Say, Allen. 1999. TEA WITH MILK. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-395-90495-1.
Plot Summary:
Masako or May as she is called by her English speaking friends, is a young girl who's world is turned upside down when her parents move the family back to Japan from San Francisco. May has always dreamt of going to visit San Francisco with her father, go to college and have her own apartment. This is not possible in Japan, she is expected to wear kimonos, sit on the floor and marry a man from a good family. May decides she cannot settle for this type of life so she leaves for the big city without her parents knowing, she gets a job and eventually meets a wonderful man with whom she identifies with.
Critical Analysis:
This is a wonderful story, it is simple but between the story and the illustrations it just makes it very enjoyable. May is a wonderful example of a young woman who will not settle but sets out on her own to make her dreams come true. She has to find a balance between the American life she knew and the Japanese life she's living despite what her parents want for her. She is a strong woman who does not let what she is supposed to do and be in Japan dictate her life and she ultimately finds a man who seems to be supportive of who she wants to be and the type of life she wants to have. When Joseph asks May to have tea with him and she says in her best English that she'd love to but then bows as a proper Japanese woman, this embodies how she's found that balance between the two cultures. I love a female character that shows this strength, it's a great example for young woman and young men to see a strong female character. I love how she wears a bright red dress brought from California as she makes her way to the city in search of a better life for herself, it symbolizes defiance against the life she's supposed to have but strength in finding the life she wants.
Masako or May as she is called by her English speaking friends, is a young girl who's world is turned upside down when her parents move the family back to Japan from San Francisco. May has always dreamt of going to visit San Francisco with her father, go to college and have her own apartment. This is not possible in Japan, she is expected to wear kimonos, sit on the floor and marry a man from a good family. May decides she cannot settle for this type of life so she leaves for the big city without her parents knowing, she gets a job and eventually meets a wonderful man with whom she identifies with.
Critical Analysis:
This is a wonderful story, it is simple but between the story and the illustrations it just makes it very enjoyable. May is a wonderful example of a young woman who will not settle but sets out on her own to make her dreams come true. She has to find a balance between the American life she knew and the Japanese life she's living despite what her parents want for her. She is a strong woman who does not let what she is supposed to do and be in Japan dictate her life and she ultimately finds a man who seems to be supportive of who she wants to be and the type of life she wants to have. When Joseph asks May to have tea with him and she says in her best English that she'd love to but then bows as a proper Japanese woman, this embodies how she's found that balance between the two cultures. I love a female character that shows this strength, it's a great example for young woman and young men to see a strong female character. I love how she wears a bright red dress brought from California as she makes her way to the city in search of a better life for herself, it symbolizes defiance against the life she's supposed to have but strength in finding the life she wants.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful, I feel like I really get a sense of what Japan looks like, and how people dressed at one point as I'm assuming woman don't wear kimono's on a regular basis today. The expressions on peoples faces are so realistic, the colors are so soft and lovely it's just a great story.
Allen Say, the author and illustrator, has real life experience with this story as it's his parents story. There aren't stereotypes or embellishments in the difference between the two cultures, it's a wonderful example of how different Japan and American are. I love that we find out this story is the story of how his parents met, it's give validity to the story.
Review Awards and Excerpts:
Caldecott Honor Winner
Caldecott Honor Winner
"Elegant is the operative word for this undeniably compelling piece of work." - Booklist
"This exquisitely illustrated story will encourage thoughtful adult child dialogue on the potentially difficult issue." - Publishers Weekly
"A straightforward text and arresting, translucent watercolors dramatically portray how the young artist see her world." - Horn Book
An American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists"
Connections:
- I love how this story shows something as simple as how someone takes their tea to symbolize the differences between cultures. I would discuss other small differences between cultures, what people eat, how it's eaten, cultural ceremonies and so forth.
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