Browning+Reviews

Citation: Yang, G. L. (2006//). American born Chinese//. New York: First Second. ISBN- 978-0312384487

 * Award: ** Michael L. Printz Award, 2007


 * Summary: ** //American Born Chinese// is a collection of three graphic novels that come together to form one ending. Yang uses humor to show stereotypes and friction within the Chinese culture and among other cultures. This novel is about Chinese-American characters struggling to fit into the American way of life, but has many applications that can be made to other multi-cultural settings.

I enjoyed the humor within the novel, and the graphic drawings brought the characters and their thoughts, emotions, and actions to life. This book would be great for the reluctant reader, and young adult males will especially enjoy it.
 * Why I liked it... **


 * Kentucky Common Core Curriculum ** Grade 8: CC.8.R.L.6 Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.


 * Genre: ** Young Adult Fiction – Graphic Novels


 * Promotional Activity: ** The library could host a Culture Exchange with a local Chinese exchange student teacher. The LMS can arrange for each class/grade level to design a presentation about an aspect(s) of American culture such as food, dress, recreation etc. The Chinese exchange teacher can prepare a small presentation about each of the same aspects and trade information with the students. Each exchange could end with a question, answer, compare and contrast session. Each student group would then add the Chinese information about the aspect to the presentation and share it with the other student groups.