American Born Chinese

A tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he's the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny's life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax.

American Born Chinese is the winner of the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, the winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, an Eisner Award nominee for Best Coloring, a 2007 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, and a New York Times bestseller. Gene Luen Yang was the fifth the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and is a MacArthur Fellow, a recipient of what's popularly known as the MacArthur "Genius" Grant.

This title has Common Core Connections

School Library Best Books of the Year, Books for the Teen Age, New York Public Library, Eisner Award Nominee, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year, YALSA Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners, Amazon.com Best Graphic Novel of the Year, Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novel for Youth, Eisner Award Winner, YALSA-College Bound /Lifelong Learners, Reuben Award Winner, Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Award, Harvey Award, Michael L. Printz Award - Medal, YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, NYPL Books for the Teen Age, NPR Holiday Pick, Publisher's Weekly Comics Week Best Comic of the Year, National Book Awards Finalist, Booklist Editors' Choice, San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, CYBIL Award, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, Library Media Editor's Choice, YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens

“Gene Luen Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth.” —New York Times Book Review

“Like Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Laurence Yep's Dragonwings, this novel explores the impact of the American dream on those outside the dominant culture in a finely wrought story that is an effective combination of humor and drama.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“. . . brilliantly written and designed, sophisticated and wise.” —The Miami Herald

“. . . one of the most powerful and entertaining works of literature to be published this year . . .” —The San Francisco Chronicle

“Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others.” —Publishers Weekly

“Kids fighting an uphill battle to convince parents and teachers of the literary merit of graphic novels will do well to share this title.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Each of the characters is flawed but familiar, and, in a clever postmodern twist, all share a deep, unforeseen connection. Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or oppose the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller. The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects––shame, racism, and friendship––receive thoughtful, powerful examination.” —Booklist

“This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions.” —Voice of Youth Advocates