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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Gene Luen Yang’s Level Up predates his highly acclaimed, Eisner Award-winning American Born Chinese graphic novel. I thought the book would more fully explore geek and gaming culture. Instead, Yang’s young protagonist struggles to combine his interests and talents with the destiny he believes others have planned for his life. A good book with a simple message for young adults, the material proved a mismatch for my age and mindset.
I would like to have liked this one more, but the message is so blatant, so didactic that it seems like it is almost like nagging. Important message, not so subtle delivery. American Born Chinese was better. Sorry.
I liked the concepts with gaming and destiny. It definitely gives an interesting point of view on those two topics in particular.
SO awesome! I love the message, and the fighting of family's expectations and then coming to terms with one's self. SO AWESOME!
Almost every gamer has had this boss battle.
Almost every young adult has had this hurdle.
The one where what you LOVE to do, is questioned by parents who want you to do things that will get you a job.
Dennis Ouyang was bitten by the video game bug when he was six years old but try as he might, his parents refused to even let him have money for the arcade, let alone purchase a home system. Playing games is no way to learn how to "eat much bitterness", his father decides, and instead steers young Dennis into a life of science and schoolwork.
Fifteen years later, Dennis' life is sent reeling when his father unexpectedly dies from cancer. In the midst of his depression and confusion, Dennis picks up his first video game controller and a strong habit is formed. Between seeing visions of his father everywhere he goes, to the gaming, Dennis is so distracted that he soon begins to lose everything from girlfriends, to jobs, and finally his education when he's expelled from college.
And here's where things get crazy.
Four small winged angels which were once graphics on a card he'd received from his father begin to haunt Dennis and tell him he must not only re-enroll in college, but that he must also apply to medical school. They tell him that his destiny is to become a gastroenterologist, and that gaming has no place in that destiny. Feeling guilty for being expelled and also for possibly letting his father down, Dennis agrees to pursue the destiny that his father expected of him.
As with American Born Chinese, author Gene Luen Yang has done a great job in bringing humor and subtle honesty to this coming-of-age tale. No matter what our passion, all of us can relate to the feeling of sadness when what we love to do, just isn't enough for those we love.
Another thing I appreciated about this story was that there was fair light given to both the medical field as well as the gaming world. While Dennis could be successful in either profession, the higher focus of this story was that it was HIS choice to do so, and not his father's.
As graphic novels go, this one was an understatement in terms of the actual pictures. There were some awesome tie-ins and allusions to Pac-Man and Nintendo, but the story truly surpassed the graphics. Soft, pen-drawn scenes were colored in light pastels and provided a gentle setting for the at times heart-breakingly sweet story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved American Born Chinese, but also to anyone who loves simple and quirky pieces of realistic YA. Many will also find that it is a great story to have on hand for that young person, (or adult), who like Dennis, longs to find a path that includes their game controller.
Almost every young adult has had this hurdle.
The one where what you LOVE to do, is questioned by parents who want you to do things that will get you a job.
Dennis Ouyang was bitten by the video game bug when he was six years old but try as he might, his parents refused to even let him have money for the arcade, let alone purchase a home system. Playing games is no way to learn how to "eat much bitterness", his father decides, and instead steers young Dennis into a life of science and schoolwork.
Fifteen years later, Dennis' life is sent reeling when his father unexpectedly dies from cancer. In the midst of his depression and confusion, Dennis picks up his first video game controller and a strong habit is formed. Between seeing visions of his father everywhere he goes, to the gaming, Dennis is so distracted that he soon begins to lose everything from girlfriends, to jobs, and finally his education when he's expelled from college.
And here's where things get crazy.
Four small winged angels which were once graphics on a card he'd received from his father begin to haunt Dennis and tell him he must not only re-enroll in college, but that he must also apply to medical school. They tell him that his destiny is to become a gastroenterologist, and that gaming has no place in that destiny. Feeling guilty for being expelled and also for possibly letting his father down, Dennis agrees to pursue the destiny that his father expected of him.
As with American Born Chinese, author Gene Luen Yang has done a great job in bringing humor and subtle honesty to this coming-of-age tale. No matter what our passion, all of us can relate to the feeling of sadness when what we love to do, just isn't enough for those we love.
Another thing I appreciated about this story was that there was fair light given to both the medical field as well as the gaming world. While Dennis could be successful in either profession, the higher focus of this story was that it was HIS choice to do so, and not his father's.
