American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, is probably the first comic book that I have ever read and I have to say that I very much enjoyed the book. I can see why this is one of the books on our class reading list for adolescents. Someday, I can definetely see myself using this comic in one of my future classrooms. This book is an easy read for children and also contains valid information that needs to addressed. The atwork through out the comic is nicely done, which I think will help children stay on the task of reading this book.
American Born Chinese is also a great book for children of the middle school level to read because it starts out as three separate stories and merges them all together in the end. The first story tells of a fairytale Monkey King. The second tells Jin Wang's story about being a second generation immigrant. Lastly the third tells of a young American boy, Danny, who's cousin Chin-kee is constantly following him around.
The topics in this book cover many racial issues that I would like to cover in my classroom, such as equality, mixed ethological relationships, and Chinese mythology. Adolescents are at the age level where they need to comprehend the importance of racil equality. Through this comic, children in my classroom will learn about the pressures that Chinese-American children face interally and externally (also other minority races.) Chinese-American racism is a subject that is not talked about as often as other minority racism.
In my classroom this book will be used because many students can relate to one of the many characters in the book. First, some students may relate to Jin Wang with his struggle to be an "American" teenager. Children may also relate to Jin because of his attempt to fit in and be popular. Next, Amelia Harris's character is interested in Jin Wang even though she is of a different racial background. Some students may be struggling with a mixed racial relationship. On the opposite end of the specrum Jin's best friend, Wei Chen Sun, and his girlfriend, Suzy Nakahara, are in a same race relationship. Wei also gives an example of how a true friend should act, as he does toward Jin. Danny is an American boy who faces embarassment when his outspoken Chinese cousin, Chin Kee, comes to town and goes to school with him. Chin Kee is the untimate negative stereotype of what a Chinese child would act like.
This graphic novel will add a great deal to our discussion of multicultural texts in the classroom as well--for all of the reasons that you mention here.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of using this text to teach complex ideas such as racism is great. Students can engage in this novel as a way to better understand a culture or themes that they might not be familiar with. Do you have any ideas on how you will engage students by using this book or similar titles?
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas for incorporating this text in the way you would teach it. There is a character that everyone can make a connection. The issue of racism in this novel is a great one to teach to students as well. I feel they would be able to understand it after reading the text and through class discussions and activites.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that you could easily use this novel to teach a unit with regards to racism. I honestly can't wait to tear into this novel (and other graphic novels) because I think that it is so complex in its themes and stories that I didn't even remotely get to the "meat" of the story by reading just one time. This is a story that needs to be read over and over again. It has a lot of substance which makes it stand out because you can use it in many different ways within the classroom. So glad I read the novel!
ReplyDeleteI think you made great connections in your final paragraph and the lessons you could address while teaching this graphic novel. "Some students may be struggling with a mixed racial relationship" - I also like that you brought this up. Although relationships are not our main focus, students can learn while reading about it in American Born Chinese.
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