American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (2007-10-30)

Amazing book that exposes the American Youth to the harsh topic of racism. American Born Chinese develops complex themes such as identity and stereotypes that urge teens to question their social interaction.

Wonderful anecdote told by Gene Luen Yang. The choice of medium is refreshing. This is unique in the the graphic novel is a retelling of a specific portion of the authors childhood. Even thought at times painful there is humor carefully woven in.

This is a good introduction to graphic novels as a genre. It is easy to follow the story yet the themes are subtle and intelligent; the illustrations are interesting and dynamic but not over-the-top like some superhero based graphic novels I have read. Yang is adept at portraying great emotion with just a few lines of dialogue. His characters are sympathetic but strong and you get to know them like you do real friends, slowly.

A good read all around. Get it!

Okay, so you're already an open-minded culturally exposed reader, you're no longer a teenager, and you don't really need anyone to explain to you that there is racism in the world and it's bad.

Through the first few dozen pages or so of this volume, then, you'll just be admiring the art but yawning a bit at the lack of subtlety.

It's a trap. The graphic novel earns its 4.5 stars easily as the artist and author pulls it all together and you realize it was on purpose all along. I was very pleased when I finished this, and instantly bought a copy for a friend.

American Born Chinese succeeds in transmitting the varied challenges of growing up, especially as an immigrant.

It deals with issues like growing up, fitting in, relationships and identity. At the same time it injects it with a uniquely Chinese culture.

Quirky parable, but I love Gene Luen Yang's simplistic style that balances in both the text and the art work. He really takes advantage of the core powers of this medium to tell emotionally complex stories easily.

American Born Chinese succeeds in transmitting the varied challenges of growing up, especially as an immigrant.

It deals with issues like growing up, fitting in, relationships and identity. At the same time it injects it with a uniquely Chinese culture.

Quirky parable, but I love Gene Luen Yang's simplistic style that balances in both the text and the art work. He really takes advantage of the core powers of this medium to tell emotionally complex stories easily.