Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

Starred Review The first nonfiction title in the still new Algonquin Young Readers imprint, this is a memoir of celebrated artist McMullan's early years, from age 2 to 11. His was a hopscotch childhood, thanks to WWII. Born in 1934 in Tsingtao, China, he subsequently lived in Shanghai, Canada, India, then China and Canada again and, finally, in the U.S. My mother and I were now wanderers, he writes, not yet attached to any particular place. His life was not always a happy story; his mother was a deep depressive who abused alcohol, and his strict, British military-officer father died in a plane wreck. Moreover, he had a self-described nervous, timid, introspective personality, but he found much comfort in the intelligence of his visual surroundings, and, accordingly, his story is informed by a keen sense of place. The book consists of 54 chronologically arranged full-page illustrations, each accompanied by a facing page of text. The exquisite full-color pictures are filled with air and space, reminiscent of the Chinese scrolls that fascinated McMullan as a child. These pictures and the evocative text are a happy exercise in harmony. A fascinating, seamless portrait of a young life and the wartime world that will have appeal not only to young readers but to adults as well.

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

McMullan's privileged childhood in North China (with missionary parents) was disrupted by the 1937 Japanese occupation; the rest of his childhood would be spent on the move, all over the globe. McMullan punctuates his spare narrative with character-revealing incidents. Each memory of the observant child becomes a richly evocative scene as well as a harmonious composition in this intimate and powerful autobiographical journey.

Kirkus Reviews

Internationally acclaimed illustrator McMullan (I'm Fast, 2012), best known for Lincoln Center Theater posters and picture books with his wife, reflects on his childhood in China and wartime journeys in search of home. Young McMullan, a nervous boy and grandson of missionaries, is born in Cheefoo, China, in 1934. He enjoys a comfortable lifestyle due to the family businesses, including an orphanage and embroidery exports. Soon, World War II dawns, and the Japanese army invades the town, causing the boy and his parents to flee to Shanghai. There, his father joins the British army, while he and his mother set sail for America. In two-page spreads, prose on the left opposite illustrations on the right, memories are recalled with vivid clarity and a quiet strength. The author's subdued but elegant drawings set the most reverent tones. Tender scenes, such as the author playing next to a rectangle of sunlight while his father bends over the piano or his fascinated examination of brush strokes on Chinese scrolls, illustrate how little moments really do have the greatest impact. Painful and terrifying recollections take shape, as well: his failure to become a "strong little fellow" in his father's eyes, a bomb scare aboard a passenger freighter or his ineptitude at boxing. These experiences, both extraordinary and ordinary, intertwine to create a memoir that resonates. (Finished, full-color art not seen.) A poignant glimpse into an artist in the making. (Memoir. 12-16)

School Library Journal (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

Gr 7 Up-In this poignant memoir, McMullan, illustrator of Kate McMullan's bestselling I Stink picture book (HarperCollins, 2002) and creator of more than 50 posters for Lincoln Center theater productions, chronicles his childhood during World War II. Born in Tsingtao, China, in 1934, young Jim lived a life of privilege as the son of wealthy Europeans. His grandparents went to China as missionaries. They operated an orphanage for abandoned infant girls and later taught the young women to embroider. Their distinctive cutwork creations became the seeds of a profitable exporting business, the James McMullan Company. By the time Jim was born, his family was among the best known in Cheefoo, and his parents were the toast of the lavish social scene. Everything changed, however, when the war began. Jim and his mother traveled from China to Canada and to India while his father served with the British Army. While Jim had difficulty adjusting to new schools and was bullied because of his strange accent, his mother suffered from depression and alcoholism. The book is composed of one-page vignettes that face a corresponding full-page watercolor scene illustrating a pivotal moment in the McMullan family history and/or Jim's childhood. Delicate layers of pale green, soft lavender, and rich ocher tones bleed and blend into deep violet shadows-a subtle visual nod to the themes of nostalgia, isolation, and loss explored throughout the work. McMullan's compositions are both quiet and stirring in their depiction of a lonely little boy struggling to find his place in a chaotic and often unkind world. In addition to McMullan's personal remembrances, the book also offers readers a glimpse into what life was like for children growing up during this time. Fans of memoirs, students studying World War II, and aspiring artists will find much to appreciate. Kiera Parrott , School Library Journal

Voice of Youth Advocates

McMullan creates a beautifully illustrated memoir chronicling his family's displacement during his World War II childhood. He sets the context by conveying the story of his missionary grandparents who arrived in Cheefoo where they decided to help abandoned Chinese baby girls. This purpose leads to his family's business interests which later allow him a childhood of privilege. When Japanese forces occupy China, his father feels compelled to join Allied forces. With growing hostilities, Jim and his mother flee the country to seek safety, leaving his father behind. The next few years are plagued with constant moving and uncertainty; however, throughout his experiences, he meets individuals who foster his love of art and help him find his purpose in life.Leaving China provides a unique glimpse into Chinese culture during an era about which little is known. Although the audience seems to be children due to its illustrations, readers need significant background knowledge to understand historical events alluded to throughout the text. Brief descriptions of events might encourage reluctant readers who feel motivated by quick progress; however, readers who enjoy descriptive narratives might feel discouraged by the brief series of summaries. The memoir takes a "telling," more than "showing," approach which makes it difficult to maintain interest. Despite these issues, this nonfiction text could be a beneficial resource to promote diversity if used along with supplemental texts, primarily because of its unique approach in showing the impacts of World War II.Courtney M. Krieger.