Kampung Boy

Kampung Boy (2006) written and illustrated by Lat. New York & London: First Second Books. 142 pages ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-121-8 Graphic Novel, Biography, Humor This book is immediately attractive with the hilarious and expressive artwork on every page. The story is told by Mat in first-person. He tells his story from birth to pre-teen. Mat is a Muslim growing up in a kampung, a small village, in Southeast Asia. A mischievous boy, Mat tells of his experiences with his family members, attending school, learning to swim and fish with his friends, and working on the plantation. He gets in trouble for dulang-washing at the back of a tin dredge. He also is part of couple of traditional ceremonies, a wedding and then his own circumcision at age 10. Mat learns that he must do well in school in order to inherit his father’s rubber tree plantation. Encroaching on the area where Mat lives are tin mines and factories, affecting the environment, agriculture and the peoples’ way of life. Mat comes to realize the potential of this impact as he leaves on the bus for boarding school, hoping his kampong will be there when he returns. This is a delightful glimpse into life in a Southeast Asian village and Asian culture. The cartooning is detailed, animated and engaging, showing characters with expressive faces. Appropriate for 10 – 13 year olds.

Information on Perak and Tin Mining:
The State of Perak, Malaysia
TED Case Studies Tin Mining in Malaysia