American Born Chinese

 Bibliographic Information: Yang, G.L. (2006). American born Chinese. New York: First Second. ISBN: 9781596433731

Plot Summary: Simultaneous stories revolve around three characters: the Monkey King, who masters Kung Fu in order to become a god; Jin Wang, a Chinese-American teen who struggles with his identity and acceptance of his heritage; and Danny, a blonde teen who faces the annual visits and embarrassment from his distant Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee. The central character, Jin, begins his story as his family is moving from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs. One day, a Chinese herbalist tells Jin he can be anything he wants to be, so long as he forfeits his soul. Unsure of what this exactly means, Jin attends his first day at his new school, where his teacher botches his name, and students ridicule him with Chinese stereotypes. Not even the Japanese girl, the only other Asian in his class, pays him any attention, and he is socially isolated until Wei-Chen arrives from Taiwan. Though Jin’s initial impulse is to beat him up, the boys become best friends when they learn of their mutual love for transformers toys. Jin falls in love with a Caucasian girl, gets a perm to impress her, and takes her on a date to the movies, but his romantic pursuit is thwarted by her friend who asks Jin not to date her anymore. Feeling frustrated, Jin acts out in aggression and kisses Wei-Chen’s girlfriend. Jin is left to mend not only his friendship, but his identity.

Critical Evaluation: Through these seemingly different characters comes a humorous tale about trying to fit in, accepting one’s heritage, and finding one’s identity. Transformation is the primary theme throughout this story, starting with the Monkey King trying to transform into a god, and Jin’s interest in transformer toys as a child. Chin-Kee is a character who embodies all of the negative stereotypes about Chinese people, and his presence, although difficult to read sometimes, is used to humorously address these issues, making readers aware of how ridiculous and false such stereotypes are. The fable of the Monkey King counterbalances Chin-Kee, by representing a genuine Chinese tradition. Like Yin and Yang, the stories don’t oppose each other, but complement each other, and come together to reveal that Danny is really Jin reflecting all of his own insecurities about being Chinese-American, and the Monkey King’s son is actually Wei-Chen, sent to Earth for his test of virtue. The friends reunite at the end, both transformed, but in different ways—showing that being Chinese-American isn’t a single identity, but multiple ones, just like that of any individual.

Reader’s Annotation: Jin Wang wants to fit in at his new school, the Monkey King wants to become a god, and Danny wants to avoid his embarrassing Chinese cousin. Each character wants to transform in some way, but little do they know just how interwoven their stories are.

Author Information:  Gale’s Contemporary Authors Online states, “Gene Luen Yang is an educator and a graphic novelist. He teaches computer science classes at a Roman Catholic high school in Oakland, California. In a Booklist interview, Yang explained his initial interest in comics: ‘I bought my first comic in the fifth grade, and I started drawing them shortly thereafter with a friend. Then in seventh grade, we both got interested in girls, and comics became really uncool. So I stopped drawing them, and I also stopped reading them. In high school, I took a comics class, and I started getting really heavily into them again.’ 

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction

Subjects: Identity, heritage, immigration, stereotypes

Curriculum Ties: Immigration

Booktalking Ideas: Use the fable of the Monkey King to introduce the theme of identity and transformation, then tie it into the immigrant experience in the U.S. What does it mean to be Chinese-American vs. just American?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 12+

Challenge Issues/Defense: Due to racist caricatures of Chinese stereotypes, this book may be challenged. If so, refer to:

1.     The San Francisco Public Library Collection Development Policy, Selection Criteria, and Teen Collection documents.

2.     The California Department of Education District Selection Policies, Reading Lists, and Resources for Recommended Literature: Pre-K-12.

3.     A hard copy of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights.

4.     Mixed book reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publisher’s Weekly.

5.     Book selection rationale.

6.     If necessary, The San Francisco Public Library’s Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form.

Reason for Selection: This is a Printz Award winning book that offers a glimpse that few YA novels offer: what its like to grow up as an Asian American.