
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that intertwines three separate stories - one of Jin Wang, a Chinese American boy struggling to fit in at a white school, the story of the Monkey King from Chinese folklore, and the tale of a Caucasian family with a stereotyped Chinese cousin. These stories come together to illustrate themes of identity, acceptance, and the challenges of being different in a predominantly white society. The book addresses issues such as racism, stereotypes, and the Asian American experience through a blend of humor, fantasy, and relatable teenage struggles.
The novel is written in a comix style, featuring colorful illustrations that complement the storytelling. The plot weaves together the lives of the characters in a way that brings depth and complexity to the narrative, ultimately delivering a message of self-acceptance and tolerance. Through the combination of image and text, Gene Luen Yang masterfully creates a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, appealing to a wide range of readers, including middle school children and adults.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes themes of racism, bullying, cultural stereotypes, and struggles with identity.
Has Romance?
There is a moderate presence of romance as Jin Wang develops feelings for his classmate.
From The Publisher:
Gene Luen Yang was the fifth the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and is a MacArthur Fellow, a recipient of what's popularly known as the MacArthur "Genius" Grant.
A tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he's the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny's life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax.
American Born Chinese is the winner of the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, the winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, an Eisner Award nominee for Best Coloring, a 2007 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, and a New York Times bestseller.
This title has Common Core Connections
Ratings (7)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
It Was OK (3) |
Reader Stats (21):
Read It (9) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (5) | |
Not Interested (6) |
About the Author:
Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan's Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim), The Rosary Comic Book, Prime Baby and Animal Crackers. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. He also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he teaches high school.
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