Extra Credit #4: American Born Chinese

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second, 2006.

Annotation: A graphic novel about teenage Chinese Americans trying to fit into American culture.

Justification for Nomination: American Born Chinese is an intelligent and challenging book that intertwines three stories about adolescent Chinese boys trying to fit in. There is the folk hero Monkey King who wants to be a god among his people, Jin Wang, a Chinese American adolescent who wants to fit in with his classmates, and Danny who is horrified by his cousin Chin-Kee, a stereotyped Chinese adolescent.

In alternating graphical story lines, Gene Luen Yang creates a complicated world where each character feels the need to fit in and shed their stereotypes. Although it is another novel about fitting in for adolescents, this one is unique because of it's inclusion of Chinese culture and how the Chinese feel about their white American classmates. It begins in a way that the reader may think it's a fantasy, but eventually turns into a meaningful look at the sacrifices made for trying to be included. I think teens will appreciate the extraordinary drawings done by the author, along with the authentic voice given to all of the characters. It's uniqueness and it's surprising message will make the reader glad they read it.

Genre: Printz award winner, coming of age, graphic novel

Extra Credit #3: Whirligig

Fleischman, Paul. Whirligig. New York: H. Holt, 1998.

Annotation: A gentle novel about the importance of finding oneself in a world that is busy and complicated.

Justification for Nomination:

Brent Bishop is new in town due to his dad’s job move. He’s so excited to be in Chicago because his dad’s promotion has afforded them the opportunity to send Brent to private school. The book opens with Brent preparing to go to a classmate’s party. He wasn’t invited, but his friend says it’s cool if he comes along and besides Brent’s love interest, Brianna, will be there. When the party turns disastrously bad for Brent in the first hour of being there, Brent downs a bunch of liquor and drives away in an attempt to kill himself. Instead he winds up killing another teenager, Lea.

In mediation, Lea’s mother asks just one thing of Brent, that he create 4 whirligigs and place them in the 4 corners of the United States. She gives him a 45 day Greyhound bus pass and Brent is off on the adventure.

From Seattle to San Diego, Florida to Maine, Brent travels all over meeting many interesting people and having the opportunity to spend hours thinking about what he did to Lea and how perhaps his life isn’t worth wasting. In all his travels Brent regains a hold on how much he loves his life, how precious the life of Lea was that he took away, and how much he has to look forward to.

I believe this would be a good book for teenagers who are dealing with fitting in issues, new schools, and the wanderlust that so many teenagers have. It's a calm, gentle book about the importance of life and of how much bigger the world is beyond your home.

Genre: coming of age

10. Flipped

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Flipped. New York: Knopf, 2001.

Annotation: In alternating perspectives, two young teenagers describe their lives living across the street from each other.

Justification for Nomination: Flipped is an excellent novel about the different perspectives two young teens can have regarding their neighborhood, friends, school, and each other. Juli Baker is a spunky girl who loves the sycamore tree down the block, her collection of chickens, and her neighbor across the street, Bryce Loski. Bryce, on the other hand, has only feelings of annoyance towards Juli and his biggest goal each day is to try and avoid her.

Beyond the relationship Juli and Bryce have with each other, there are several really meaningful relationships that are formed between Juli and her dad, Bryce and his grandpa, and Juli and Bryce's grandpa. It's a powerful novel about the importance of good relationships over "things". Juli is the one with the spunky attitude and the close-knit family with little money. Bryce comes from a family where they can put on a good face, but they hardly know who they really are. As Bryce's family comes undone, Bryce begins to see Juli in a new light and appreciate her for her complexity.

Flipped is an excellent novel for the pre-teen and younger teenage reader. It's entertaining, fast-paced, funny, and the story will stick in their minds for a long time. As uplifting as it is, it's also a good reminder of how important your family relationships are and how much your happiness depends on non-monetary things.

Genre: humor, coming of age