American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese
by Gene Luen Yeng
First Second, 2006. 240 pgs.
Young Adult: Graphic Novel
Hardcover: $19.95

Annotation: Yeng explores the complexity of identity with humor and wisdom.

Summary: Across the expanse of three separate plots, Yeng examines the nature of identity. First comes the intimidating Monkey King. Born of a rock he rules a mountian of monkeys, but when turned away from a party in Heaven, decides to transform himself in order to never be rejected again. Then we have Jin Wang, the only Chinese boy in his class until the Taiwanese Wei-Chen moves in. Not only bonded by the butt of racial snears, the two find they have a love of transformers and soon become fast friends. And finally we have Danny, whose horribly stereotypical cousin Chin-Kee arrives, making Danny's life miserable as he strives to navigate highschool with a family member whose embarrassing differences might make him an outcast.

Evaluation: A graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels, and often aimed at mature audiences. (So says http://www.wikipedia.org/)

My previously uninformed perception was that graphic novels were a combination of the best in illustration with a mediocre plot thrown in to make them…something more than a children’s picture book. My bad. Super cool graphics?--Check. Simple plot?--Negative. American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first graphic novel to win the American Library Association's Printz Award.

The adventures of the Monkey King, Jing Wang, Wei-Chin, and crazy cousin Chin-Kee are sure to capture your attention. The three separate plots of the novel explore the difficulties of being Chinese-American in a society where stereotypes abound. Being a teenager is hard in any country, and being ‘different’ can kill your social life--especially when your accent, appearance, and relatives differ so drastically from the ‘norm’. The temptation to give in to peer-pressure and blend with the cool crowd is nearly irresistible, especially when transforming yourself would make you more acceptable. Adhering to ancient cultural traditions seems unappealing when trying to navigate the hallways of high school, or rule a mountain of monkeys. And the question is…accept it or reject it? The novel is full of a “should I really be laughing at this?” style of humor that the Politically Correct Police would be sure to censor. Yet, Yang simultaneously draws a mesmerizing tale while teaching some extraordinary values. And when the intricate plot lines magically intertwine in the last pages, the beauty of the tale is overwhelming. Deep enough for a college thesis and light enough for a young teen, this graphic novel is a masterpiece of ingenuity.

Significance: American Born Chinese addresses the difficulty of being a minority--in any sense of the word--during the formative teen years. The novel offers superb discussion points on relevant young adult issues, such as: How do you navigate social and cultural differences and if you can transform yourself, is it advisable? Should you remain true to your traditional family values? How can you integrate successfully into a new society while still honoring your native culture? These and other cultural/social quandries make this book a great read for any teens struggling with difficult identity issues.

Personal Choice: I have a strong interest in Chinese culture and had never read a graphic novel, so with that combination of variables, I had to give this new genre a try and was utterly blown away by Yeng's genius in the process.

Awards: Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2007 / Printz Winner, 2007 / ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Top Ten List / National Book Award Nominee, 2007 / San Franciso Chronicle Best Book of the Year / NPR Holiday Pick / amzon.com Best Graphic Novel/Comic of the Year / Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year / Booklist Editors' Choice Book