2014-08-27
A brightly colored blob arrives in Flatland, makes relationships and builds a community, then leaves. At the beginning of the story, Owuza is just a collection of concentric, digitally collaged, uneven circles—"no more than a speck." He develops what look to be eyes, hair and a body, and he carries his heart in his outstretched hand. He finds friends in Flatland; they share stories and songs, create "beautiful things," help and heal. Then one day, Owuza is gone from Flatland. The Flatlanders look for him but do not find him—until they reach out to one another, and "there, in the center of them all, was Owuza. In all that they shared, he was with them always." Apparently written in response to the death of his daughter, Sayre's tale strives to be elemental but ends up simply oblique. It never leaves the mythic plane it begins on, keeping readers at a distance. Children are unlikely to understand what's going on with either Owuza's departure or his "reappearance" among the Flatlanders. Emberley's illustrations pop, placing rough-edged, circular yellow, turquoise, lime-green and fuchsia shapes against a terra-cotta background; in the reiteration of concentric shapes and dots, her designs echo Aboriginal art. In this way, they are an apt emotional and conceptual complement to the text, but they do little to illuminate it for young readers. This metaphor for death is just too metaphorical to succeed. (Picture book. 4-8)
"K-Gr3—Owuza arrives in Flatland as a simple circle, with vibrant, multicolored asymmetrical eyes, and develops a body as he grows, much as a fertilized egg evolves. With a lot to learn, he negotiates his way around, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this new home floating in the universe. In getting to know the other inhabitants, he "soon forgot the time before he came to Flatland" and takes great pleasure in creating and building with new friends. At times, he wonders if there is anything beyond "here" but doesn't consider this possibility often, as he's happy with his life. One morning, his friends awaken to find that Owuza is nowhere to be found. Turning to one another for consolation, they understand that, though he's gone, he lives on in them and their lives have been enriched for knowing him. Emberley's distinctive luminous illustrations on black backgrounds depict Owuza growing and changing as he learns about his surroundings and shares his love. His abrupt departure may trouble some readers, while others may find comfort in knowing he came from somewhere else and has left this home for another place."—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI, School Library Journal
"[Flatland], vibrant with imagery reminiscent of aboriginal dream time paintings, simply and reassuringly addresses loss. An abstract cellular-like speck named Owuza arrives in Flatland and begins to grow and learn, becoming more colorful and complex as he responds to his environment and to the friends he meets. When Owuza eventually leaves for whatever lies beyond Flatland's 'edges and endings,' his friends find that he remains a part of them and they realize that they, too, can see beyond endings and 'reach past the edges of Flatland.'" —Parents' Choice Awards, Recommended Book
"Fans of Rebecca Emberley’s artwork will recognize the effective design of colorful scenes (as if from roughly cut pieces of construction paper) from her earlier books. ... Flatland is a touching tale that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults." —San Francisco Book Review
“Through a poetic fusion of elements from string theory and spirituality, out of Flatland emerges a simple but profound tale that renders transcendent concepts understandable to youthful and open minds alike. A must for inquisitive readers and listeners of all ages!”—Adel Ghaderi B.Ph., Ph.D., MIT
