This is a tour-de-force new work by rising indie comics star Gene Yang. "American Born Chinese" maps the adolescent Chinese-American experience through three separate but interwoven stories. One story centres on Jin Wang, a Chinese-American student at an all-white California high school. Jin is plagued by jocks and bullies, so when another Chinese student transfers to the school, Jin wants nothing to do with him. Next is a comic update of the legendary story of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese morality tale. Finally, there's the gross and surreal stereotype of Chin-Kee, the ultimate negative Chinese cliche, complete with a sitcom-style "laugh track". These three apparently unrelated tales come together in an astonishing climax - all with a mighty blast of humour, surprising poignancy and skilled artistry.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A. Ross
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This beautifully produced graphic novel contains three storylines which come together in a well-constructed final chapter. The first storyline concerns the classic Chinese tale of the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) and his egotistical quest to become a god above all others. The second storyline is a about a Taiwanese-American kid raised in San Francisco's Chinatown who moves with his family to the suburbs. There he tries to fit in at his new elementary school, and goes through the usual loneliness of the outsider, endures bullying, makes friends with the other two Asian kids, and falls in love with a pretty white girl. The third storyline is delivered as a tasteless sitcom about an all-American high-school boy whose life gets turned upside down when his bucktoothed stereotype of a Chinese cousin comes to visit. Although the tone is very different in each storyline, they all have something to say about being different and coming to terms with one's identity, and the way they morph into a single climax at the end is quite clever and effective. It's a nice book to give any kid who's struggling with trying to find their place in the nasty world. The artwork is very clean and simple, with traditional lettering, crisp colors, and very simple paneling (which is nicely framed by generous white space above and below). The printing is beautiful and the paper and binding is top-notch.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Minh Tran
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great comic for those in their early teens. It mixes humor with a thoughtful message. It is a story of personal struggle told through two strands: an immigrant who wants to fit in at school and the monkey king who wants to become a god. The themes deal with discrimination, alienation, relationships and ambition. I would highly recommend it as a gift to those starting high school. You will have to judge whether it is appropriate for younger readers in elementary. It is not particularly violent or vulgar, but the themes are complex. My only negative point about this book is the ending. I didn't think the author closed the story well enough.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jay Kay
Format:Paperback
A great read, regardless if you happen to be Asian. Its one of the few comic books which touch on the issue of race and it does so brilliantly. I won't spoil the ending but the lives of the characters Yang creates are all intertwined well.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lot more to it
A modern graphic novel which has something to say. Makes you think about stereotypes and cultural misunderstandings. Can be read on lots of levels.
Published 5 months ago by J. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
What I really loved about this graphic novel is that it goes against the main criticism which most people find with graphic novels: that they spell everything out for you, and they... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Anna Clare
5.0 out of 5 stars
Monkeys, kung-fu, and love - what else do you need?
"American Born Chinese" has three stories combined into one: the story of the Monkey King and his fight for acceptance among the pantheon of Gods; a lewd Western caricature of... Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by Noel
5.0 out of 5 stars
American Born Chinese book review
The product arrived earlier than expected considering that it was coming from the US. In terms of the book itself, a truly enjoyable read.
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by Olufemi Adeleye
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