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.
Recommended
by
Scott
C.
Bennett Martin Public Library
Have you read this one? What
did you think? Did you find this review helpful?
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