Say, Allen. Drawing From Memory. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011. ISBN: 9780545176866
Plot Summary:
Born in Japan, Allen Say is an imaginative young boy whose mother taught him how to read before he began school with her own motive for her son to become popular among his peers. From this motive grows an intelligent boy who becomes fascinated with comic books and their illustrations. Allen's love for comic books turned into a fascination with their illustrations resulting in his determination to become a cartoonist. Throughout Allen's life, he faces many difficulties and much disapproval from his father regarding his aspirations; however, these difficulties paired with his passion allows Allen to grow into who he is now.
Critical Analysis:
Allen Say recounts his story and memories of his life through an autobiographical nonfiction piece titled Drawing from Memory. Allen is a renowned writer and illustrator whose work has been featured in the Japanese American National Museum. Who else could recount the life of Allen Say more accurately than himself? Say captivates readers' interest through his usage of cartoon-like drawings and sketches created using watercolors, ink, and pencils. Paired with a vast integration of pictures is the textual story of Allen Say's life. As the author details his story, he follows a chronological timeline spanning from childhood to adulthood that allows readers to easily follow his story while appreciating his unique style of illustrations. Such depictions include just enough information of how Say recounts how his life was changed during WWII as he states, "Then a war began in 1941. When bombs started to fall on our city, Mother took us and fled to a village named Tabuse between Hiroshima and Iwakuni." This example displays an accurate display of Japanese history. Not only does Say's story unfold before the reader, but he displays his growth and progression as an artist through the details of his illustrations.
Review Excerpts:
"Retooling some of the material in his autobiographical middle-grade novel The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (1994), Say tells the story of his decidedly nontraditional Japanese upbringing, supplying watercolors, photographs, and humorous sketches to create a vivid record of life in postwar Tokyo. Say's family rented him his own apartment when he was 12 so he could attend a better school. "The one-room apartment was for me to study in," he writes, beneath a b&w sketch of his desk, "but studying was far from my mind... this was going to be my art studio!" (A second drawing, in color, shows his conception of the perfect desk, covered with paints and brushes.) Japan's most famous cartoonist, Noro Shinpei, accepted Say as an apprentice until Say immigrated to the United States in 1953. Say's account of his relationship with Noro (who later called Say "the treasure of my life") is the centerpiece of the narrative. As the story of a young artist's coming of age, Say's account is complex, poignant, and unfailingly honest. Say's fans—and those who also feel the pull of the artist's life—will be captivated." - Publishers Weekly
"Say's picture book memoir shows his passion for drawing and determination in pursuing his dream of becoming an artist. It is about the goals and accomplishments of a middle school-aged boy who wanted to work with a famous cartoonist. He actually knocked on the artist's door and asked! This "Sensei," or teacher, became the key to his development as an artist and a young man. "Let your dear child journey," is a Japanese saying that allowed Say to be on his own, achieve his goals, and become one of the best known children's authors and illustrators today. Although the cover illustration may not entice students, this memoir would be a good choice for those who need to be encouraged in their own passion, particularly if it is art. The illustrations inside the book are a rich mixture of Say's artwork from this training period, the work of his teacher, photographs, and graphic novel-like depictions of his memories. It would be a good companion to The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice, Say's earlier novel based on these same experiences. It would be a good source for an author study as well, as the memoir provides insights into many of the portraits of Japanese culture Say presents in his other work." - Children's Literature
"Say tells the story of how he became an artist through a vibrant blend of words and images. Beginning with his boyhood in World War II-era Japan, he traces his life-changing relationship with Noro Shinpei, an illustrious cartoonist who became his surrogate father figure and art mentor. Illustrations are richly detailed and infused with warmth. Exquisite use of light makes night scenes glow, and the mid-20th-century Tokyo setting is captured with vivid authenticity. A variety of media and artistic styles, including full-color paintings, black-and-white sketches, photographs, and comic-book panels, adds texture and depth to the narrative. Fans of the artist's work will take particular delight in seeing sketches from his student days. Simple, straightforward sentences and a conversational narration in combination with a wealth of images will appeal to aspiring artists and reluctant readers alike. This book covers much of the same material as Say's autobiographical novel, The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (Harper & Row, 1979), but the lively mix of art and text will draw in a new generation and a slightly younger audience. The somewhat abrupt ending, with Say moving to the United States, may leave readers wishing for a more extended epilogue or sequel, but that is simply because his story is so engaging. Readers of all ages will be inspired by the young Say's drive and determination that set him on a successful career path." - School Library Journal
"Say, an award-winning author and illustrator of juvenile literature, has created in this memoir a beautiful tribute to his sensei, Japanese for "teacher" or "master." Taught to read at an early age, Say loved comic books, which inspired a passion for drawing: "When I was drawing, I was happy. I didn't need toys or friends or parents." His father, however, had a low regard for artists. At age twelve, Say was sent to live with his maternal grandmother in Tokyo. Used to living alone, his grandmother had little patience for her artistic grandson. He studied and gained admittance into a prestigious middle school, and with his grandmother's blessing, he moved into his own apartment. That night, he read a newspaper article about a boy, an apprentice to the famous Japanese cartoonist Noro Shinpei. Say writes of Shinpei, "His books were my secret treasures I hid from my parents." The article set Say on the path to realizing his dream of becoming an artist and into a relationship of mutual respect and admiration. Say's autobiographical story introduces readers to Japanese culture of the 1940s and 50s. Teens will envy the extreme independence accorded to Say at such an early age. The mixture of text, sketches, and photographs illustrates Say's development as an artist and provides a glimpse into his youth and the lives of those closest to him. This book is sure to appeal to reluctant readers. Its brief text and plentiful graphics make it a quick but fulfilling read, and leave the reader wanting more." - VOYA
Connections:
Customers who purchased this book also bought the following titles: The House Baba Built: An Artist's Childhood in China, Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom, and The Extraordinary Mark Twain.
Interactivity:
- Have children draw their lives within five frames.
- Ask children if they have any of their artwork displayed in their homes i.e. hanging on the refrigerator, framed on the walls, or drawings on the wall.
- Ask children what they want to be when they grow up and who they look up to for that choice.
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