The Arrival is a true picture book detailing the multi-layered experiences of an immigrant through sepia-toned pictures. Several are reminiscent of an Atlantic crossing and Ellis Island, while other images convey the frustrating daily experiences of an unknown language and search for a job and place to live. Some of the more intriguing drawings are of fantastical animals and peoples giving the “reader” a chance to feel the stages of immigration for himself.
In this wordless graphic novel, Tan captures the struggles and joy of the immigrant experience through clear, mesmerizing images which tell the story of a man who leaves his homeland and his family to build a better life. Young adult.