Scan barcode
goodem9199's review
2.0
Two stars ONLY for the illustrations...otherwise, what am I missing??? I just don't get it.
theseventhl's review
5.0
This is the Shaun Tan book I originally wanted to read first, before Tales From Outer Suburbia. It was reviewed on coffeeandink's Dreamwidth - or at least two of the three stories within this omnibus edition were - and those (gorgeous utterly wonderful) reviews prompted my initial interest in Tan's works. On a whole, Lost and Found is a darkly rich world that straddles reality and fantasy with enviable ease. In "The Red Tree", a young girl struggles to find her place in a world that is alien to her; "The Lost Thing" follows a boy and his efforts to help a lost thing find its home; the last story of "The Rabbits" show what happens when an invading force of seemingly harmless rabbits turn a world upside-down.
Of course, these stories are not simplistic children's book stories; they have depth and they have layers. "The Red Tree" is arguably a story of depression in all its complicated and murky ways, the little girl trying to make sense of her own life while fighting against the tide of emotions that change day to day. It is probably my favorite of all three stories as it hit me the hardest emotionally. The second story, "The Lost Thing", can be seen as a commentary on people's proper 'places' in society and how someone can be lost but not alone.
Then there is "The Rabbits", and it is clearly a piece on colonialism through a sci-fi lens. Considering the story's setting (and the birth place of the author), the story seems to be offering up its own parallels to the colonialism of Australia through the rabbits - an animal which was introduced to the Australian continent as a species completely foreign to that habitat and ended up nearly dominating the landscape. In this story, the rabbits have come and taken everything - even the children - and in the end, it is unclear if anyone can be saved from the reality the rabbits have created. Like most Tan stories, it is open-ended; it is up to the individual reader to determine what happens to these two races at ends with each other.
Overall, Lost and Found is a must read for those craving picture books by definition that are definitely atypical of the medium. For further analysis/responses to Shaun Tan's works, I would recommended checking out his author tag on coffeeandink's Dreamwidth blog; coffeeandink's thinky thoughts and reviews about Tan (as well as pretty much everything else) are a treasure to read. After all, they were the reason I started reading Tan in the first place.
Of course, these stories are not simplistic children's book stories; they have depth and they have layers. "The Red Tree" is arguably a story of depression in all its complicated and murky ways, the little girl trying to make sense of her own life while fighting against the tide of emotions that change day to day. It is probably my favorite of all three stories as it hit me the hardest emotionally. The second story, "The Lost Thing", can be seen as a commentary on people's proper 'places' in society and how someone can be lost but not alone.
Then there is "The Rabbits", and it is clearly a piece on colonialism through a sci-fi lens. Considering the story's setting (and the birth place of the author), the story seems to be offering up its own parallels to the colonialism of Australia through the rabbits - an animal which was introduced to the Australian continent as a species completely foreign to that habitat and ended up nearly dominating the landscape. In this story, the rabbits have come and taken everything - even the children - and in the end, it is unclear if anyone can be saved from the reality the rabbits have created. Like most Tan stories, it is open-ended; it is up to the individual reader to determine what happens to these two races at ends with each other.
Overall, Lost and Found is a must read for those craving picture books by definition that are definitely atypical of the medium. For further analysis/responses to Shaun Tan's works, I would recommended checking out his author tag on coffeeandink's Dreamwidth blog; coffeeandink's thinky thoughts and reviews about Tan (as well as pretty much everything else) are a treasure to read. After all, they were the reason I started reading Tan in the first place.
wrentheblurry's review
4.0
Lost and Found presents three thought-provoking stories, from which readers can take away different feelings. I liked this more than my 10 & 12 year old, and I strongly appreciated the author's notes that explain the stories and their origins and such in more detail, while my sons were really done with the book by then. The artwork is well done, with a dark, gritty sort of feel. These stories aren't exactly feel-good, but are all well worth reading (multiple times even).
aspodelren's review
2.0
A very cute and artistic trio of stories that delve a little into grown up conflicts. Why have people become this way? Why do we treat other beings so different than our own?
migimon2002's review
4.0
Three fantastic stories with powerful messages. The illustrations are uniquely inspiring, and I truly appreciated the artistry showcased.
jwinchell's review
5.0
Shelved under "j graphic novels" at my library, I think this is the kind of book that could and should be on multiple shelves. Compelling existential issues grounded in quirky and fascinating artwork combine to make this a title for all ages. My personal favorite was the first story, "The Red Tree."