by Lucy Softich

American Born Chinese by Gene LuenYang
$17.95 (new)

Plot
The book contains three mostly-separate narratives. The first is about Jin Wang, who’s an outcast in his school where most of the kids are white. The second is based on an old Chinese fable, Journey to the West, and tells the tale of the Monkey King, a stubborn deity who is sick of being a monkey. And the third is about Danny, who is embarrassed yearly by his cousin, Chin-Kee, the epitome of Chinese stereotypes.

First Impressions
I had heard lots of great things about this book, and I was vaguely familiar with the tale of the Monkey King (yes, I grew up on Dragon Ball), and I was curious to see how Yang used it. I’m also a big fan of literary graphic novels, especially literary graphic novels done well.

Lasting Impressions
The art really defines the feel of the book, with a distinctly East-meets-West style to it. The structure feels very American, but the art is clearly influenced by Chinese art. The stories themselves really kept me reading, and the pacing (popping back and forth between the different narratives) really helped highlight the similarities and connections. The end is not to be believed, but no spoilers.

Audience
This one of those books that has a very broad audience. Fans of comics and graphic novels will enjoy it, but it also functions as a compelling coming-of-age story that can be enjoyed by adults as well as teens.

Posted in Have You Read ... ?.
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