New Graphic Novels!
American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to win major child lit awards!
Summary - "Three parallel stories interlock in this graphic novel. In the first, the American-born Chinese boy of the title, Jin, 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 is 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 concerns Danny, a popular Anglo boy who's visited by his cousin, Chin-Kee, a walking, talking example of the most pernicious Asian stereotypes." - Summary from commonsensemedia.org
What to talk about - The power of our words, and the dangers of stereotypes. How does the book approach the theme of self-acceptance? Why are all the characters trying to be something they're not?
Exciting take on a forgotten Asian-American superhero!
Summary - "In Chinatown in the 1930s, teenager Hank Chu wants nothing more than to help his mild-mannered father in the family grocery story and keep his disgruntled mother happy. Hank's mother, however, has bigger plans for him, wanting to turn him into a famous superhero. But when real-life tragedy strikes and Hank is imbued with the ancient spirit of the Tortoise, the boy finally dons the costume of the Green Turtle and vows revenge on the gangsters who secretly rule Chinatown." Summary from commonsensemedia.org
What to talk about - How were Asian characters portrayed in popular culture in the 1940s? Do any stereotypes continue to the present day?How did World War II affect the lives of Asian immigrants living in the United States?
