American Born Chinese
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By Gene Luen Yang, and and, Gene Luen Yang
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1 review
This is a tour-de-force new work by rising indie comics star Gene Yang. ""American Born Chinese"" maps the adolescent Chinese-American experience through three separate but interwoven stories. One story centres on Jin Wang, a Chinese-American student at an all-white California high school. Jin is plagued by jocks and bullies, so when another Chinese student transfers to the school, Jin wants nothing to do with him. Next is a comic update of the legendary story of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese morality tale. Finally, there’s the gross and surreal stereotype of Chin-Kee, the ultimate negative Chinese cliche, complete with a sitcom-style ""laugh track"". These three apparently unrelated tales come together in an astonishing climax – all with a mighty blast of humour, surprising poignancy and skilled artistry.
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American Born Chinese begins as 3 separate stories that are weaved them together by its' end. The illustrations are bold and vibrant. Reading the book, you sense how it must feel to be caught between two communities, that of your parents and your peers. Although fictional, this gives an insight into the experience of many people who have either moved to another country or are first generation descendants of immigrants.
