Tea with Milk by Allen Say

Tea with Milk

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Say, Allen. 1999. Tea with Milk. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0395904954

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

 Raised near San Francisco, May has fully embraced being a young American girl.  However, after she graduates from high school, her parents decide to return Japan, their homeland.  Upon arriving in Japan, May must now be called Masako, learn speak Japanese, write calligraphy, and sit still for long periods of time.  She misses America and ventures to Osaka, a large city in Japan.  Masako decides to say in Osaka and gets a job in a large department store giving tours to English speaking businessmen.  It is here that she begins to appreciate some of the Japanese traditions and meets a young man who also struggles with some of the cultural and language differences in the East. 

 3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 Allen Say is a well-renowned children’s book author and illustrator. He is especially admired for his breathtaking watercolor illustrations in his books.  This book is no different, and the illustrations contribute to the story’s overall experience.  One of the more interesting elements of the illustrations is the use of color in the paintings.  Say chooses to use milder, blander colors on the pages that discuss May’s discontent.  The pages that address her satisfaction and overall happiness with her life contain a more vivid color palette.

When May shares her displeasure with the relocation back to Japan, her complaints are no longer being able to drive a car, or work.  This clear distinction between cultures is one of the elements that demonstrates the setting and timeframe of the story.  In addition, the Western manner of dress is clearly intended to indicate an early to mid-20th century time period.  Throughout the book, Say deftly establishes the setting through his gentle use of watercolor paintings.

It is important to note that this book honors Say’s parents and their journey in balancing their Western ideas with the traditional ideals of their homeland. The story is mostly a coming of age story for May, followed closely by May and Joseph’s romance. Both storylines reflect the internal struggle of finding peace with cultural values and beliefs.   May’s interactions with her Japanese contemporaries expose her desire to maintain her American and Western traits.

Overall, this book demonstrates the culturally distinct experiences that occur in different countries, even when the characters stay the same.  May’s struggle with finding herself and balancing the Western and Eastern elements of her identity create an enchanting story for readers who are ages preschool and older.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS
  • Publisher Weekly Best Book of the Year - Won 1999
  • School Library Journal Best Book of the Year - Won 1999
  • ALA Notable Books for Children - Won 2000
Starred Review from Publishers Weekly: "Say's masterfully executed watercolors tell as much of this story about a young woman's challenging transition from America to Japan as his eloquent, economical prose...Through choice words and scrupulously choreographed paintings, Say's story communicates both the heart's yearning for individuality and freedom and how love and friendship can bridge cultural chasms."

 Review from School Library Journal: "The pages are filled with detailed drawings featuring Japanese architecture and clothing, and because of the artist's mastery at drawing figures, the people come to life as authentic and sympathetic characters. This is a thoughtful and poignant book that will appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly our nation's many immigrants who grapple with some of the same challenges as May and Joseph, including feeling at home in a place that is not their own."

 Review from the Kirkus: "Painted with characteristic control and restraint, Say’s illustrations, largely portraits, begin with a sepia view of a sullen child in a kimono, gradually take on distinct, subdued color..."

 Review from the New York Times: "...a spirited but very proper love story...the pictures in ''Tea With Milk'' are surprisingly wan and for the most part dull. They are not stylistically different, but they lack warmth...a gifted storyteller...The restrained narrative is carried along on an undercurrent of alienation, determination and romance."

 5. CONNECTIONS

 *Other books by Allen Say:
Grandfather's Journey. ISBN 978-0547076805
Kamishibai Man. ISBN 978-0618479542
The Boy in the Garden. ISBN 978-0547214108
*Other picture books with a traditional focus:
Bang, Molly.  The Paper Crane. ISBN 978-0688073336
Thong, Roseanne. Fly Free!.  ISBN 978-1590785508
Sheth, Kashmira.  Monsoon Afternoon.  ISBN  978-1561454556

*Allen Say's Official Publisher's Website
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