Cicada

by Shaun Tan

A picture book for anyone who has ever felt unappreciated.

Cicada work in tall building.
Data entry clerk. Seventeen year.
No sick day. No mistake.
Tok Tok Tok!

Cicada works in an office, dutifully working day after day for unappreciative bosses and being bullied by his co-workers. But one day, something truly extraordinary happens . . .

Genres: Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Fantasy, Art

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2018

About the author

Shaun Tan (born 1974) is the illustrator and author of award-winning children's books. After freelancing for some years from a studio at Mt. Lawley, Tan relocated to Melbourne, Victoria, in 2007. Tan was the Illustrator in Residence at the University of Melbourne's Department of Language Literacy and Arts Education for two weeks through an annual Fellowship offered by the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust. 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist. In 2011, he won his first Oscar in the category Best Short Animated Film for his work The Lost Thing.

Reviews

[HaMiT · Rating 5 out of 5]

کجای این کتاب کودک بود آخه لعنتیا
کمرم شکست



ولی مجبوریم کار کنیم بتونیم کتاب بخریم

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/2/23: I rarely revise my reviews based on criticism I got, but my respondent below was right, and I reread the story a bit more slowly and sensitively. Initially I had thought that Tan may have wanted to see the guy in the story as Asian, but I agree that it is unnecessary to assume that, so I changed my review.

Original review, somewhat revised, 2/5/19: Shaun Tan is the author of the wordless masterpiece, The Arrival. Cicada is less ambitious, more minimal on almost every level, though it does feature about 150 words, written in a kind of representation of how an outsider or newcomer might speak if they are learning English.

Cicada work in tall building.
Data entry clerk. Seventeen year.
No sick day. No mistake.
Tok Tok Tok!

So Cicada the book is about racism and classism, as Cicada the character is mistreated at work by other people because they think he doesn't belong there even though he quietly and efficiently does his job without complaint. The job is data entry, he is underpaid, disrespected at every turn, and he works in these corporate offices for many years, bullied. A happy and somewhat surprising transformation happens at the end--Cicada has the last laugh, shall we say--but in most of the book he is pretty miserable, and at one point he is even depicted as suicidal after he is no longer needed at the company.

It's not a young children's picture book; maybe tweens can begin to appreciate it, but I prefer to think of it as an all-ages book. I thought of Kafka's "Metamorphosis," about another corporate guy who wakes up one morning to find he is a bug, with a different kind of ending, of course.

I think the story is pretty powerful and sad on reread, a book about difference and bullying, and yes, in the context of capitalism, but the drawing is typically amazing from Tan and I think a lot of people will like it.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cicada has worked as a data entry clerk in a tall office building for seventeen years. For all those years he has been treated horribly by the humans.



But, today is Cicada's last day.

Things are about to happen.

What Oh, The Places You'll Go! is to graduation gifts, this book should become to retirement gifts.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beginning book by Shaun and wow, it is really saying something about working in a cube. The nephew laughed and laughed at the Cicada in a business suit. Still, when both children saw how the cicada was treated, they were sad. Why would people treat him that way.

After 17 years of work for a heartless company, the cicada claimed his freedom and laughed at the people all the way to the forest. It was a sad story and the children loved the ending when the cicada gained its freedom.

The nephew gave this 4 stars because he liked the cicada and wanted better for him. The niece gave this 3 stars because the story made her sad, then happy.

[Dream.M · Rating 4 out of 5]

همش ۱۵۰ کلمه و اینهمه مفهوم؟
حداقل پایانش خوش بود :)
سیکادا یا زنجره، حشره ای که مظهر جاودانگی عه، آخرش خوشبخت و آزاد شد و به ریش آدما خندید.

[Shaghayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

فضاش شبیه مسخ کافکا بود. عمیق، تامل‌برانگیز و تاریک با پایانی متفاوت.

