Summary
Jin faces
racism in his new school. He is the only Chinese American student.
When his Chinese cousin comes to visit for a while he feels even
more out of place, embarrassed by his cousin.
This graphic novel interweaves the story of Jin, his cousin that visits
yearly, and a story of monkey king. The extremely bright vivid colors
used for the illustrations are inviting and help readers to feel
the excitement of the stories.
Bibliographic Citation
Yang, G.
(2008). American born Chinese. Square Fish.
Personal Impressions
I had a
difficult time finding the connections between the monkey king and Jin.
Had this graphic novel only included the story of Jin I might have been
more impressed. I also thought that the extreme use of color make this
novel seem like it might reach a younger crowd than that of the desired
audience.
Reviews
Jesse Karp (Booklist, Sep.
1, 2006 (Vol. 103, No. 1))
With vibrant colors and visual panache, indie writer-illustrator Yang (Rosary Comic Book) focuses on three characters in tales that touch on facets of Chinese American life. Jin is a boy faced with the casual racism of fellow students and the pressure of his crush on a Caucasian girl; the Monkey King, a character from Chinese folklore, has attained great power but feels he is being held back because of what the gods perceive as his lowly status; and Danny, a popular high-school student, suffers through an annual visit from his cousin Chin-Kee, a walking, talking compendium of exaggeratedChinese stereotypes. Each of the characters is flawed but familiar, and, in a clever postmodern twist, all share a deep, unforeseen connection. Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or contradict the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller. The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects--shame, racism, and friendship--receive thoughtful, powerful examination. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2006, Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95.
With vibrant colors and visual panache, indie writer-illustrator Yang (Rosary Comic Book) focuses on three characters in tales that touch on facets of Chinese American life. Jin is a boy faced with the casual racism of fellow students and the pressure of his crush on a Caucasian girl; the Monkey King, a character from Chinese folklore, has attained great power but feels he is being held back because of what the gods perceive as his lowly status; and Danny, a popular high-school student, suffers through an annual visit from his cousin Chin-Kee, a walking, talking compendium of exaggeratedChinese stereotypes. Each of the characters is flawed but familiar, and, in a clever postmodern twist, all share a deep, unforeseen connection. Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or contradict the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller. The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects--shame, racism, and friendship--receive thoughtful, powerful examination. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2006, Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95.
Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
American Born Chinese is really three stories in one. It begins with the story of the Monkey King, a figure from one of China’s oldest fables. He betters himself by studying Kung-Fu and mastering the prerequisites to immortality. He mounts a revolution when he is barred from a heavenly dinner party by a guard who tells him “You may be a King / You may even be a Deity / but you are still a monkey.” The hero of the second story is Jin, an American-Asian boy with a crush on a white girl in school. The third protagonist is Danny, a boy plagued by his visiting cousin, Chin-Kee, the embodiment of Chinese stereotyping. Chin-Kee bursts on the scene with a Harro Amellica. This yellow-faced, buck-toothed caricature is as happy to see his cousin as ginger root pranted in nutritious manure of well-bred ox. All three stories are humorously told with a bent to mock racism and prejudice. Yang’s graphic stories skip around from the disgusting to the sublime, his tongue firmly in his cheek as he illustrates first love, booger-eating, bullying, friendship, and shame. He uses subtle coloring and bolded text to emphasize his points. As you read you see the connection of all the characters who fight their way out of the boxes designed for them by others. The contemporary stories and the fable come together in terms of plot and theme as the characters enter each others’ stories, revealing and transforming themselves as the tales merge. 2006, First Second, $17.95. Ages 13 up.
American Born Chinese is really three stories in one. It begins with the story of the Monkey King, a figure from one of China’s oldest fables. He betters himself by studying Kung-Fu and mastering the prerequisites to immortality. He mounts a revolution when he is barred from a heavenly dinner party by a guard who tells him “You may be a King / You may even be a Deity / but you are still a monkey.” The hero of the second story is Jin, an American-Asian boy with a crush on a white girl in school. The third protagonist is Danny, a boy plagued by his visiting cousin, Chin-Kee, the embodiment of Chinese stereotyping. Chin-Kee bursts on the scene with a Harro Amellica. This yellow-faced, buck-toothed caricature is as happy to see his cousin as ginger root pranted in nutritious manure of well-bred ox. All three stories are humorously told with a bent to mock racism and prejudice. Yang’s graphic stories skip around from the disgusting to the sublime, his tongue firmly in his cheek as he illustrates first love, booger-eating, bullying, friendship, and shame. He uses subtle coloring and bolded text to emphasize his points. As you read you see the connection of all the characters who fight their way out of the boxes designed for them by others. The contemporary stories and the fable come together in terms of plot and theme as the characters enter each others’ stories, revealing and transforming themselves as the tales merge. 2006, First Second, $17.95. Ages 13 up.
CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Choices, 2007)
The Monkey King is tired of his second-class status. Adored by his own subjects, he is snubbed by human deities until he perfects his powers and literally beats those who would mock him into submission. “I am not a monkey” he proclaims. “I am the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven!” Jin Wang is the only Chinese American student at his school. When Wei-Chen Sun arrives from Taiwan, Jin Wang thinks, “Something made me want to beat him up.” Still, it’s not long before the two boys become best friends. Blond-haired Danny’s life would be perfect were it not for his cousin, Chin-Kee, who embodies every offensive stereotype of the Chinese, from buck teeth and braided ponytail to mispronunciations (“Harro Amellica!”). Gene Luen Yang’s brilliant graphic novel moves back and forth between these three separate narrative strands, each one exploring issues of identity, belonging, humility, and friendship as the storylines develop. Yang’s narrative builds to an unforgettable and dazzling series of revelations as the three storylines surprisingly converge in a book that is eye-opening and provocative, pushing the boundaries of comfort for readers as it exposes racism from its most subtle to most overt. CCBC Category: Fiction for Young Adults. 2006, First Second, 233 pages, $16.95. Age 13 and older.
The Monkey King is tired of his second-class status. Adored by his own subjects, he is snubbed by human deities until he perfects his powers and literally beats those who would mock him into submission. “I am not a monkey” he proclaims. “I am the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven!” Jin Wang is the only Chinese American student at his school. When Wei-Chen Sun arrives from Taiwan, Jin Wang thinks, “Something made me want to beat him up.” Still, it’s not long before the two boys become best friends. Blond-haired Danny’s life would be perfect were it not for his cousin, Chin-Kee, who embodies every offensive stereotype of the Chinese, from buck teeth and braided ponytail to mispronunciations (“Harro Amellica!”). Gene Luen Yang’s brilliant graphic novel moves back and forth between these three separate narrative strands, each one exploring issues of identity, belonging, humility, and friendship as the storylines develop. Yang’s narrative builds to an unforgettable and dazzling series of revelations as the three storylines surprisingly converge in a book that is eye-opening and provocative, pushing the boundaries of comfort for readers as it exposes racism from its most subtle to most overt. CCBC Category: Fiction for Young Adults. 2006, First Second, 233 pages, $16.95. Age 13 and older.
George Galuschak (KLIATT Review, November
2006 (Vol. 40, No. 6))
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that tells the story of two protagonists. The Monkey King is a figure from Chinese folklore. Angry at not being admitted to a Heavenly Dinner Party because he isn’t wearing shoes, the Monkey King masters the twelve disciplines of Kung Fu and sets about proving that he is a god to his fellow deities. He does this by beating up anyone who calls him a monkey. Danny, an Asian boy drawn with white features, wants to be like the rest of the kids in his high school. Unfortunately, the arrival of his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, dashes his hopes. Chin-Kee is every cliché about Chinese people (pronounce his name phonetically) rolled into one fun-filled package. Chin-Kee is so full of fun that a laugh track follows him around, but Danny, who has transferred out of two high schools already because of Chin-Kee’s past antics, isn’t laughing. There is also a third storyline featuring Jin Wang (Danny in junior high) and his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun. This is one of the best graphic novels I’ve read this year. It reminds me of Derek Kirk Kim’s excellent Same Difference & Other Stories, which is also worth purchasing. The three storylines are interrelated, and all have the same theme: accept who you are. Be warned that the character of Chin-Kee will arouse strong feelings: some may find him offensive while others may think he’s funny.American Born Chinese contains racial stereotypes, comic book violence, and one urinating monkey (from the back). It is highly recommended for all graphic novel collections. Category: Graphic Novels. KLIATT Codes: SA*--Exceptional book, recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2006, First Second, 235p. illus., $16.95. Ages 15 to adult.
