TEA WITH MILK by Allen Say

Review by Christi De Leon

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Say, Allen. Tea with Milk. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books, 2009. ISBN 0547237472

PLOT SUMMARY

This book tells the story of a young Japanese girl named Masako, also called May. May grows up in San Francisco, then moves back to Japan with her parents. In Japan, she doesn’t feel quite at home. She ventures out on her own to a big city called Osaka, where she begins working and meets a young man named Joseph, who she has a lot in common with.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This thought-provoking picture book gives the reader insight into what it’s like to feel strung between two cultures. The setting begins in America, yet most of the story takes place in Japan. Filled with perseverance, May journeys independently to find happiness amongst facing cultural changes. Upon meeting Joseph, he puts this into perspective saying, “May, home isn’t a place or a building that’s ready-made and waiting for you, in America or anywhere else.”  As their relationship builds from a friendship, May eventually decides to build a life in Japan with Joseph without letting go of her American ways. Discovering that Tea with Milk is written by Allen Say as a tribute to his parents at the end brings the story to life even more. Anyone striving for belonging in a new place can relate.

The illustrations in this story consist of watercolor paintings, including authentic portraits of the characters. The pairing of illustrations with the text enhances the story. For instance, the illustrations portray May’s feelings throughout the book. The artwork also shows cultural aspects such as architecture, style of clothing, and an overall depiction of the Japanese way of life at the time. Many cultural variations are evident between America and Japan. These include the food, customs, and the role of women. The comparison of how each country drinks their tea also signifies a difference among cultures. The Japanese word gaijin, meaning “foreigner” is presented, indicating that May was called a foreigner in Japan adding to the struggle of feeling alienated. Overall, as the female protagonist, May sets a great example of how to approach difficulties with courage.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Riverbank Review Book of Distinction
Bulletin Blue Ribbon
SLJ Best Book
ALA Notable Book

From The Horn Book: "Continuing to explore place and home, Say tells the story of his mother, first introduced to readers in TREE OF CRANES. Born in California to Japanese immigrants, Masako is miserable when she moves to Japan with her parents after high school. The illustrations capture Masako's unhappiness and also her eventual contentment as she learns to combine two cultures." 

From Publishers Weekly: “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.”

CONNECTIONS

Gather other Allen Say books to read such as:

Grandfather’s Journey. ISBN 0547076800

Drawing From Memory. ISBN 0545176867

Gather other Japanese-American children’s books to read such as:

Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. Ill. by Dom Lee. ISBN 1880000199

Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. ISBN 0689856407

Possible Activities:

Use a Venn Diagram to record ways the two countries are alike and different.

Read Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say and make connections between the two books.