Say, Allen. Drawing from Memory. New York:
Scholastic Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-545-17686-6
SUMMARY
“Artists are
lazy and scruffy people – they are not respectable.” Those harsh words from his
father do not stop young Allen Say from pursuing his dream to become an artist. Encouraged by his teachers’ positive
comments about his talent, Allen continues to draw. Through fortunate
circumstances built on unfortunate events after his parents’ divorce, Allen becomes
an apprentice to Noro Shinpei, the famous Japanese cartoonist. Over the course
of three years, Allen perfects his skills under the wise and compassionate
guidance of Shinpei, whom he respectfully calls Sensei, the Japanese word for
teacher or master. He captures those
years in his book Drawing from Memory. Detailed with his cartoons, sketches, and graphic art, Allen Say reminds his
readers that with perseverance, dreams can come true.
ANALYSIS
Drawing from Memory presents the reader
with a look into Allen Say’s formative years as an artist. Set in Japan during
and after World War II, Say pays little attention to his war-ravaged Japan.
Instead, he calls the reader’s attention to his own life and struggle to refine
his skills in art so that he may someday become an artist.
The reader
soon becomes aware that Say is on his own in the pursuit of his dream. His
parents divorce when he is young, and his mother must work to support her
family. Allen must live with his maternal grandmother, who appears not to be
happy with this arrangement. She lets Allen know that if he does well on an
entrance exam to school, he may have his own apartment. Allen, quick to
recognize a good opportunity when it is offered, studies hard. His hard work is
rewarded, and he moves into his own apartment when he is twelve years-old. Free
from the discouraging comments from the adults in his family, he then begins to
pursue his dream to become an artist.
Allen Say
illustrates his story with photographs, cartoons, graphic art, and realistic
pencil sketches. Through his pictures and writing, the narrative of his youth
in Japan presents a clear image of life during the 1940s. His illustrations expertly convey the Japanese culture. Colored and labeled ink drawings of
Japanese people he observes in the streets fill one page and include a tofu
seller, a noodle delivery man, and two women dressed for a tea ceremony.
However, equally important in his story is his message that the Japanese
culture is a modern culture. He shows this by illustrating people wearing
styles contemporary to the 1940s era.
He includes
references to the post-war Japan, when the people began protesting against the
government for a better life. He describes a march he and his friend, Tokida,
joined. The march ended when the police met the protestors. The violence scared
Allen, but not Tokida. As Japan begins to recover from the war, Allen’s father
decides to emigrate to the United States, and he asks Allen to go with him.
After struggling with the decision, Allen remembers his mother’s words when he
told her he was continuing his dream to become an artist. She quoted an old
saying to “Let your dear child journey.” In his heart he knows that he must travel. He
decides to go with his father to America.
Allen Say’s
book, Drawing from Memory is filled
with memories of a past era during one of Japan’s most turbulent times.
However, his book calls attention to the people who lived in the country during
that time. Like all people, their lives went on during the war – despite the
war: Families struggled, teenagers dreamed, fathers and sons disagreed, and
teachers inspired. Each page, each
illustration, breaks the stereotyped image of World War II Japan with flying
kamikaze pilots and soldiers and shows the true image of the civilians who,
like Americans, lived, loved, and dreamed.
AWARDS/REVIEWS
ALA Notable Children’s Books, 2012
Booklist starred, 08/01/11
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor,
2012
Kirkus Reviews starred, 07/15/11
“…a powerful title that is both culturally
and personally resonant.” Booklist starred,
August 2011
“Exquisite drawings, paintings, comics and
photographs balance each other perfectly as they illustrate Say’s childhood
path to becoming an artist.” Kirkus
Reviews, starred, July 2011
CONNECTIONS
Books by Allen Say:
Home
of the Brave
Grandfather’s
Journey (Caldecott Winner)
Emma’s
Rug
El
Chino
Video Interview with Allen Say:
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Allen Say showed me a side of World War II Japan that I
never even considered. Caught in the propaganda of the American version of
Japan during that time, I never once thought about the civilians on the island
and how their daily lives were. The first photographs that impacted me were the
pictures of Allen Say’s babysitter and mother from the early 1940s. They
reminded me of pictures I have of my mother from that time period. I also was
surprised he defied his father. I always thought the Japanese children would
never defy their parents. That is when I knew I had fallen victim to
stereotyping. Thank you, Allen Say, for opening my eyes!
Drawing from Memory. Cover illustration. Internet on-line. Retrieved November 10, 2013 from
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