Scan barcode
A review by billd
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I decided to find this graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang after enjoying Lunar New Year Love Story a couple of weeks ago. Quite different, it was still an excellent story, with great artwork by Yang and vibrant coloring by Lark Pien.
Basically you've got three stories intertwined in this novel. Jin Wang has just moved to a new school and is trying to fit into a new school, one where he stands out because of he is different. The 2nd story involves the Monkey King who is rejected by the other Asian gods and wants revenge. The 3rd story is about Danny, another student trying to develop a relationship with one of his schoolmates only to be intruded on by his cousin, Chin-Kee, who is loud and irritating. The book moves between the three stories and finally, neatly puts them all together, in a surprising, neat way, making everything clear.
It's a story about trying to fit in, make friends, maybe trying to develop a relationship, when your cultures are different. It can be an uncomfortable story at times but as Gene Luen Yang says in his afterword, it's a story he felt had to be told. And even though he tells it from his Asian - American experience of being bullied and ignored, he says that people of all races, sexual orientation and faiths told him they could relate to it. Can I relate to it? I grew up in a very insular environment so maybe not but I hope I can appreciate it and learn from it. And I think that's the point, which is told imaginatively and emotionally. (As a note, American Born Chinese was one of 20 books removed from general circulation by the Mississippi Madison County Schools. It requires parental permission for students to take it out.)
Check it out. It's worth reading. (4.0 stars)
Basically you've got three stories intertwined in this novel. Jin Wang has just moved to a new school and is trying to fit into a new school, one where he stands out because of he is different. The 2nd story involves the Monkey King who is rejected by the other Asian gods and wants revenge. The 3rd story is about Danny, another student trying to develop a relationship with one of his schoolmates only to be intruded on by his cousin, Chin-Kee, who is loud and irritating. The book moves between the three stories and finally, neatly puts them all together, in a surprising, neat way, making everything clear.
It's a story about trying to fit in, make friends, maybe trying to develop a relationship, when your cultures are different. It can be an uncomfortable story at times but as Gene Luen Yang says in his afterword, it's a story he felt had to be told. And even though he tells it from his Asian - American experience of being bullied and ignored, he says that people of all races, sexual orientation and faiths told him they could relate to it. Can I relate to it? I grew up in a very insular environment so maybe not but I hope I can appreciate it and learn from it. And I think that's the point, which is told imaginatively and emotionally. (As a note, American Born Chinese was one of 20 books removed from general circulation by the Mississippi Madison County Schools. It requires parental permission for students to take it out.)
Check it out. It's worth reading. (4.0 stars)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying