Yang, G. L. (2006). American Born Chinese.
New York: First Second. ISBN 1596431520
Plot Summary
American Born Chinese is an interwoven tale that initially seems disjointed. A monkey king, who feels belittled next to the other deities, rebels and defeats the others. Jin Wang is a boy that wants to desperately fit in with the white kids at his school, but finds it more difficult than he would imagine. Danny seems to be the boy Jin wants to be, but is held back from his aspirations by his cousin Chin-kee whose stereotypical Chinese mannerisms are so out of place with other kids that Danny feels compelled to change schools to avoid his embarrassment. These characters have similar problems of fitting in, and gaining acceptance where they feel it is warranted. This, and a much closer bond, ties them all together.
Critical Evaluation
Set up as separate stories, American Born Chinese is a cohesive narrative by the end. The search for identity is the crux of this story. Each character wants to be respected by others around them, often at the expense of who they really are. Instead of being true to themselves, they are willing to sacrifice themselves to blend in. This blending in becomes a literal transformation as characters become each other. Jin wants to fit in with the white kids in his school, and it is revealed that he is really Danny, in disguise. Danny's shame regarding Chin-Kee makes that much more sense when their true identities are revealed. These revelations are marked as a challenge, as they show that no matter one's attempts to be something else, they will always be themselves, that blending in will only change appearances, not motivations, fears, or anything else a person holds inside.
Reader's Annotation
When you realize who you don't want to be, what happens when you realize who you really are?
Author Information
Gene Luen Yang began publishing comics in 1996 with the help of a grant from the Xeric Foundation. American Born Chinese was his first breakthrough success, and garnered much critical praise in 2006, including a nomination for the National Book Award. He currently teaches at Hamline University in its MFA program for Writing for Children and Young Adults (About).
Yang was born in Alameda or Fremont, California--he's not sure which--to Chinese immigrant parents in 1973. He felt like a minority in his elementary school and was enamored with Walt Disney and comics. In college, he was encouraged to pursue a "practical" field, studying computer science at UC Berkeley. After working in this field for a few years post-graduation, he decided he wanted to teach. As a writer and artist, he still finds time to teach and lecture at conventions and schools worldwide (Wikipedia).
Yang was born in Alameda or Fremont, California--he's not sure which--to Chinese immigrant parents in 1973. He felt like a minority in his elementary school and was enamored with Walt Disney and comics. In college, he was encouraged to pursue a "practical" field, studying computer science at UC Berkeley. After working in this field for a few years post-graduation, he decided he wanted to teach. As a writer and artist, he still finds time to teach and lecture at conventions and schools worldwide (Wikipedia).
Genre
Fiction, graphic novel
Curriculum Ties
Reading and Language Arts
Booktalking Ideas
As Wei-Chen reveal thoughts about Jin's struggle with his identity while hinting that Wei-Chen himself may not be who he seems, hinting at the shifting identities in the story.
Reading Level/Interest Age
This book scores a GN530L on the Lexile Range. It is suitable for younger readers, but would likely be best appreciated by fifteen-year-olds as they can understand the irony and weight of the message.
Challenge Issues
Racial stereotypes are addressed.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
Reason Selected
I picked up this book years ago when it came out in the course of regular graphic novel reading not really knowing what to expect. At first, characters like Chin Kee seem offensive and mocking, but that is just part of the rich, difficult storytelling. As characters cross, becoming others, there are genuine moments of empathy with them that I feel is conveyed in very few books. The graphic novel medium only helps make these transformations more obvious, impactful, and drastic.
American Born Chinese also won "the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, the Publishers Weekly Comics Week Best Comic of the Year, the San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, the 2006/2007 Best Book Award from The Chinese American Librarians Association, and Amazon.com Best Graphic Novel/Comic of the Year" (Wikipedia).
American Born Chinese also won "the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, the Publishers Weekly Comics Week Best Comic of the Year, the San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, the 2006/2007 Best Book Award from The Chinese American Librarians Association, and Amazon.com Best Graphic Novel/Comic of the Year" (Wikipedia).
References
American Born Chinese. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 13, 2013,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Born_Chinese
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