American Born Chinese

Peach’s Picks Rating


Title:
American Born Chinese

Author:
Gene Luen Yan

Illustrator:
Gene Luen Yan with color by Lark Pien

ISBN:
978-159643-152-2

Publisher:
New York: First Second

Copyright:
2006

Length:
233 pages

Plot Summary:
Three interwoven stories are told in this book. At the beginning of the book the reader meets the Monkey King, a traditional Chinese folktale character. The Monkey King is powerful and a kung-fu master. However, he is not satisfied with his life and wishes to be an even more powerful god. Jin Wang is the main character in the book’s next story. The reader meets Jin as he and his parents move to a new neighborhood and he begins attending school in a white neighborhood. His bigoted white teacher continually mispronounces Jin’s name calling him Jing Jang. Also, the boorish teacher tells the class that Jin just arrived from China although he has moved from San Francisco. Later in secondary school, Jin makes a rocky friendship with Wei-Chen, the only other Chinese boy in school. They have a lot to learn from each other. The third story focuses on Chin-Kee, a Chinese stereotype, and his cousin Danny. Chin-Kee is the most offensive Chinese stereotype imaginable. Danny goes to great lengths to avoid him, even changing schools. He cannot escape Chin-Kee. The theme of the stories is accepting who you are.

Critical Evaluation:
Readers who page through the book and believe they are picking up a funny comic are in for a surprise. While the book is funny, even hilarious, it presents serious discussions about self-acceptance, racism, stereotyping, and bigotry. The three interwoven stories draw on popular culture as well as Chinese folklore to weave the tales. The story is told in words and pictures, each complementing the other. The story can be read on the surface and then reread again to find clever references and devices such as Chin-Kee’s name. (Say it quickly; it is the ethnic slur “chinky”.) The book seems to be three short stories, but the author ties them together in an ending that will take most readers by surprise and leave them smiling and nodding their heads in delight. Even though the subject is racism against Chinese people, the feelings of not fitting into a group and being an outcast are universal. The artwork and layout are beautiful. The cartoon drawings are clear. The layout is not busy with pages having from one to six panels. The panel sets are surrounded by white and are easy to follow. They are not crowded by too much text. The color is rich and helps focus the eye through the panels.

Reader’s Annotation:
Three hilarious stories are told through the eyes of the Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Chin-Kee along with his cousin Danny. Yes, the author is mirroring his life experiences.

Author Information:
Grew up in Saratoga, California located near San Jose
When he was a child he thought he wanted to be an animator
Began drawing comics during 5th grade along with a friend who is now a doctor
Influenced by Disney cartoons and animation, Batman animated series, and the work of Bruce Timm
Began publishing comic books in 1996
Received the Xeric Grant (1997) for his book Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks
Teaches computer science at a Catholic high school in Oakland, California
Lives in Fremont, California with wife and children

Genre:
Alternative format – graphic novel

Curriculum Ties:
Use in literature classes and human development classes

Booktalking Ideas:
Show the book and read from page 29, the herbalist says: “It’s easy to become anything you wish . . . - . . . so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul.”

Show the book and read page 118 where Chin-Kee is laughing because he peed in the Coke can of a high school student who was bothering him.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
Ages 14-18

Additional Books by Author:
Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks
Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order
The Rosary Comic Book
The Motherless One

Challenge Issues:
Stereotyping, cartoon violence
Deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
American Born Chinese is included in this blog because it received the Michael L. Printz Award (2007). Five peaches are awarded for being a beautiful graphic novel with a powerful message.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/0312384483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272989030&sr=1-1

References:
Margolis, R. (2006). "American Born Chinese". School Library Journal, 52(9), 41. Retrieved from March 27, 2010, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.

