Music for Alice

Music for Alice
Say, Allen. 2004. Music for Alice. Ill. by Allen Say. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618311181.

PLOT SUMMARY
Alice grew up on a farm in California. She loved to dance. When Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps, a much older, Alice and her new huband, Mark, were offered work as farm laborers as an alternative to living in the camps. They accepted, and thus began their life together - a life of farming, hardships, successes, and heartbreaks. Only Alice's passion for dance was left unchanged.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Allen Say’s reputation and his spectacular artwork in Music for Alice will attract teachers and librarians as soon as they view the portrait of Alice on the front cover. The illustrations, following Alice from her childhood on a California farm, to her years as an older widow, are beautiful and realistic. Each single page illustration appears as a photograph, framed in white, each one capturing a mood as well as a moment in time. The snapshot motif is evident, as even illustrations depicting motion (the wind blowing through young Alice’s hair, the plane flying over the farm), are captured as still frames. In the illustrations of hardship, such as assembling for transport to the internment camps or tilling the fields, the faces are obscured, as if to suggest that the depiction is one of adversity personified. By contrast, other pictures are peaceful landscapes - the gladiola fields, the farm, or realistic images of Alice – her mood drawn plainly upon her face, happy, pensive, content. The artwork in Music for Alice is masterful; however, it may be too sophisticated for the picture book audience for which the book is intended.

As an example of Japanese American literature, Music for Alice is multi-faceted. It can serve as a primer to the story of the Japanese internment camps of WWII, beginning with the FBI search of their apartment to their relocation from Seattle to a farm in Eastern Oregon. The book also speaks to the essential American-ness of Alice Sumida and her husband, despite their Japanese appearances. Both Alice and her husband, Mark, have traditional American names. Alice grows up on a farm. Mark lives in Seattle, selling seeds to farmers. Before the war and the relocation of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, Alice and Mark could have been any US citizens. The book succeeds in showing the unjust treatment of these American citizens.

Music for Alice also succeeds in showing something of the nature of Japanese culture, a culture that not only perseveres, but moves forward despite obstacles. When offered a choice between the internment camps and working as field laborers, they chose work. “‘We’ll be all right,’ I said, even though I was sorry that we had come.” Later, when federal agents advised them that they would be allowed to grow food in their desert exile, they leased acres of land. “The land was full of stones. We had to dig them out of the ground, put them in strong bags, and take them away before we could plant anything. Our first harvest was a harvest of stones.” Still, they persevered, eventually owning the largest gladiola or “sword lilies” farm in the United States. When the farm life took too much of a toll on their personal happiness, they again moved on, selling the farm and moving to California. Mark attempted to start a koi farm (an ornamental Japanese fish), but it did not turn out successfully. After Mark’s death, Alice again moved on, this time to Portland, near the assembly center where they had been gathered for relocation so many years ago, “but the terrible smells of the place are fading from my mind. Now what I often think of is the field of blooming sword lilies as far as the eye can see.” Finally, Alice’s life comes "full-circle," as in her final years, she returns finally to her childhood love of dance. Music for Alice is a quintessential Japanese American story of continuing, persevering, seizing opportunities, and moving forward.

This is a moving and beautiful book that will likely be appreciated by adults more than children. Youngsters may not appreciate Say’s artistic realism, and the ending may leave some children perplexed. The final line “And dance I do – all that I can,” is a fitting end to the story, however, the accompanying picture of an elderly Alice dancing with an unknown younger man will likely leave children confused and asking “Who is that man?” One final criticism is the book’s classification as fiction. Only a careful reading of the copyright page will yield the information that the book is “based on the true life story of Alice Sumida, who with her husband Mark established the largest gladiola bulb farm in the country during the last half of the twentieth century.” This information should be shared in a foreword to ensure that readers will see it.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
"Although the book has much to recommend it, it may have more limited appeal than some of Say's earlier works. It is not as personal as Grandfather's Journey (1993) or Tea with Milk (1999,both Houghton). Many young readers may lack the perspective to relate to a tale that spans decades and deals with such complex themes. Still, with proper introduction, this offering will be appreciated by sensitive and sophisticated youngsters."

Piehler, Heide. 2004. "Music for Alice (Book)." School Library Journal 50, no. 4: 123-123. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed July 16, 2007).

"The last image shows her dancing with a younger man, a scene that could profit from a bit more fleshing out ("And dance I do--all that I can"). Adults may respond best to this documentary-style life story."

2004. "MUSIC FOR ALICE (Book)." Publishers Weekly 251, no. 4: 252-252. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed July 22, 2007).

"This story beautifully describes their resilience, which becomes the foundation for a successful business and a fulfilling life."
Burke, Lynne T. 2005. "Books With Character." Instructor 114, no. 5: 73-74. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed July 16, 2007).

CONNECTIONS
Public librarians can suggest Say's Caldecott Medal winning book, Grandfather's Journey and Home of the Brave, another book relating to the Japanese internment camps.

Teachers can read this book to introduce a lesson on the World War II experience.

Use this book for language arts as an example of an illustrated life story. Ask students to write and illustrate their own life highlights. Have students pay particular attention to Say's unique artistic style.