Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Graphic Novel Annotation: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese By Gene Luen Yang   

Synopsis: American Born Chinese weaves three separate stories together to explore the issues facing young Chinese Americans and to make a timely message on being true to oneself.

Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel

Tone: Funny

Pacing: Fast-paced

Writing Style: Witty and Thoughtful and Engaging

Characteristics making it appealing for Young Adults:
  • Fast-paced
  • Teenage main character
  • Appropriately addresses issues all young adults can relate to
  • Art style is very comic-book like/cartoony as opposed to realistic artwork
Read-a-likes:
  • The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong by L. Tam Holland
    • Not a graphic novel, but deals with similar themes
  • Queen Bee by Chyna Clugston-Major 
    • Graphic Novel 
  • The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
    • Graphic Novel
My thoughts: This book gets a rising-tide mark for me. I have to be honest I am not much of a graphic novel reader, but I do value them as a tool to encourage reading and literacy. The way that Gene Luen Yang ties the three stories together in this graphic novel is expertly done. His message of embracing your identity, but not letting it be the only definition of yourself, is timely and conveyed in a way that is appealing to young and old. The book also has a nice blend of humor and seriousness. Overall, it is one of the better graphic novels that I have read and I would consider reading other graphic novels by this author.
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4 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 8, 2014 at 1:00 PM

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  2. UnknownApril 8, 2014 at 1:01 PM

    I'm not much of graphic novel reader either but I read a long time ago and thought it was really good ( especially with the different portrayals of Chinese-Americans).

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  3. SnmelfiApril 8, 2014 at 2:06 PM

    I used his other two graphic novels, Boxers and Saints for my historical fiction annotation. They were set in China's Boxer Rebellion period. While they covered a serious topic, the author infused the books with humor that never seemed out of place. Both graphic novels covered the same period but they told the story from the viewpoint of two teens on opposite sides of the rebellion. The tone of each book differed from the other and this was achieved through the artwork. I would recommend both of these graphic novels.

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  4. Keith DinnageApril 11, 2014 at 6:59 PM

    I may have to remember this one for family get-togethers. My sister's family has two foreign exchange students from China, and my brother and his wife are living in Taiwan.

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