[Bec (becklebooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how, in 150 words, Shaun Tan ripped my heart out and then breathed it back to life. His drawings, detail and observation of life is nothing but raw and beautiful. Immediately after finishing it, my first thought was: "How burdened and grey we are, without freedom and creativity." As usual, another work of Shaun Tan's that is not only beautiful, but soulful, and I will no doubt be cracking this open many more times to revisit this cute, sad, honest and revitalising story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسیار گوگولی و عجیب بود.
چقدر نقاشی هاش دیتیل داشت.
خیلی دلم برا کاراکتر سوخت. بنده خدا حتا صندلی هم نداشت.
مدل نوشتارش هم جالب بود.
کلن دلم میخواست دستمو بندازم دور گردنش بغلش کنم (تا قبل اون تیکه‌ی بالا ساختمونش البته.)

[Arghavan-紫荆 · Rating 5 out of 5]

-هر وقت یک دقیقه وقت اضافه داشتی بخون
(A minute well spent.)

[Katya]

A Cigarra é um pequeno livrinho que prova que não é preciso ser extremamente complexo para ser brilhante. O sentido de humor (negro) que lhe percorre as páginas, a melancolia de que estão impregnadas as imagens resultam numa "leitura" estranhamente deliciosa onde o absurdo (e o surreal - que é o cunho do autor) são as ferramentas perfeitas para desmascarar a vida humana contemporânea.






Cigarra cuenta historia. Historia buena. Historia simple. Historia incluso humano entiende. ¡Tac, tac, tac!

[TheBookWarren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars — A nice little graphic novel that’s not as ambitious as the authors previous work by all reports but — for me at least — still ranks as something on the verge of experimental, given it contains few words and tells the tale of a suit branding cicada!

I enjoyed it though I’m not sure I got it as much as I wanted to, the ending was impactful and it’s definitely worth the short investment, one to ponder on perhaps, this tale about growing up more than anything else, is a refreshing work that might not be strictly my cuppa, but still something I can appreciate.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely delightful book! Aussie author Shaun Tan is one very talented man! The artwork in Cicada, a short but beautifully written children’s book, is spectacular; the story wonderful.

Cicada has been working for the same company for seventeen years – a hardworking little guy who was completely unappreciated. But he gets the last laugh – as I did – in the end! I loved it, my grandchildren love it – it’s one to recommend highly. Magic!

With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.

[Niloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

طفلی ۱۷ ساله داره کار دفتری انجام میده ولی هنوز کامل به زبان انسان‌ها مسلط نیست.
جالب بود.
Cicada no afford rent.
Live in office wallspace.
Company pretend not know.

[Narjes · Rating 5 out of 5]

بمیرم برات سیکادا.

[Marchpane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but depressing and very short, even for a picture book. The ending gives it awkward (unintentional?) religious connotations. Tan's art is phenomenal as usual.

[Trudie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahhhh.
I love Shaun Tan but this one was a massive disappointment. It looks as you would expect, bleakly gorgeous. But it takes about one minute to read and lacks much of the charm and depth of all his other works. Back to reread the The Red Tree and The Arrival to cheer myself up .

[Masih Reyhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

عجیب است که کتابی که عمدتا تصویر است و چند سطر کوتاه لابه‌لای نقاشی‌های عمیق و زیبایش دارد، چنین تاثیر شگرفی بر خواننده بگذارد...
کتاب را حتما بخوانید و پس از آن سراغِ [این] مقاله‌ی سایت آوانگارد بروید.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply written with an understated palette, an ostracized cicada toils to survive in the world. The Australian illustrator deftly demonstrates the undervalued, the ignored, and overworked in the workplace. What happens to him in the end?

[Neg🎻 · Rating 5 out of 5]

امیدوارم هیچ بچه ای این کتاب رو نخونه:((((

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes think about human!


