• Personal Reflection: I really enjoyed it. The pictures and words went together better than The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and as it was intended for an older audience the stories were more captivating to me. They weren’t at all long, but just brief flights of fancy. Very entertaining and several thought-provoking vignettes.
(From grade-school/middle-school class:)
This didn't take very long to read, but was full of water buffaloes, exchange students, the end of the world, weird happenings, and even backyard missiles. I enjoyed this collection of short stories with pictures, because both the text and pictures went so well together. I had such a hard time reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret because the text kept being interrupted by the pictures. Tan did well in blending the two mediums. These 'urban legend' -like tales were fun little bits of story that could provide springboards for further personal imaginings.
The quaint, fairy-like quality of these would be appealing to girls who like a bit of strange with their stories, and the heavy dose of weird should appeal to boys. The variety of formats that the stories are told in (some are collages of words), are attractive visually, and I would think would help to pull a reluctant reader into the short stories.
One swear word (damn). Missiles.
• 92 pages
• Intended audience: middle school and high school, grades 5-10
• Awards:
Spring 2009 Kid's Indie Next List
• Reviews:
Coats, Karen. (2009, March). Tales from Outer Suburbia. Review of book Tales from Outer Suburbia. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 62(7), 298-299. Retrieved June 23, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1660504151).
Karen Coats, in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, writes about how Tan engages the reader in a mysterious examination of things that are just at the edges of our world. “…the craftsmanship is impeccable; here the combination of words and visual creates a stunning overall effct, inviting lingering and many return visits.”
Sutton, Roger. (2009, March). Tales from Outer Suburbia. Review of book Tales from Outer Suburbia. The Horn Book Magazine, 85(2), 204-205. Retrieved June 23, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1653973541).
Roger Sutton, in The Horn Book Magazine, places much more emphasis on the pictures, but largely brushes off the text part of the story. “many of the selections don't get much beyond their premises, and Tan's lowkey expository prose offers few rewards of its own, the real story here is the pictures.”
• Themes: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Urban Legends
• Main Character: first person, various
• Setting: “Outer Suburbia” in a community near you
• Censorship: Saw one “damn”
• Plot: Walking a little on the weird side, Shaun Tan has put together a collection of stories and pictures that won’t take very long to read but create quite a trip. Water buffaloes offer directions, boys dangle their legs over the edge of the world, grandparents have exciting wedding days, a strange exchange student decorates the pantry, a turtle is rescued, and backyard missiles are decorated.
• Strengths: The Pictures
• Weaknesses: As a picture book, may be seen as juvenile
• Passage(s): “it’s funny how these days, when every household has its own intercontinental ballistic missile, you hardly even think about them.” (76)
“Those who stay awake long enough are rewarded by a momentary sound that never fails to draw a sharp intake of breath – the delicate tapping of hoofs descending on roof tiles. It’s always so startling, so hard to believe at first, like a waking dream or a rumor made solid.” (71)
• Library Pomotion: could be part of a display of picture books for older readers; could read aloud an entire chapter; several chapters would spur some great discussion about ethnic customs, armament and war, or poetry.
• Personal Reflection: I really enjoyed it. The pictures and words went together better than The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and as it was intended for an older audience the stories were more captivating to me. They weren’t at all long, but just brief flights of fancy. Very entertaining and several thought-provoking vignettes.
(From grade-school/middle-school class:)
This didn't take very long to read, but was full of water buffaloes, exchange students, the end of the world, weird happenings, and even backyard missiles. I enjoyed this collection of short stories with pictures, because both the text and pictures went so well together. I had such a hard time reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret because the text kept being interrupted by the pictures. Tan did well in blending the two mediums. These 'urban legend' -like tales were fun little bits of story that could provide springboards for further personal imaginings.
The quaint, fairy-like quality of these would be appealing to girls who like a bit of strange with their stories, and the heavy dose of weird should appeal to boys. The variety of formats that the stories are told in (some are collages of words), are attractive visually, and I would think would help to pull a reluctant reader into the short stories.
One swear word (damn). Missiles.
hb_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
perfectly weird and wonderful. loved the variety of illustrations and formats - i love this as an adult reader, but i wish i had had this book as a kid.
kaidoi93's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a fan of Shaun Tan's art for a while and bought this year's ago and never read it. This book reminds me a lot of the Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman in the strange and unexplainable magic and oddities in ordinary life. Highly imaginative and beautiful, I really liked this!