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Loading... American Born Chinese (original 2006; edition 2008)by Gene Luen Yang (Author)
Work InformationAmerican Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (2006)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. American Born Chinese weaves together three distinct but interconnected storylines that explore themes of cultural identity and self-acceptance. The first storyline follows Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy navigating the challenges of fitting in at a predominantly white school. The second storyline features the mythical Monkey King, a legendary figure from Chinese folklore, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. The third storyline introduces Danny, a popular American teenager who struggles with his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, and the embarrassment he brings. As these narratives converge, the characters grapple with issues of identity, stereotypes, and the complexities of belonging in a multicultural society. This book would be suitable in a middle school classroom to facilitate discussions about cultural diversity, stereotypes, and the immigrant experience. This book would be good for advance students. This book is "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang and published in 2000. This book is about a boy named Jin Wang and he is Chinese, but doesn't want to be because he is in love with an American girl and society has told him that he does not belong with her. There is also the Monkey King who has lived for thousands of years and ends up being defeated. This book goes through the journey of these two characters and the struggles they go through to become undefeated and to get the girl. This book would be good for advanced readers who are not into chapter books or have trouble reading longer books. It also has good culture in it and normalizes being a different culture than those around you and shows kids how to be confident in their culture instead of assimilating to those around them. This graphic novel gives us a glimpse into someone who may look different from his classmates on the outside, but longs to just fit in. It’s a painful place to be, especially as a kid. Anyone who has felt like they had to hide some part of themselves in order to avoid bullying, will find a kindred spirit here. It’s a chance to step into someone else’s shoes for a moment and hopefully gain some empathy for someone who might be different from you. 2.75 Quite a few people I've spoken to about non-superhero graphic novels have recommended this to me, but this just didn't hit home with me like it has with other people. It was an interesting read that twines together three separate stories into one. The first story is based on a Chinese folktale; the second on a young Chinese-American schoolboy; and the last on an American teen whose cousin "Chin-kee" comes to visit from China. The weaving together of the stories was unique, but felt very absurd and almost childlike. I get the point Yang was trying to make but don't think the meshing of stories was overall successful. The story wrapped up very quickly and felt unfinished. The art style was solid although a little bland. I think this could be a great read for some people, but probably not for everyone. I would still recommend this to certain people, especially if you're looking for some diverse authors or a unique little story!
School Library Journal Review Starred Review. Gr 7 Up Graphic novels that focus on nonwhite characters are exceedingly rare in American comics. Enter American Born Chinese, a well-crafted work that aptly explores issues of self-image, cultural identity, transformation, and self-acceptance. In a series of three linked tales, the central characters are introduced: Jin Wang, a teen who meets with ridicule and social isolation when his family moves from San Francisco s Chinatown to an exclusively white suburb; Danny, a popular blond, blue-eyed high school jock whose social status is jeopardized when his goofy, embarrassing Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, enrolls at his high school; and the Monkey King who, unsatisfied with his current sovereign, desperately longs to be elevated to the status of a god. Their stories converge into a satisfying coming-of-age novel that aptly blends traditional Chinese fables and legends with bathroom humor, action figures, and playground politics. Yang s crisp line drawings, linear panel arrangement, and muted colors provide a strong visual complement to the textual narrative. Like Toni Morrison s The Bluest Eye and Laurence Yep s Dragonwings, this novel explores the impact of the American dream on those outside the dominant culture in a finely wrought story that is an effective combination of humor and drama. Philip Charles Crawford, Essex High School, Essex Junction, VT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information Has the adaptationWas inspired byInspiredHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Alternates three interrelated stories about the problems of young Chinese Americans trying to participate in the popular culture. Presented in comic book format. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)741.5973The arts Graphic arts and decorative arts Drawing & drawings Cartoons, Caricatures, Comics Collections North American United States (General)LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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