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
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