American Born Chinese

Book review by Matt Berman, Common Sense Media
American Born Chinese Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Teen confronts Asian myths, stereotypes in quest to fit in.

Gene Luen Yang Contemporary Fiction 2006
Rate book

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 10 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award for young-adult literature. It's easy to see why: The art, clever story lines, and thoughtful messages about tolerance and acceptance make it a winner. There's some sexual innuendo, potty humor, kung fu fighting, and a fairly graphic scene in which a monk is impaled on a spear and put on a spit over a fire, though he's rescued. An over-the-top, stereopypical depiction of a Chinese character -- and each of the protagonists' search for acceptance -- make this a better fit for teen readers who have the sophistication to understand the author's intent.

Community Reviews

parent777
parent777 Adult
March 10, 2022
age 16+

Worst Ever Not Appropriate

If I could give 0 stars I would. Chapter 3 is talking about “American Girl Bossum “. I’m disgusted teachers are having kids read this.
1 person found this helpful.
EnglishTeacher31
EnglishTeacher31 Adult
November 17, 2021
age 13+

Perfect for Teaching Satire

The book is an incredible resource for teaching satire. Don't listen to the reviews about the exaggerated stereotypical Chinese figure being offensive. It's written by an Asian-American author and is completely satirical, therefore creating the positive message of not identifying Chinese people by those stereotypes, specifically in media. Adults need some more ELA education if you think that the Chin-Kee is meant to be offensive. In addition, it's a great for teens, specifically in middle school, to relate to, especially ones that may feel outcasted because of the way they look or speak. I use it as a text in my 8th grade middle school class and they can handle the sexual innuendos and the word "hell" maturely if you ask them to. Highly recommended for teens and adults alike.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As AMERICAN BORN CHINESE opens, the title character, Jin Wang, moves with his family from San Francisco's Chinatown to a mostly White suburb. There he's exposed to racism (from children and adults), bullying, and taunts, and he feels isolated until a Taiwanese boy, Wei-Chen Sun, moves in and they become friends. But Jin develops a crush on a White girl and longs to fit in. The second story is a retelling of the story of the Monkey King, a fabled Chinese character who develops extraordinary powers in his quest to be accepted as a god. The third story concerns Danny, a popular White boy who's visited by his cousin, Chin-Kee, a walking, talking example of the most extreme Asian stereotypes. Author-illustrator Gene Luen Yang weaves all three plotlines into one satisfying whole.

Is It Any Good?

This superb blending of art and story broke barriers and won awards, and will speak to any reader who's felt like an outsider and struggeled to fit in. In American Born Chinese, author-illustrator Gene Luen Yang uses a rather complex narrative structure that blends folklore and school drama. The first graphic novel to win the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, it was also the first to be a finalist for the National Book Award -- truly marking the coming of age and acceptance of the graphic novel as a branch of children's literature.

In addition to its literary complexity, the book promotes solid values of tolerance and self-acceptance. Readers should be savvy enough to understand why Yang introduces a character that embodies negative stereotypes of Chinese people (buck teeth, squinty eyes, bright yellow skin, and he can't pronounce his "r's" or "l's"). American Born Chinese is thoughtful, funny, heartbreaking, and rich in compassion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how feeling like an outsider is portrayed in American Born Chinese. How do Jin, Danny, and the Monkey King try to fit in? What do they learn about acceptance?

  • How does this book approach the theme of self-acceptance? Why are all the characters trying to be something they're not? Why would a Chinese boy want to be a blond American?

  • How do the fantastical elements of the book reinforce the more realistic ones, and vice versa?

  • Are some stories better-suited to prose than to comics? What sorts of narrative effects are possible in a graphic novel that might not work in another medium?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon hands high fiving
    Friendship
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of the side profile of a boy
    Great Boy Role Models
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate