A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yang, Gene Luen. 2006. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. Colored by Lark Pien. New York, N.Y: First Second Books. ISBN 1596431520.
B. SUMMARY
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that has three storylines. Initially, these three storylines appear disparate but they are all inter-linked and this connection becomes more apparent as the plots progress. In the first storyline, the Monkey King, a beloved character in Chinese mythology becomes incensed when he is ridiculed and humiliated at a Heavenly Dinner Event for not wearing shoes. The Monkey King proceeds to master the twelve disciplines of Kung Fu and becomes very powerful. He uses this new power to impress the other Chinese Gods of his strength and talents, until he meets the ultimate Creator, Tze-Yo-Tzuh.
In the second storyline, readers are introduced to Jin Wang, a first generation Asian American who despite being born and bred in the United States, finds himself feeling like an outcast at school. He can’t seem to fit in, and faces prejudice from some of his classmates. A few years later, Jin Wang is befriended by Wei-Chen Sun, a recent immigrant from Taiwan, and the pair bond over a common love of transformer robots. The pair become best friends, but this friendship is sorely tested when Jin Wang falls for Amelia, a Caucasian classmate, and tests Sun’s loyalty.
The third storyline revolves around Danny, an apparently all-American boy who seems to be quite well-adjusted until he is visited by his cousin from China, Chin-Kee. Chin-Kee is the stereotypical Chinese man who mispronounces words, behaves rudely, and generally embarrasses Danny at school, to the extent that Danny feels he needs to transfer schools again. At a certain point, the connection between all three seemingly separate stories becomes apparent, and the central theme of learning to accept one’s self is made clear. The graphic novel format makes all three stories easier to comprehend through the well-drawn visuals, colored by illustrator Lark Pien.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main characters of the Monkey King, the junior high student Jin Wang, and the conflicted adolescent Danny are all well-delineated though the story’s main focus is on Jin Wang. Adolescents will easily relate to the two teen characters as both boys go through the struggles common to most adolescents, i.e. trying to fit in, yearning to be accepted, and in Jin Wang, the reader is able to understand some of the emotional struggles that an Asian American teen feels. The character Chin-Kee, Danny’s cousin from China, is a heavily stereotyped character who embodies all that is unlikable. Chin-Kee is a caricature, and some readers might find him an objectionable character, whilst others might find him a fun character. It may have been the author’s intention to portray this character in such a manner, so as to make a point, and this becomes obvious towards the end of the novel.
The setting weaves back and forth between a fantasy world inhabited by the Monkey King and other deities, and a world based on present-day reality which is inhabited by Jin Wang and Danny. The graphic novel format, with the use of illustrations and color, enable the reader to visualize these three separate settings. The plot is creative, especially the one which centers on the Monkey King, though it does make the reader initially wonder at the relevance of this story arc to the other two plots.
The themes are credibly portrayed throughout the graphic novel. The primary theme of learning to accept one’s self is underscored throughout the three plots, and well-conveyed by the three main characters. It is only by accepting their given identities that these three characters are able to truly feel happy and content. The style of writing reinforces this with simple yet effective language. Given the graphic novel format, there is not a lot of text, but the combination of words and visuals enable readers to become engaged with the story, and makes this graphic novel a unique and interesting read which will especially resonate with a young adult audience.
D. AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Michael L. Printz Award (2007)
Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album (2007)
National Book Awards Finalist (2006)
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.”
Voya: “This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions. This book is recommended for libraries serving teens and adults, particularly those enjoying graphic novels.”
School Library Journal: “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.”
E. CONNECTIONS
*This graphic novel which deals with themes of learning to accept one’s self, peer pressure, alienation, adolescent angst, and prejudice, can be used as part of a Language Arts lesson. Students can be encouraged to explore one of the themes portrayed in American Born Chinese in the form of a personal response. The personal response can take the form of an essay, a poem, or any other creative means of expression such as an artwork or even a musical composition.
*Young adults can be encouraged to explore other novels that deal with the immigrant experience and/or themes of alienation and wanting to fit in:
Banerjee, Anjali. 2006. MAYA RUNNING. Laurel Leaf. ISBN 0553494244.
Headley, Justina Chen. 2007. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (AND A FEW WHITE LIES). Little, Brown Books. ISBN 0316011312.
Hidier, Tanuja Desai. 2003. BORN CONFUSED. Scholastic. ISBN 0439510112.
Tan, Shaun. 2007. THE ARRIVAL. Arthur A. Levine. ISBN 0439895294.
Tomine, Adrian. 2009. SHORTCOMINGS. Drawn & Quarterly. ISBN 1897299753.
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