Goodbye Chunky Rice

Reason Book Chosen

This is the favorite graphic novel of more than a few of my friends. I had read Craig Thompson’s other novel, Blankets, and really liked the story and the illustrations, so I thought I'd give this one a go.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Craig Thompson

Publisher: Top Shelf Productions

ISBN: 1891830090

Copyright Date: 1999

Genre

Graphic Novel

About the Author

Craig Thompson won the 2000 Harvey Award for Best New Talent. He is also the author of Blankets, another graphic novel book, and Carnet De Voyage, a travel journal.

Reader’s Annotation

The open sea tells the story of a friendship between a timid turtle and an intrepid mouse, and a few other enchanted characters.

Plot Summary

Chunky Rice, a sweet, timid turtle who “wears his home on his back” leaves the rooming house he lives in and the friends he has made to find where he belongs. He wants his best friend, Dandel, a wide-eyed mouse whom is heartbroken that Chunky Rice is leaving, to come with him, but Dandel is “at home” and does not want to leave. Merle, Chunky Rice’s wacky, longshoreman friend and neighbor helps Chunky Rice move his belongings and hop on board his brother’s boat, which carries Chunky Rice to his new destination. Merle’s brother, the Captain, is shady and conniving, using Chunky Rice, stealing from him and making him do chores on the boat. Chunky also encounters a middle-aged pair of conjoined twins on his voyage. Merle’s relationship with his new roommate, which is a bird, and his relationship with brother, also exist as side plots to Chunky Rice’s adventure and separation from Dandel.

Critical Analysis

This book is sad, touching, and wonderfully offbeat. The characters are simple and complicated at the same time, huggable and darling, yet sometimes rough around the edges. This book goes to places that are existential, magical, and real all at the same time, capturing the timelessness of adventure, loss, travel, friendship. This book could be great for young adults trying to make sense of the world and the relationships in it, and how they interact. The illustrations are gorgeous and Thompson is very playful with his use of framing. The plot also takes playful and adventures curves, gliding along like a boat at sea or like a song, creating a zen-like balance and leaving a reader satisfied.

Themes/Tags/Issues

Friendship, Adventure, Moving On, Saying Goodbye, Loss, Travel, Ocean, Regret

Reading Level

8+

Interest Level

8+ but highly suitable for and popular with young adults and adults