Bibliography:
Yang, Gene Luen. 2006. American Born Chinese. Ill. by Lark Pien. New York: First Second. ISBN: 9781596431522.
Plot Summary:
Jin Wang is trying to fit in with his peers at his new middle school and makes a new friend with Wei-Chen, another new student from Taiwan. The Monkey King desperately wants to fit in with the other gods in the heavens, but must become the creature that his powerful creator, Tze-Yo-Tzuh, intended him to be. Danny is mortified by the presence of his outspoken cousin, Chin-Kee, who visits once a year from China. These three separate stories become more interwoven and at the climax are revealed to be one story with a powerful moral lesson.
Critical Analysis:
Gene Yang appears to have used his own experiences to tell a relatable story about a boy who feels compelled to rise above common stereotypes and blend in with the rest of American culture. Yang uses recognizable elements, such as “Transformers” toys, and sitcoms, to give the story a more authentic and edgy appeal to young readers. The way that Yang wove the three seemingly separate stories together gives a strong sense of completion at the end. In fact, readers may start to see the forshadowing by the middle of the novel.
The graphic novel presents some crass humor and racial stereotypes that might cause concern for some readers, but most people will see through the slang, which reveals the bigger picture underneath. Yang is trying to bring the feelings of alienation, culture submersion, and plain teen angst out into the open in a positive way. None of the characters are inherently bad, and there is little violence that isn’t obviously cartoonish and surreal. Some reviewers of the novel contend that the outlandish character of Chin-Kee, in particular, is an insult to the Chinese culture, but Yang uses the character to depict the realistic stereotypes that have existed in America for many years. Yang also uses Chin-Kee as a way to blast these stereotypes away in the novel.
Park’s illustrations are rich and vibrant and add a higher level of interest for those readers who normally don’t read graphic novels. The panels are detailed, but at the same time are not overcrowded with ink. The illustrations make the story very easy to follow, and may leave readers with a yearning for more just like it.
Awards:
Michael L. Printz Award – 2007
Review Excerpts:
Publisher’s Weekly: “Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he’s depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you’ll already have reached out to others.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal Starred Review: “Like Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Laurence Yeps 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.” - Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist: “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.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.
Connections:
- Read an interview with Gene Yang @ The Comics Journal
- Check out Yang’s blog: http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/authors/geneYangBlogMain.html
- Research some of the Chinese folktales mentioned in the story and try to find other interpretations and retellings.