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dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
I'm not disputing that the illustrations are bad. Just the story.
The art is beautiful. The story is promising but... not sure I really connected with it/was impacted by it.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a basic play on don't work until you fall apart for a company that could replace you in an instant. I found this in the teen section of my local library and I like it being placed there because it accomplishes multiple things:
First - it shows teens and other readers that picture books can cover a wide range of topics and be tailored towards a wide range of audiences, and that helps break the stigma against picture books.
Second - this topic seems a bit too literal and dramatic to appeal to adults who are actually working towards having careers like the Cicada in the story. It read very r/thisisdeep to me (which I hate saying becasue I think it is important to talk about the things that come up in those types of reddit threads). Because of this literal and dramatic topic I think it fits very well with YA and a YA readers sense of right and wrong. This book makes a very clear statment against cooperations tendancies towards ignoring or abusing their workers.
The only big issue I had with this book was the clear illusion to a potential suicide. I think this was too far, and really threw me off. I loved how in the end the cicada flew off to the forest to live a happier life, but I wish it hadn't happened after the humans were done using him and that he had made that decision himself earlier in his life. It almost seems like an allusion to people dying and going to heaven after the system has used them past their potential. I feel that Tan didn't really know what percise message he wanted to convey.
First - it shows teens and other readers that picture books can cover a wide range of topics and be tailored towards a wide range of audiences, and that helps break the stigma against picture books.
Second - this topic seems a bit too literal and dramatic to appeal to adults who are actually working towards having careers like the Cicada in the story. It read very r/thisisdeep to me (which I hate saying becasue I think it is important to talk about the things that come up in those types of reddit threads). Because of this literal and dramatic topic I think it fits very well with YA and a YA readers sense of right and wrong. This book makes a very clear statment against cooperations tendancies towards ignoring or abusing their workers.
The only big issue I had with this book was the clear illusion to a potential suicide. I think this was too far, and really threw me off. I loved how in the end the cicada flew off to the forest to live a happier life, but I wish it hadn't happened after the humans were done using him and that he had made that decision himself earlier in his life. It almost seems like an allusion to people dying and going to heaven after the system has used them past their potential. I feel that Tan didn't really know what percise message he wanted to convey.
It's not as long or profound as some of his works, but Cicada holds a message about under-appreciated workers and those who are different. The central character works hard at work although his boss and co-workers don't value him or see him as an equal. When he finally retires he has the last laugh. All to the Australian refrain of summer: the tok tok sound of cicadas.
This book is hard for me to describe. As always I love the way Tan uses illustrations in the books and this is another one of those that is seemingly for small children but could really make an adult reader think. I couldn't tell you why it resonated with me and why it stays in my thoughts even as I've put it away but it does. I'll probably read it more times to think about it.
Not for those of you who just want a quick story for your kids, but for those who like to talk about the absurdity of a story, I think this could be a nice book to share with a child. Just prepare to maybe stop and talk about the text and illustrations after every page.
Not for those of you who just want a quick story for your kids, but for those who like to talk about the absurdity of a story, I think this could be a nice book to share with a child. Just prepare to maybe stop and talk about the text and illustrations after every page.
dark
hopeful
reflective