American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Title: American Born Chinese

Author: Gene Luen Yang

ISBN:9781596431522

Publisher: New York & London

Copyright Date:2006

Genre: Graphic Novel

About the Author:

Gene 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 Kings of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan's Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim) and The Rosary Comic Book.

He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his lovely wife, Theresa, and son, Kolbe, and teaches computer science at a Roman Catholic high school.

Yang, G.L. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York: New York & London.

Curriculum Ties:

• Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
• Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature. 

Plot Summary:

American Born Chinese is a story told in three parts. The first tells the legend of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese figure who sought to be a great spirit and was laughed at. In retaliation, he fought the gods until he was defeated, learned humility, and was then accepted as a servant of Tze-Yo-Tzuh. The second story tells about Jin Wang, a Chinese American boy who struggles to fit in at a mostly Caucasian school. He makes friends with other Chinese American students, but then has conflicts with them, leading to a fight with his best friend, Wei-Chen. The final story tells about Danny, a boy Chinese heritage who is doing well in school, but soon has problems when his Chinese stereotype cousin, Chin-Kee comes to town and causes problems for him. In the end of the book, the three stories are tied together and the differences between them are explained. 

Critical Evaluation:

 American Born Chinese is an interesting exploration into how different cultures incorporate into America. This is personified in the character Jin Wang/Danny, who wants to fit in so badly he rejects aspects of his culture, adopting the hair styles, attitudes, and eventually skin color of the “normal American”. However, the book also discusses the importance of remembering who you are and being happy about it. This is a repeated theme in the book, both with the Monkey King, who is reminded that he was made a monkey and that is wonderful, and with Danny, who learns to accept his Chinese heritage and ends up in a Chinese café at the conclusion. The way that these stories are told make it clear that the author himself has dealt with these same concerns, and the power of the story comes through with this. The graphic novel format of the book helps with this storytelling style, adding embellishment to the words of the book.

Readers Annotation:

The Monkey King has a problem with the gods not accepting him. Interestingly, this is the same issue that Jin Wang is dealing with, but instead with Americans not accepting him for his Chinese background. Both characters struggle to overcome this problems and find where they belong. 

Book Talking Ideas:

• Talk about how the Monkey King and Jin Wang felt when they were left out. Look for what was done to them and how to avoid that for today.
• Talk about the legend of the Monkey King and tie it in to Chinese culture. Discuss how to be proud of our cultures. 

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-18

Challenge Issues:

• Racist portrayals of characters, particularly Chin-Kee.
• Some racial slurs
• Some sexual innuendos
• One instance of a teenager smoking

Defense Collection:

• As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese -American  childhood; it's a fable for every kid born  into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese  kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese  ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.) --Staff (Reviewed June 12, 2006) (Publishers Weekly, vol 253, issue 24, p36)
• A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese  cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections. --M.C. (Reviewed March 15, 2007) (Library Journal, vol 132, issue 5, p54)
• Awards:
• Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2006
• Eisner Awards: Best Graphic Album - New
• Michael L. Printz Award
• School Library Journal Best Books: 2006
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2007
• YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2007
• YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: I'm New Here Myself (2013)
• Freedom to Read Statement
• ALA Library Bill of Rights
• Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy
• The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
• Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
• Local public demand and usage potential
• Popularity
• Subject coverage
• Relevance
• Accuracy and currency
• Presentation, readability and format
• Point of view (all sides)
• Cost
• Local connection
• Social values
• Collection balance
• To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
• Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
• Staff expertise
• Bestseller lists
• Patron recommendations and requests
• Reliable social media reviews 

Purpose in Collection:

This not only adds some diversity to the collection with the Chinese American authorship and background, it adds non-superhero titles to our graphic novel area. It is also a highly awarded book, which is important for maintaining the quality of the collection.