Graphic Novel: American Born Chinese

Image: 

Evaluation of the book:

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that reads easily but has a complex three-part plot that follows the separate stories of Jin Wang, a Chinese American trying to fit in, Monkey King, wanting to be a god, and Danny, an American teenager who can’t stand his Chinese cousin. Each chapter addresses a different one of these storylines until, in the end, they come together in a surprising plot twist. The three different plots leave the reader turning the pages, anxiously anticipating how they will come together.

The story as a whole is a bit heavy on the dogmatic side; it teaches the lesson of self-acceptance. First the Monkey King, then Jin Wang and Danny must come to accept themselves as they are instead of trying to be something they’re not. Luckily, the different story lines are entertaining and gripping enough to make up for the potentially too-moralistic theme. A lesson might be being shoved down the reader’s throat, but at least it’s entertaining!

The images in this graphic novel are all drawn in muted colors inside of a simple graphic structure. There are only three to four text boxes per page, each containing muted, yet detailed, images that tell the three stories. These images tell the story clearly and allow the reader to focus entirely on the action presented and the message, without being overwhelmed by colors and extensive text. The images are the story; they’re easy to follow.

Response:

How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?

I agree with the story’s assumption that this world and the people in it need to learn how to be comfortable in their own skin. We can only be the truest versions of ourselves if we accept every aspect of ourselves with no exceptions. Once we’ve done that we can, like the Monkey King, fulfill our true callings in this life.

How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?

Although it might seem overly dogmatic in style, American Born Chinese does address both well and clearly the important issue of self-acceptance. While I might not suffer from being an ethnic minority, there are many things about my own personal life that I must come to accept even if they are different than I’d like them to be. People cannot be happy on this earth unless they accept themselves as they are; this is an important issue to talk about.

How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?

I’m not much of a graphic novel reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story was vastly entertaining; the three overlapping storylines made me keep turning the pages as fast as I could to see what would happen to each of the three main characters.

Conclusion:

Through its alluring three-part storyline and captivatingly simple images, American Born Chinese teaches the lesson of self acceptance in the most entertaining way possible. Who knew that we had so much to learn from a Monkey King and two kids? I’d recommend this book to just about anyone, middle school and up, but especially someone who might be hesitant to try a graphic novel.

APA Style Reference: 

Yang, G. L. (2006). American born Chinese. New York, NY: First Second.