A Combination of Contemporary Realistic Fiction and Fantasy

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yang, Gene Luen. 2009. American Born Chinese. New York: Square Fish. ISBN: 9780312384487.

2.PLOT SUMMARY

American Born Chinese is made up of three individual plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the sitcom plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools.

At first when one reads this book, one would think it is a three stories book. However, through all the wisely devised plots are woven together at the end. I think this is quite unique to have one story with three seemingly disconnected plots and tie them together at the end like a three strands rope. The story, thus, at the beginning was somewhat confusing to an older reader like me. Yet the story was written interestingly enough to keep me going until the end, and then, I saw the light. It was fun to read.
The story first plot started with the story of the Monkey King, one of the oldest and grestest Chinese fables possibly all Chinese knew. He was born to rule over all the monkeys of the world. The Monkey King had mastered many disciplines of kung fu which later on made him an even more skillful and stronger than all the other human masters. Yet, he was a monkey who could not fit in with those humans whom he could over rule. He did not want to be a monkey. He wanted to be something other than what he was born to be. He wanted to be a god.

The second plot, the key plot is a Chinese boy named Jin Wang who moved with his family to a new neighborhood and tried to fit in. He was put in a new school where he was the only Chinese student and one of the two Asian students in the school, one being a Japanese girl. Jin was bullied by white children from the start. He finally had a good Chinese friend when a new Chinese enrolled in the school. His new friend got him hook up with the all-American white girl whom he had been in love with.

The third plot, Danny, a seemingly normal American boy, was visited by his cousin Chin-Kee, an ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who would visit him once every year. Chin-Kee’s visit had brought so much embarrassment and shame to Danny that he had to transfer to a new school every year without being able to be well established at a school though he was one of a great basketball player. But this year, in the story in the book, things turned from bad to worse.

At the end, all three stories merged into one. I cannot tell you how it happens for it is better for readers to read it by themselves.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The analysis can be done using the main framework based on Characters, Plot, Settings, Theme and Style as follows.

Characters

The main characters of the three stories are Jin Wang, Danny and the Monkey King, all of whose were seeking to fit into or to be something they were not born to be.

Plot

The story has a complicated plot but appealing to young readers. It starts with the introduction of the main character of each sub-story and moves forward introducing readers to the events in their lives, the progresses, problems and the climax leading to the resolve of the single main character’s life.

It should be noted that some readers might find it confusing due to not having adequate Chinese cultural background. However, young adults who have been reading a lot of comic books and mangas will likely find it interesting because of the twists in the stories.

Settings

The story sets itself in two locations, a presumable legendary Chinese location and the United States of America, where there are so many multi-racial multicultural born Americans struggling to find and identify themselves while they grow up.

Theme

The central theme of the story is to be what you are and everyone is no less valuable than others, whatever one may look like or whatever background—ethnic or cultural—one would come from.

Style

The writing style is very interesting and fun, as well as funny. The language used is that of a realistic daily English pronounced by Chinese who have not mastered English pronunciation and grammar. Parts of the story also show some interesting cultural differences as well. Young readers may encounter some linguistic representations the white kids in the story use to mock the Chinese characters as well.

It should be noted that this book is not a straight contemporary realistic fiction alone. It is a combination of fantasy in combination with realistic fiction with a twist, which makes it very interesting.

4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner
The Library Journal reviewed that the art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections.

The booklist reviewed that the stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects — shame, racism, and friendship — receive thoughtful, powerful examination.

Publishers Weekly reviewed that this story is clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive.

5.CONNECTIONS

The first connection book I found is also a cartoon format based on a 14-year-old Indian boy’s perspective. The book is a list on 2008 Books for Young Adults. The book portrayed that the Indian boy’s experiences when he transferred from the reservation school to the new rich, white school. The book is also based on a view of minority group and how hard would be to involve into the majority culture and group.

Alexie, Sherman. 2009. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little, Brown. ISBN: 0316013692.

The second connection book I found portrayed a story about a five year old Chinese American girl who tried to learn about the place where she was born. The main protagonist has similar Asian culture background even though this book is for young readers. I believe it is good connection book for readers to explore a little Chinese history and culture by the simple picture book.

Lewis, Rose A. 2010. Orange Peel's pocket. New York : Abrams Books. ISBN: 081098394X.