2007 Printz Award Winner, the first major award given to a graphic novel.American Born Chinese is a collection of three parallel stories of adaptation. The first tale is of the Monkey King, whose only goal is to be part of the dinner party in heaven. After he is shunned for being merely a monkey, the Monkey King decides to continue to master the disciplines of Kung Fu and fight those who won’t accept him.
Jin Wang starts a new school and is introduced as being from China, although he was born in San Francisco. He is a loner and is often bullied. When Wei-Chen, a new student from Taiwan, joins the class, Jin Wang is unsympathetic and tells him to speak English in America. Jin Wang develops a crush on a Caucasian girl but her friend delivers him a harsh message –that he (an ABC) is not good enough for her.
Danny is the All-American white boy. His cousin Chin-Kee comes to visit once a year and Danny is humiliated. Chin-Kee is the ultimate representation of the negative Chinese stereotype and Danny feels Chin-Kee is ruining his life.
When these three stories collide, the reader learns about identity and what it might feel like to be an American Born Chinese.
Why I picked this book: The first time I read it because the book won the Printz Award. I chose it for our May teen book club selection because the group wanted to read a graphic novel.
Why I finished it: I liked the three stories. Monkey King is based on an ancient Chinese myth, Jin Wang's story was autobiographical, and Danny/Chin-Kee's story was set up in a tv show (which I didn't catch while reading!)
I'd give the book to: avid readers looking for a good introduction to graphic novels.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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