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that tells the story of two protagonists. The Monkey King is a figure from Chinese folklore. Angry at not being admitted to a Heavenly Dinner Party because he isn’t wearing shoes, the Monkey King masters the twelve disciplines of Kung Fu and sets about proving that he is a god to his fellow deities. He does this by beating up anyone who calls him a monkey. Danny, an Asian boy drawn with white features, wants to be like the rest of the kids in his high school. Unfortunately, the arrival of his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, dashes his hopes. Chin-Kee is every cliché about Chinese people (pronounce his name phonetically) rolled into one fun-filled package. Chin-Kee is so full of fun that a laugh track follows him around, but Danny, who has transferred out of two high schools already because of Chin-Kee’s past antics, isn’t laughing. There is also a third storyline featuring Jin Wang (Danny in junior high) and his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun. This is one of the best graphic novels I’ve read this year. It reminds me of Derek Kirk Kim’s excellent Same Difference & Other Stories, which is also worth purchasing. The three storylines are interrelated, and all have the same theme: accept who you are. Be warned that the character of Chin-Kee will arouse strong feelings: some may find him offensive while others may think he’s funny.American Born Chinese contains racial stereotypes, comic book violence, and one urinating monkey (from the back). It is highly recommended for all graphic novel collections. Category: Graphic Novels. KLIATT Codes: SA*--Exceptional book, recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2006, First Second, 235p. illus., $16.95. Ages 15 to adult.
Rosemary Knapp (Library Media Connection,
January 2007)
In this graphic novel, three humorous and seemingly unrelated stories keep the reader's attention until they come together at the end. The first story concerns a Chinese-American boy trying to fit in. The second is a retelling of the Chinese fable of the monkey king. Those familiar with the anime/manga Saiyuki will immediately recognize the characters of the monk, water sprite, and boar in the Journey to the West. The third story involves a Chinese cousin who visits an American boy each year. The depiction of the cousin is so painfully stereotypical that you feel guilty laughing. In each story, the central character is unsatisfied with who he is and goes to great lengths to be someone else-with humorous results. The reader might be puzzled as to how the three stories are connected until the conclusion. It's a nice combination of a fable and contemporary stories to convey the wonderful lesson of accepting one's culture and identity with pride. A quick read, this title has engaging art, and at times, funny dialogue. There are some mild sexual references. One of my students, an active graphic novel reader, pronounced it, "Really funny with good characters." Recommended. 2006, First Second Books (Roaring Brook Press), 240pp., $16.95 pbk. Ages 12 to 18.
In this graphic novel, three humorous and seemingly unrelated stories keep the reader's attention until they come together at the end. The first story concerns a Chinese-American boy trying to fit in. The second is a retelling of the Chinese fable of the monkey king. Those familiar with the anime/manga Saiyuki will immediately recognize the characters of the monk, water sprite, and boar in the Journey to the West. The third story involves a Chinese cousin who visits an American boy each year. The depiction of the cousin is so painfully stereotypical that you feel guilty laughing. In each story, the central character is unsatisfied with who he is and goes to great lengths to be someone else-with humorous results. The reader might be puzzled as to how the three stories are connected until the conclusion. It's a nice combination of a fable and contemporary stories to convey the wonderful lesson of accepting one's culture and identity with pride. A quick read, this title has engaging art, and at times, funny dialogue. There are some mild sexual references. One of my students, an active graphic novel reader, pronounced it, "Really funny with good characters." Recommended. 2006, First Second Books (Roaring Brook Press), 240pp., $16.95 pbk. Ages 12 to 18.
Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center
for Children's Books, November 2006 (Vol. 60, No. 3))
Raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Jin Wang moves to a new neighborhood and a new school in third grade, where he quickly realizes that he’s an oddball among Anglo-American classmates. Further complicating his life is the arrival of a Taiwanese student who latches onto him for companionship and sticks like a burr on through junior high. The picture of dorkiness in his huge eyeglasses, Robo Happy shirt, hiked-up pants, and cowlick, Wei-Chen Sun turns into Jin’s closest friend and greatest embarrassment, both a cheerleader and a stumbling block to Jin’s efforts to fit into mainstream school life and win the blonde girl of his dreams. Weaving around and ultimately converging with the seriocomic story of Jin’s coming-of-age problems are two related tales that comment on issues of identity. In the first, the Chinese legendary Monkey King, banished from the gods’ dinner party because he is a monkey, perfects his skills and disciplines to the point where he claims to have transcended his monkeyness. As “The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven,” he’s ready to take on all comers including the creator god Tze-Yo-Tzuh, but he is ultimately punished, humbled, and redirected to the understanding that his freedom will only come through acceptance of his true nature. The last piece of the narrative triad is a sitcom, “Everyone Wuvs Chin-Kee,” complete with laugh track, in which broadly stereotyped Chin-Kee turns up on an annual visit to Americanized cousin Danny and, in a series of classroom episodes that play out Jin Wang’s worst nightmares, turns Danny’s social life into a shambles. The graphic-novel format is particularly well suited to managing the flow of three simultaneous storylines, and the action sequences of the Monkey King’s tale and the over-the-top satire on the portrayal of immigrants in American pop culture settle right into their spacious frames on the generously white bordered pages. Compositions are tidy and the palette is softly muted, so that even the strongest colors in the action scenes never reach the intensity of a visual assault. Kids fighting an uphill battle to convince parents and teachers of the literary merit of graphic novels would do well to share this title. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, First Second/Roaring Brook, 233p., $18.95. Grades 6-10.
Raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Jin Wang moves to a new neighborhood and a new school in third grade, where he quickly realizes that he’s an oddball among Anglo-American classmates. Further complicating his life is the arrival of a Taiwanese student who latches onto him for companionship and sticks like a burr on through junior high. The picture of dorkiness in his huge eyeglasses, Robo Happy shirt, hiked-up pants, and cowlick, Wei-Chen Sun turns into Jin’s closest friend and greatest embarrassment, both a cheerleader and a stumbling block to Jin’s efforts to fit into mainstream school life and win the blonde girl of his dreams. Weaving around and ultimately converging with the seriocomic story of Jin’s coming-of-age problems are two related tales that comment on issues of identity. In the first, the Chinese legendary Monkey King, banished from the gods’ dinner party because he is a monkey, perfects his skills and disciplines to the point where he claims to have transcended his monkeyness. As “The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven,” he’s ready to take on all comers including the creator god Tze-Yo-Tzuh, but he is ultimately punished, humbled, and redirected to the understanding that his freedom will only come through acceptance of his true nature. The last piece of the narrative triad is a sitcom, “Everyone Wuvs Chin-Kee,” complete with laugh track, in which broadly stereotyped Chin-Kee turns up on an annual visit to Americanized cousin Danny and, in a series of classroom episodes that play out Jin Wang’s worst nightmares, turns Danny’s social life into a shambles. The graphic-novel format is particularly well suited to managing the flow of three simultaneous storylines, and the action sequences of the Monkey King’s tale and the over-the-top satire on the portrayal of immigrants in American pop culture settle right into their spacious frames on the generously white bordered pages. Compositions are tidy and the palette is softly muted, so that even the strongest colors in the action scenes never reach the intensity of a visual assault. Kids fighting an uphill battle to convince parents and teachers of the literary merit of graphic novels would do well to share this title. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, First Second/Roaring Brook, 233p., $18.95. Grades 6-10.
Sherrie Williams (VOYA, October 2006 (Vol.
29, No. 4))
Three seemingly unrelated stories blend into a memorable tale of growing up Chinese American. The book begins with the ancient fable of the Monkey King, the proud leader of the monkeys. He is punished for entering the god's dinner party by being buried under a mountain for five hundred years. Second is the story of Jin Wang, the son of immigrants struggling to retain his Chinese identity while longing to be more Americanized. The final story is that of Cousin Chin-Kee, an amalgamation of the worst Chinese stereotypes. Chin-Kee yearly visits his all-American cousin Danny, causing so much embarrassment that Danny must change schools. The final chapter unifies the three tales into one version of what it means to be American-born Chinese. This graphic novel first appeared as a long running Web comic on http://www.Moderntales.com, where it enjoyed an enthusiastic following. The artwork is clean and distinctive, with varying panel styles and inking that is visually appealing. The Cousin Chin-Kee story line is extremely hyperbolic and at times difficult to read, as it embraces the most extreme negative Chinese stereotypes, but it displays some of the difficulties in perception faced by young Chinese Americans. This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions. This book is recommended for libraries serving teens and adults, particularly those enjoying graphic novels. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P J S G (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Graphic Novel Format). 2006, First Second Books/Roaring Brook, 240p., $16.95 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.