Yang, G. L., (2010). “About.” Humble Comics. Retrieved March 27, 2010, from http://humblecomics.com/about.htm

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances

Peach’s Picks Rating

Title:
Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances

Author:
John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

Illustrator:
None

ISBN:
978-0-14-241214-5

Publisher:
New York: SPEAK/The Penguin Group

Copyright:
2008

Length:
352

Plot Summary:
This is a story told in three interconnected parts that take place on Christmas Eve. A train has come to a stop due to a blizzard. The lives of the teen characters on the train and in the nearby town intertwine into a funny, touching story with 14 cheerleaders squealing their way through the action. The lead-off tale is told by Maureen Johnson. It is the story of 16-year-old Jubilee Dougal who thinks her name gives the impression that she is a stripper. Jubilee is on a train bound for her boyfriend’s house for a Christmas smorgasbord, but due to the blizzard she is stranded and unhappy. She makes her way to a nearby Waffle House restaurant and meets Stuart who befriends her. The next story is written by John Green. It builds on the first story telling about three friends; JP (a boy), the Duke (a girl), and Tobin (a boy). They are at Tobin’s home watching James Bond movies when their very excited friend, Keun, who works at the Waffle House, calls with the wonderful news that peppy cheerleaders are stranded there with him. Keun wants to share the good fortune with his friends, but forgets that the Duke is a girl and not as interested in cheerleaders as JP and Tobin. The third story, told by Lauren Myracle, introduces self-centered Addie who has boyfriend problems and a broken heart. She also has problems with a teacup pig. All the characters blend and cross like a goof-ball romantic comedy movie from the 1940s with situations mixing, remixing and straightening out, ending differently than the characters imagined, but perfectly satisfying.

Critical Evaluation:
All stories are told in first person from a different teenage character’s point of view; two stories from a girl’s perspective and one from a boy’s perspective. They weave beautifully in and out of one another, leading to an ending where everyone connects in a natural order of events. Even though the book is written by three different authors, they have seamlessly blended their voices and characters. As is often the case, parents are absent from the teens’ lives. The teens are handling situations on their own with the exception of the final story that includes a wise older woman who helps Addie find her way out of a predicament and become a better person. The main characters come to realizations that change their views about themselves and life. The plot remains tight throughout each of the three stories, eventually creating one story. The book is full of warmth and humor. Even though the setting and title are Christmas related, the subject is universal and can be enjoyed any time of the year.

Reader’s Annotation:
It’s Christmas Eve, Jubilee’s parents are in jail, Tobin’s parents are stranded in an airport, and Addie has boyfriend problems. They aren’t aware of one another troubles as their lives weave together in this entertaining romance that includes a blizzard, cheerleaders, cheesy waffles, and a teacup pig.

Author Information:
John Green: Grew up in Florida; born 1977, lives in Indianapolis with his wife; won a Printz Award for his book Looking for Alaska; worked for Booklist as a reviewer; contributed to the program NPR program, “All Things Considered”

Maureen Johnson: Born in Philadelphia; graduated from the University of Delaware majoring in writing and also studied writing at Columbia University School of the Arts; her book, Devilish, was loosely based on personal experiences; lives in New York City

Lauren Myracle: Born 1969, in Brevard, North Carolina; raised in Atlanta, Georgia; lives in Colorado; received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College; married with three children; one of her favorite books is To Kill a Mockingbird

Genre:
Realistic Fiction - Romance

Curriculum Ties:
Use in literature classes and creative writing classes.

Booktalking Ideas:
A blizzard leads to humorous unexpected events changing the lives of teens on Christmas Eve.
Have you ever seen someone in a restaurant who was weird and you didn’t want to be near him…well, it just may be Tin Foil man - he’s not as weird as he seems at the Waffle House.
Curl up with this book and let it snow as you enjoy three warm and optimistic romances that come together to make one clever story.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
High school

Additional Books by Author:
John Green: Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines

Maureen Johnson: 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Devilish, Girl at Sea

Lauren Myracle: TTYL, Twelve, Peace, Love and Baby Ducks

Challenge Issues:
None apparent, but if challenged, deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
This book is included because a high school girl told me that it is one of her favorite books and she reads it time and again. Also, it received positive reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist. Five peaches are awarded because the book is so clever and so much fun.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Let-Snow-Three-Holiday-Romances/dp/0142412147/ref=sr_1_1_oe_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271865019&sr=1-1

References:
Green. J. (2010). “The short bio”. John Green. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.sparksflyup.com/

Johnson, M. (2010). “About Maureen”. Maureen Johnson. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/index1.html

Myracle. L. (2010). “Q & A with yours truly.” Yay Time!. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.laurenmyracle.com/