Tea with Milk

 

Bibliography
Say, Allen, 2009. TEA WITH MILK. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547237473.

Plot Summary
Raised in America, young Masako was enjoying life and getting ready to attend college in San Francisco, when her parents started feeling homesick. Much to Masko's disappointment, they decide to move back to their home country of Japan, after missing it for so many years. Although Masako is a Japanese American, she feels like a foreigner her parents home country and misses the home she made in America. 

Critical Analysis 
Say retells the story of his mothers journey to Japan, after being born and raised in America. Masako's parents are from Japan and raise Masako in San Francisco, California. Even though they were living in America, there were Japanese traditions upheld at home such as the language and food. When it becomes time for Masako to leave for college, her parents express their homesick feelings and decide to move back to Japan. Masako's adjustment to being in Japan is a challenge, having to learn how to be a proper Japanese lady frustrates her. She is to wear kimonos, sit on floors, arrange flowers, tea ceremonies, eating traditional Japanese foods and learning to speak the language. Feeling alone and much like a foreigner, she longs for the days where she could sit on chairs, attend college, eat American dishes and drink tea with milk. In her attempt to rebel against these traditions, Masako moves to Osaka and gets a job in a department store. Eventually her determination leads her to a promotion in which she is a translator and gets to speak English, then meeting her future husband. Masako and Joseph make their own home in Yokohama, Japan and start a family. From then on, Say's mother learns a valuable lesson, home is where you make of it, not necessarily belonging to a country or a place. She is happy to be with Joseph, as he understands her cultural upbringing and calls her by her English name (May) and makes her tea with milk. Allen Say has taken his parents story of how they met and shares the respect they hold for each other's cultural upbringings, merging their differences into one and creating a home of their own.

Say's powerful illustrations and muted colors seem to capture the intense feelings Masako holds when she finds herself living in Japan. The illustrations almost seem to be like portraits on each page. Although she is Japanese American, Masako cannot help but feel like an outsider in her parents home country and it shows through the illustrations. Her facial expressions range from sad, unsure, frustrated, and lonely. It isn't until Masako gets a job at the department store in Osaka that she begins to show feelings like hope and happiness. True happiness is shown in the last illustration with her husband, Joseph, as they begin their life together and create a home of their own. 

Review Excerpt(s)
- ALA Notable Children's Book
- School Library Journal Best Book
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award
- Riverbank Review Children's Books of Distinction Award
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Say's many fans will be thrilled to have another episode in his family saga."
Starred review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Say's story communicates both the heart's yearning for individuality and freedom and how love and friendship can bridge cultural chasms." 

Connections
- Fans of Allen Say will enjoy the next chronicle to Grandfather's Journey, learning more about his family's journey to America. 
- A unique story to read and learn about traditional Japanese culture from a blended Japanese American family.
- Similar book recommendations:
Say, Allan, 2008. GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY. ISBN 9780547076805.
Say, Allan, 2009. ERIKA-SAN. ISBN 9780547562124.

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