logo

73 pages 2 hours read

Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2006

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

American Born Chinese

  • Genre: Fiction; middle-grade graphic novel
  • Originally Published: 2006
  • Reading Level/Interest: Lexile GN530L; grades 5-8
  • Structure/Length: 9 sections; approx. 240 pages
  • Protagonist and Central Conflict: Jin Wang, a Chinese American middle-schooler, faces racism and struggles to accept his full identity, eventually lashing out at his best friend Wei-Chen Sun. The lives of Jin, Wei-Chen, and the Monkey King intertwine from the 16th century until present-day, when Jin’s realizations allow him to move forward and heal.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Racism; stereotypes; sexual innuendos. Please note:  The novel covered in this Teaching Unit contains racist and offensive language, which the author utilizes to educate readers on the harm inflicted by racist stereotypes. In a similar educational vein, Yang’s “Chin-Kee” character in the novel (mentioned in questions and prompts in this Unit) is an intentional portrayal of a hyperbolic stereotype representing racist points of view.

Gene Luen Yang, Author

  • Bio: Born in 1973 in California; began making comics in 5th grade; earned a degree from University of California, Berkeley; worked as a computer engineer; served as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; received MacArthur Fellows Genius Grant in 2016; received Eisner Awards for Superman Smashes the Klan (2021) and Dragon Hoops (2021); has written for Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics; teaches creative writing 
  • Other Works: The Rosary Comic Book (2003); Level Up (2011); Boxers and Saints (2013)
  • Awards: Printz Award (2007); Eisner Award (2007); first graphic novel to be finalist for National Book Award, Young People’s Literature                   

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text

Related Titles

By Gene Luen Yang