Scan barcode
that_glitter_chick_'s review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is a great read about coming to terms with who you are and accepting yourself. The combination of stories that flow into one make it a very enjoyable read. The illustration is lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence
bashsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I read Gene Luen Yang's Boxers and Saints as a teen, but I hadn't thought about his work in many years until a friend of mine mentioned this book recently. I enjoyed American Born Chinese quite a lot - I found the three storylines interesting, and there was quite a bit of depth to the central theme, of coming to terms with who you are, of being an outcast, of finding people who want you to be you. The ending felt a little rushed - the way the three storylines came together seemed a little too quick. But otherwise, great graphic novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Toxic friendship
-Specifically sinophobia (racism & xenophobia)emilyhv's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Antisemitism
marissasa's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
American Born Chinese tells the story of a young Chinese-American boy named Jin growing up in SF and going to a predominantly white school, wishing he wasn't different and was instead one of the white boys due to the bullying and discrimination he endures. His story is told in tandem with an old Chinese fable about the Monkey King and with an uncomfortable caricature story about a boy named Chin-kee visiting his white cousin Danny. The three stories connect with a twist in the end and all serve the greater message of accepting yourself for who you are despite how different you may be from those around you. While I liked the premise of the story and its message about growing up as a child of the diaspora amongst white peers, the caricature story was very hard to read and I didn't connect to all of the specifically male experiences of Jin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Bullying, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
booktavernkeep's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Xenophobia and Violence
alyssastellar's review
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
American Born Chinese is the story of three seemingly-unrelated characters stories. The Monkey King is the all-powerful ruler of Flower Fruit Mountain in an ancient fable. Jin Wang, a Chinese boy (whom I would list as the graphic novel's main character), is new to his neighborhood and the only Chinese-American child at his new school. Chin-Kee, a cousin of Danny, a white boy at Jin Wang's school, and the novel's graphic personification of Chinese stereotypes. In the end, these three stories join together in a way that may surprise you and leave you reflecting on the qualities within yourself that you may find negative.
Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel is most appropriate for students of early elementary school in terms of reading difficulty, but you may want to consider the novel's graphic xenophobia, racial slurs, and bullying when presenting young readers with this text. It may be worth having a personal chat about racism and Chinese culture with your student or child before presenting them with this text or allowing them to run with it alone. For these reasons, I'd suggest guided or instructional reading of this text at ages 7-9, and independent reading at ages 10-14. It is also an enjoyable story though, so if you're older than 14 - have at it!
For me, it was a bit difficult to read through the racial slurs and xenophobia present in Chin-Kee's character, and the moments of bullying in Jin Wang's story. However, this graphic novel was a quick and, at times, hilarious read. It was also one of the only graphic novels that has ever kept my attention, and for that alone, I must praise it. I appreciated the fables in the Monkey King and the exposure to Chinese culture. I also am thankful for Yang's ending in the novel. Without spoiling anything, I think we need more texts like this one.
Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel is most appropriate for students of early elementary school in terms of reading difficulty, but you may want to consider the novel's graphic xenophobia, racial slurs, and bullying when presenting young readers with this text. It may be worth having a personal chat about racism and Chinese culture with your student or child before presenting them with this text or allowing them to run with it alone. For these reasons, I'd suggest guided or instructional reading of this text at ages 7-9, and independent reading at ages 10-14. It is also an enjoyable story though, so if you're older than 14 - have at it!
For me, it was a bit difficult to read through the racial slurs and xenophobia present in Chin-Kee's character, and the moments of bullying in Jin Wang's story. However, this graphic novel was a quick and, at times, hilarious read. It was also one of the only graphic novels that has ever kept my attention, and for that alone, I must praise it. I appreciated the fables in the Monkey King and the exposure to Chinese culture. I also am thankful for Yang's ending in the novel. Without spoiling anything, I think we need more texts like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
littlecat's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.5
I think its a well told and important story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Antisemitism, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
emily_mh's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I loved the art style of this one and thought the way that the three stories came together was clever and meaningful. However, I thought the ending was a little rushed and I would have liked to see more in Jin’s perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Animal death, Misogyny, Body shaming, Medical content, Ableism, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
robinks's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the illustrations and how the three stories came together in the end. As a biracial Taiwanese person, it was really hard to read through all the racism and slurs used in this graphic novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Antisemitism
morganperks's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Body horror, and Bullying
Minor: Drug use