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Summer Reading 2020: ◦ American Born Chinese

Here's why Caleb & API chose American Born Chinese...

A graphic novel regarding the life of an Asian American battling with internalized racism so much so that his journey takes a twist and he is put back in his place by an immortal being. 

About the book

American Born Chinese
by Gene Yuan Lang

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. The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He's ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there's no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They're going to have to find a way―if they want to fix the disasters their lives have become. - Macmillan Publishers

 

“Gene Luen Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth.” ―New York Times Book Review

From the author

About the readers

 Caleb Lee/API

This is Caleb's and API's first summer read recommendation!