American Born Chinese

Genre: Biography, Non Fiction, Multicultural, Graphic Novel

Yang , Gene . American Born Chinese. New York : First Second, 2006.

[Book cover credit: www.alibris.com]

Gene Yang weaves childhood memories, a Chinese Fable and the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype into a graphic novel that helps others understand what it is like to be an American Born Chinese.

Jin Wang is a third grade student whose family moves during the school year. A teacher wanting him to feel welcome stresses his Chinese heritage and not the fact that his family just moved from San Francisco. This is a unique biography that weaves three different angles of the story in a graphic novel format. Any student that has ever felt like an outsider can appreciate this story. It shines a light on the misconceptions people have of students with a different heritage. All students want the same things, to fit in and make new friends.

Grade 7 and Up–

2007 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults

2006 A National Book Awards Finalist