Shaun Tan- The Arrival

The Arrival by Shaun Tan is a perfect example of a wordless graphic narrative.  His transitions between the frame and illustrations where masterfully blended together and formed a story line in which carried ones imagination into a fictional wonderland.  He describes the path of a traveler leaving the safety of a familiar land on a boat towards an uncertain world.  Upon landing, he is shocked by the cultural difference in which he finds himself immersed in.  The terrain, language, and animals all hold a sense of uncertainty among them, which implores the reader to inquire the following pages.  I am amazed on how he was able to convey a real life issue in such a fictional story without making it seem over realistic.  Having moved around myself, I am able to relate to the story in a way I never though possible.  Upon finishing this book, I quickly checked out The Red Tree and The Lost Thing, all by Shaun Tan.