Three seemingly unrelated stories blend into a memorable tale of growing up Chinese American. The book begins with the ancient fable of the Monkey King, the proud leader of the monkeys. He is punished for entering the god's dinner party by being buried under a mountain for five hundred years. Second is the story of Jin Wang, the son of immigrants struggling to retain his Chinese identity while longing to be more Americanized. The final story is that of Cousin Chin-Kee, an amalgamation of the worst Chinese stereotypes. Chin-Kee yearly visits his all-American cousin Danny, causing so much embarrassment that Danny must change schools. The final chapter unifies the three tales into one version of what it means to be American-born Chinese. This graphic novel first appeared as a long running Web comic on http://www.Moderntales.com, where it enjoyed an enthusiastic following. The artwork is clean and distinctive, with varying panel styles and inking that is visually appealing. The Cousin Chin-Kee story line is extremely hyperbolic and at times difficult to read, as it embraces the most extreme negative Chinese stereotypes, but it displays some of the difficulties in perception faced by young Chinese Americans. This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions. This book is recommended for libraries serving teens and adults, particularly those enjoying graphic novels. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P J S G (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Graphic Novel Format). 2006, First Second Books/Roaring Brook, 240p., $16.95 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.
Ann Parker (WOW Review: Reading Across Cultures,
September 2009 (Vol. 2, No. 1))
This award-winning graphic novel about Chinese and Chinese-Americans focuses on the difficulties of being part of a culture that is often misunderstood or stereotyped. The novel follows the stories of three seemingly unconnected characters: the Chinese Monkey King, one of the most beloved characters in Chinese folk stories; Jin Wang, a young Chinese-American boy whose family moves from Chinatown in San Francisco to a mid-western town where he is an anomaly; and Danny, a nondescript teenager who has to endure the yearly visit of his inappropriate Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee. Each of the three stories deals with the difficulty of being an “outsider.”
The Monkey King desperately wants to become a member of the immortal deities, but when he tries to crash their heavenly dinner party they reject him because he is, well, a monkey. Even after he masters the twelve disciplines of kung-fu, which include developing powers of flying on clouds, changing size, and becoming invulnerable to heat or cold, he is reminded that, in the end, he is still just a monkey.
Jin Wang is the second Asian-American child in his new school; the other, Suzy Nakamura, is Japanese-American. Of course the kids at school don’t make that distinction and think they are betrothed to each other, so, as Jin Wang says, “We avoided each other as much as possible.” When Wei-Chen arrives from Taiwan, Jin immediately tries to distance himself from him as well, but their shared experiences finally bring them together as best friends.
Danny seems to be a popular kid at his school, but when his cousin Chin-Kee arrives from China for his yearly visit, Danny must bring him to school with him. Later, we learn that Chin-Kee’s totally exaggerated “Chinese” behavior has embarrassed Danny to the point that he has already been forced to change schools three times within one year.
All three characters represent the experiences of Chinese-Americans living in the American culture where they are a small minority. Their experiences also speak to kids who feel they don’t belong, whether they are attending a new school or putting up with embarrassing family members, or kids who wish they could be someone else -- someone taller, or shorter, or smarter, or more handsome. At the end of the novel, the three stories converge in a surprising conclusion -- one that reminds us to accept ourselves as we are, rather than trying to change our basic nature to fit in.
American Born Chinese is laugh out loud funny at times. The teachers in Jin Wang’s new school quickly spread their own stereotypes about Chinese people and culture when they mangleChinese-American students’ names and claim they all came directly from China. Chin-Kee (say his name really fast) is a completely over-the-top representation of all the negative stereotypes aboutChinese people, from his fractured accent to his choice of food to his knowing all the answers in his cousin’s Danny’s classes. As a graphic novel, the text is written in a way that adolescents will appreciate, with kids speaking the way they typically would with each other; the Monkey King in particular is something of a punk who challenges authority with the kind of violence found in comic books.
Gene Yuen Yang was born in Alameda, California, the son of Chinese immigrants. As a child, he loved hearing his mother's stories about the Monkey King, to whom he refers as "the Asian Mickey Mouse." Since the Monkey King isn't part of American culture, he gradually gave up his fascination until he found a copy of Arthur Waley's translation of Journey to the West, which re-introduced him to the Monkey King.
The winner of the 2007 Michael Printz Award and a National Book Award Finalist in 2006, American Born Chinese could be used very effectively in a classroom to discuss the stereotypes those of us who are members of a Western culture have of Chinese people in particular and Asian people in general, whether they are American or not. While some of the stereotyping in the book might be considered offensive, it successfully highlights the experiences of Chinese-Americans. Derek Kirk Kim, who has collaborated with Yang, is quoted on the back jacket as saying, “As an Asian-American, American Born Chinese is the book I’ve been waiting for all my life.” I’ll bet he’s not the only one.
