American Born Chinese

Citation: Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second Books, 2006.

Ages : 13-18

Genre: Graphic Novel

Themes: Heritage, Family, Friendship, Loyalty, Modesty

Main Characters: Jin Wang, Monkey King, Chin-Lee, Danny

Plot Summary:

American Born Chinese is three stories in one book. The first story follows an Asian young man, Jin Wang, who has moved into a town and wants to fit in. He does his best to fit in and lay low until another Asian teenage boy moves into the town and wants to be friends with Jin Wang. At first he just wants this boy to leave him alone but eventually decides that he will be friends with this boy. Meanwhile he has met and fallen in love with a Caucasian girl. He wishes to also be Caucasian so that this girl will love him back.

In the second story the reader learns about the Monkey King who is extremely conceded and determined to gain as much power as he can. He teaches himself a variety of skills all aimed at gaining more and more power. He wants to become God. God confronts the Monkey King but the Monkey King is very rude to God. God decides to put hm under a mountain of rock to keep him from doing any harm and show the Monkey King, who really has the power. The Monkey King however is given a chance to free himself by helping anothe individual.

The third story is about Danny a young man who is extremely embarassed by his cousin who comes to visit each year from China. His cousin Chin-Lee is the stereotypical Chinese person and really upsets his cousin Danny. Danny spends the entire story trying to avoid his cousin and get in good with one of the basketball players of his school.

Eventually all the stories come together In a surprising manner.

Writing Style:

American Born Chinese is written as a graphic novel. It is narrated by an unnamed omnipresent being.

Assessment of quality and utility:

American Born Chinese was not an enjoyable read for me. It was hard to follow and I feel I missed certain points of the book. It was a quick read and the pictures certainly do help the reader understand the story, but it was bit too obscure for me to follow. It is the ending that I really did not like. Also although I know Chin-Lee was suppose to be the stereotypical Chinese person it really bothered me how demeaning his characterization was.

American Born Chinese could be used in English class where there could be discussion of the choice of its form. It could be used in a Health class where it could be used to open up discussion on self-esteem and the desire to fit in. Finally this book could be used in a Social Studies class to open discussion on stereotypes and prejudices.