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American Born Chinese

Book by the Stacks

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98 views2 pages

American Born Chinese

Book by the Stacks

Uploaded by

don juan go
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Jin Wang starts at a new school where he’s the only Chinese-American student. When a boy
from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn’t want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just
wants to be an all-American boy, because he’s in love with an all-American girl. Danny is an
all-American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese
cousin Chin-Kee’s annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny’s reputation at school,
leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again.

Why you'll like it: Chinese-American. Stereotypes. Goofy & Thought Provoking.
About the Author: Gene Luen Yang has been writing and drawing stories for years. American Born
Chinese became the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award, and since it was
published he has continued to produce other award-winning graphic novels and comics. Gene currently
teaches at Hamline University as part of their MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program.

Questions for Discussion


1. American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to win the Printz Award and be a finalist for the National
Book Award. Why do you think it was picked for these awards and honors? Would you have chosen it?
Explain.
2. Graphic novels appeal to a variety of people. There are a variety of graphic novel genres such as
fantasy, super-hero, non fiction, etc. Have you read graphic novels in the past? How did American Born
Chinese compare? Graphically speaking what appealed to you? What did not?
3. Did you find the graphic novel an effective way for Yang to tell his story?
4. Yang uses humor to make light of experiences that are not so humorous for the immigrants that
experience them. Often when reading we laugh at painful experiences of the characters. Have you or
anyone you've known had experiences that were funny to others, but very painful to you? If possible,
explain. Do you think Yang used the technique of humor appropriately?
5. What can be learned from the Monkey King and American Born Chinese?
6. Yang uses a television show to tell Chin-Kee's story. Why do you think he does this? Was it effective?
Why?
7. The Monkey King chooses to be stuck in the mountain of rocks for 500 years, to escape he must return
to his "true form." How do the other characters experience this in American Born Chinese? Have you
experienced a similar situation in your life?
8. Wei-Chen's transformer robot monkey symbolizes so much in the graphic novel. How do the characters
in American Born Chinese "transform" themselves for American society? Do you "transform" yourselves?
Why?

(Questions issued by Winter Park Public Library)

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