American Born Chinese can be read alongside two other autobiographies that illuminate the experiences of Chinese-Americans and Chinese in developing a sense of self. The Lost Garden(1996) is Lawrence Yep's autobiography of growing up as a Chinese-American boy who didn't fit in with either culture, and in Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter(1999), author Adeline Yin Mah shares the heartbreaking story of her treatment at the hands of her stepmother in Shanghai. First Second Books, 233 pp.
This award-winning graphic novel about Chinese and Chinese-Americans focuses on the difficulties of being part of a culture that is often misunderstood or stereotyped. The novel follows the stories of three seemingly unconnected characters: the Chinese Monkey King, one of the most beloved characters in Chinese folk stories; Jin Wang, a young Chinese-American boy whose family moves from Chinatown in San Francisco to a mid-western town where he is an anomaly; and Danny, a nondescript teenager who has to endure the yearly visit of his inappropriate Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee. Each of the three stories deals with the difficulty of being an “outsider.”
The Monkey King desperately wants to become a member of the immortal deities, but when he tries to crash their heavenly dinner party they reject him because he is, well, a monkey. Even after he masters the twelve disciplines of kung-fu, which include developing powers of flying on clouds, changing size, and becoming invulnerable to heat or cold, he is reminded that, in the end, he is still just a monkey.
Jin Wang is the second Asian-American child in his new school; the other, Suzy Nakamura, is Japanese-American. Of course the kids at school don’t make that distinction and think they are betrothed to each other, so, as Jin Wang says, “We avoided each other as much as possible.” When Wei-Chen arrives from Taiwan, Jin immediately tries to distance himself from him as well, but their shared experiences finally bring them together as best friends.
Danny seems to be a popular kid at his school, but when his cousin Chin-Kee arrives from China for his yearly visit, Danny must bring him to school with him. Later, we learn that Chin-Kee’s totally exaggerated “Chinese” behavior has embarrassed Danny to the point that he has already been forced to change schools three times within one year.
All three characters represent the experiences of Chinese-Americans living in the American culture where they are a small minority. Their experiences also speak to kids who feel they don’t belong, whether they are attending a new school or putting up with embarrassing family members, or kids who wish they could be someone else -- someone taller, or shorter, or smarter, or more handsome. At the end of the novel, the three stories converge in a surprising conclusion -- one that reminds us to accept ourselves as we are, rather than trying to change our basic nature to fit in.
American Born Chinese is laugh out loud funny at times. The teachers in Jin Wang’s new school quickly spread their own stereotypes about Chinese people and culture when they mangleChinese-American students’ names and claim they all came directly from China. Chin-Kee (say his name really fast) is a completely over-the-top representation of all the negative stereotypes aboutChinese people, from his fractured accent to his choice of food to his knowing all the answers in his cousin’s Danny’s classes. As a graphic novel, the text is written in a way that adolescents will appreciate, with kids speaking the way they typically would with each other; the Monkey King in particular is something of a punk who challenges authority with the kind of violence found in comic books.
Gene Yuen Yang was born in Alameda, California, the son of Chinese immigrants. As a child, he loved hearing his mother's stories about the Monkey King, to whom he refers as "the Asian Mickey Mouse." Since the Monkey King isn't part of American culture, he gradually gave up his fascination until he found a copy of Arthur Waley's translation of Journey to the West, which re-introduced him to the Monkey King.
The winner of the 2007 Michael Printz Award and a National Book Award Finalist in 2006, American Born Chinese could be used very effectively in a classroom to discuss the stereotypes those of us who are members of a Western culture have of Chinese people in particular and Asian people in general, whether they are American or not. While some of the stereotyping in the book might be considered offensive, it successfully highlights the experiences of Chinese-Americans. Derek Kirk Kim, who has collaborated with Yang, is quoted on the back jacket as saying, “As an Asian-American, American Born Chinese is the book I’ve been waiting for all my life.” I’ll bet he’s not the only one.
American Born Chinese can be read alongside two other autobiographies that illuminate the experiences of Chinese-Americans and Chinese in developing a sense of self. The Lost Garden(1996) is Lawrence Yep's autobiography of growing up as a Chinese-American boy who didn't fit in with either culture, and in Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter(1999), author Adeline Yin Mah shares the heartbreaking story of her treatment at the hands of her stepmother in Shanghai. First Second Books, 233 pp.
Elementary Library Uses
I think this is
a great way to teach tolerance and empathy. It would be perfect
to recommend to a student that enjoys graphic novels but may have
trouble being tolerant of others differences.
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