As graphic novels go, this one was an understatement in terms of the actual pictures. There were some awesome tie-ins and allusions to Pac-Man and Nintendo, but the story truly surpassed the graphics. Soft, pen-drawn scenes were colored in light pastels and provided a gentle setting for the at times heart-breakingly sweet story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved American Born Chinese, but also to anyone who loves simple and quirky pieces of realistic YA. Many will also find that it is a great story to have on hand for that young person, (or adult), who like Dennis, longs to find a path that includes their game controller.
A quick, delightful, satisfying, graphic novel read. I recommend it.
After having read American Born Chinese earlier this year, I was excited to pick up more of Gene Luen Yang’s work. I loved the simple art style, the Asian-American characters and themes, and the simple yet effective story.
Level Up hit those marks, but not quite to the extent American Born Chinese did. While it still focused on family and dynamics of the culture (this time discussing youth culture rather than that of Asian-Americans, though there is a bit of that as well), it didn’t resonate quite as much with me.
Part of it was expectations: with a title like Level Up, and a cover that looks like a GameBoy, I was expecting more to do with gaming culture; perhaps the protagonist has to enter into a game or live his life as a game, or something… but instead, it was about sacrifices and honoring family.
In his heart, Dennis wants to be a gamer. He’s been transfixed with them since he was a young boy, but his father would never allow it, saying sacrifice makes us who we are and there’s no time for games if you want to succeed. Dennis swallows his hurt, as his Dad taught him, and focuses intently on his studies. When his father passes away, however, Dennis finally gets to game. Things happen, and Dennis is a man of extremes.
The ending lesson of happiness and finding what that means for you feels a little too on the nose and fortune cookie-ish, but it’s a pretty solid examination of today’s youth culture, or at least what older people seem to think it is.
Level Up hit those marks, but not quite to the extent American Born Chinese did. While it still focused on family and dynamics of the culture (this time discussing youth culture rather than that of Asian-Americans, though there is a bit of that as well), it didn’t resonate quite as much with me.
Part of it was expectations: with a title like Level Up, and a cover that looks like a GameBoy, I was expecting more to do with gaming culture; perhaps the protagonist has to enter into a game or live his life as a game, or something… but instead, it was about sacrifices and honoring family.
In his heart, Dennis wants to be a gamer. He’s been transfixed with them since he was a young boy, but his father would never allow it, saying sacrifice makes us who we are and there’s no time for games if you want to succeed. Dennis swallows his hurt, as his Dad taught him, and focuses intently on his studies. When his father passes away, however, Dennis finally gets to game. Things happen, and Dennis is a man of extremes.
The ending lesson of happiness and finding what that means for you feels a little too on the nose and fortune cookie-ish, but it’s a pretty solid examination of today’s youth culture, or at least what older people seem to think it is.
I'm a big Gene Luen Yang fan, so every time I come across something of his I haven't read, I snap it up.
This is a quick read with simple but effective artwork. It's a touching story about a young man making choices, and making peace with those choices. As with all of us, his decisions are affected by family, by expectations, and by desires - all of which can also change over time.
A good recommendation for teens or college students.
This is a quick read with simple but effective artwork. It's a touching story about a young man making choices, and making peace with those choices. As with all of us, his decisions are affected by family, by expectations, and by desires - all of which can also change over time.
A good recommendation for teens or college students.
Kind of felt like a combination of ABC's Chinese stories with the unclear message of Saints. I really like Yang's ability to surprise people with twists and surprises in his stories, but sometimes it feels like the message doesn't come together.
I wish I had five cherubs to do my chores and help me along with my destiny (or force me to adhere to it against my will?) I understand what they are metaphorically, but I feel like it would have been more satisfying if they existed just in David's mind as guilt rather than something that he could interact with the physical world.
The fake out ending, while truer to the message, seems unsatisfyingly easy for Dennis. And while the true ending makes more sense, it feels like it goes against the epiphany that Dennis had. Oh well, life is messy, twisted, and convoluted, so maybe that's just how things are sometimes.
The cherubs are cute and Yang always creates side characters that are fun.
I wish I had five cherubs to do my chores and help me along with my destiny (or force me to adhere to it against my will?) I understand what they are metaphorically, but I feel like it would have been more satisfying if they existed just in David's mind as guilt rather than something that he could interact with the physical world.
The fake out ending, while truer to the message, seems unsatisfyingly easy for Dennis. And while the true ending makes more sense, it feels like it goes against the epiphany that Dennis had. Oh well, life is messy, twisted, and convoluted, so maybe that's just how things are sometimes.
The cherubs are cute and Yang always creates side characters that are fun.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes