Book Review: Cicada by Shaun Tan

Cicada
by Shaun Tan [YA Tan]

Having long been a fan of Shaun Tan’s imaginative graphic storytelling, in books from The Arrival to Tales From Outer Suburbia to The Bird King, I was excited to see a new Tan title on the Young Adult “New Books” display. It does not disappoint.

Cicada is a very short picture book for all-age readers. It tells the short story of a cicada who is living the drone-like life of an office worker in a stereotypical big office building. Think Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” crossed with either the British or U.S. version of The Office television series. Only, in this case, the gigantic bug is wearing a three-piece suit, and all the humans around him take him for granted as just another little schlubb behind a desk.

Over the course of this short tale, we see how Cicada interacts with his co-workers and the heirarchical structure at his company, but we also see how his very cicada nature is being held back. A not-unexpected twist at the end gives this slightly depressing story a bit of a happy ending. Shaun Tan’s artwork is, as usual, gorgeous, and a feast for the eyes. I really enjoyed this one.

[ official Picture Books page on the official Shaun Tan web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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