رده‌ی سنی ۹ تا ۱۲ سال؟!
شوخیه دیگه؟😶

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picturebook that nudges close to being wordless with only 150 words throughout and many of them repeated, Cicada tells the story of a little bug who spends 17 years working thanklessly and largely ignored in a high-rise office. The world he inhabits flits between shades of grey and his green skill and dark bulbous eyes provide the only contrast in the dull world he inhabits.
As with all Tan's books, meaning may not come to the reader immediately but this is purposeful. Tan states that he often knows that he is writing about a universal truth with regard to humanity's impact on each other or the world. How clear that truth is remains up to the reader. He also speaks of a need for his work to be honest and hopes that each book he writes helps make the real world a little more understandable.
Perhaps then, there are three elements of Tan's life and philosophy which help cast a little light on this wonderful but (potentially) sad story. Firstly, that Tan's father was a Chinese immigrant to Australia and that communicating with his father, fluently has always been a challenge. Tan also speaks of an elderly Greek neighbour and her broken English too. Touching upon the idea of communication and the problems it can bring as well as the falsehood we attach to people who speak broken English and intelligence is one to consider - especially in light of the rather touching and beautiful ending.
Secondly, alongside Cicada, Tan has published Tales from the Inner City which explores our treatment of and relationship with animals. I can't help thinking that Cicada would have slipped into this book well but that perhaps Tan felt he wanted more space in which to share this particular story. And finally, Tan reflects on us as a people and what it is the we value above other things - in Cicada it appears to hint towards unformity, goals and, perhaps, the idea of living to work rather than working to live. It's all ambiguous - you make up your own mind.

[Figgy]

Proper review to come.

Another stunning book from Shaun Tan, with a really important message about racism and immigrants, but told by a cicada.

Having an insect (something that is decidedly not human) in place of a human who is treated the same as migrants will hopefully open some eyes.

There's a real gut-punch here towards the end which probably won't mean much to kids but is sure to get to adults reading the book to them.

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to go back to.
No reason to stay for.
No hope to go forward.
Just a lot of books to read.
And a lot of meow to listen to.
Tok tok tok.

[mitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

از قشنگ‌ترین مصوراییه که خوندم =)))

“Cicada all fly back to forest.
Sometimes think about human.
Can’t stop laughing.”

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cicada is a picture-book intended for 7-9-year-olds, written and skilfully illustrated by award-winning Australian illustrator and author, Shaun Tan. Cicada has been working tirelessly as a data processor, without thanks, or privilege or reward, for the same humans, for seventeen years. Seventeen years: we may not remember the significance of that period of time until the aha! moment, when it will bring a smile to the faces of most readers. Tan combines his evocative artwork with a poignant but clever little tale that may well make the reader look a little differently at the humble cicada. Could they really be laughing at us? Utterly charming.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, sad and ultimately, uplifting. Depressing. Wish we could have seen the forest he went to. The green and beauty might have helped this to be a tad less bleak. 4 solid stars.

[Mohi Hajihoseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

دلیل هزار و یکم برای تنفر از زندگی کارمندی

[Haniyeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"هر چند وقت یکبار، هر ۱۳ یا ۱۷ سال یکبار، حشره سیکادا به روی زمین می‌آید و زمین را با اسکلت بیرونی خود می‌پوشاند."

"Cicada work in tall building.
No sick day, No mistake, No promotion.
Nobody thanks cicada.
Cicada no afford rent.
Company pretend not know."

کار برای زندگی، یا زندگی برای کار.
دوست دارم بگم زندگیم تحت کنترلمه، که می‌تونم کارهایی که دلم می‌خواد انجام بدم، که می‌تونم هر وقت خواستم رهاش کنم، اما من برای کار زندگی می‌کنم، پس نمی‌تونم هیچ‌کدوم از این‌ها رو بگم :)

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of Tan's book, this is a depressing story with a bright, hopeful message.

Based on the life cycle of the periodical cicada, our little be-suited protagonist lives his gotta-get-through-it years in a cubicle, working hard, never being appreciated or compensated. When it's time to go, no one cares; management tells him to clean out his desk and get out and so he does. With no money and nowhere to go, he takes his leave from this life. It's a sad ending to a miserable tale.

But, again, this is Tan and periodical cicadas get a next stage.

Anyway, the illustrations are simple and phenomenal, expressive and lush in minimal color.

Fun story: I got this for Gabe for Christmas because of the message. Gabe got this for me for Christmas because I love Shaun Tan and didn't have this book.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second reviewing of this one (for a challenge). The grandkids love it; the big kids love it (us!) So beautifully illustrated and written by Aussie author Shaun Tan, as are all his books. It's a book to read over and over again; one you'll never tire of. This magical read is highly recommended.