American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

Those of you who have followed this blog will know that IBC (from the title) means Italian Born Chinese. So it's no wonder that when I heard about the Gene Yang GN American Born Chinese I was very interested. Yes, I am not an ABC, but I know a lot of them and I share many of the same experiences with them.

In this story Yang tells three separate stories: the famous story of the Monkey King, a seemingly autobiographic story during middle school, and a high school story about a stereotype Chinese in America.

At first these stories have nothing in common with each other, although it is easy to see they share the same theme of identity. All three stars of these stories do not want to be what they are, they're embarrassed by their heritage, and they try to change themselves.

The three stories are however very different genres. The first is a fantasy, the second is a slice of life, and the third is... I don't know what it is, but it's weird. I have to say I was the most interested in the slice of life autobiographical story. The fantasy story was familiar to me (thanks to a cartoon I watched as a kid), but I also enjoyed it. The third I just didn't know what to make of it, but it was also the shortest one.

Towards the end though, something happens and all three stories converge and become one. I was shocked by it, in a very good way. It took me completely by surprise, but it made sense of all three of them, including the third one.

At the end, I wanted more. This book read very quickly, and I was left with wanting to know more of the story. Even though the ending already made a point, and I should feel satisfied, but I still wanted more of it.

The art is clear and simple. Perfectly suited for this kind of story. This is an all-ages book, and it conveys its message clearly, but without looking down at its readers. There are some dramatic moments that only a more mature audience can understand, and that makes it compelling to me.

This is a great book, and it should be read by everyone.