Welcome to Litsy!

This graphic novel gives us a glimpse into someone who may look different from his classmates on the outside, but longs to just fit in. It‘s a painful place to be, especially as a kid. Anyone who has felt like they had to hide some part of themselves in order to avoid bullying, will find a kindred spirit here. It‘s a chance to step into someone else‘s shoes for a moment and hopefully gain some empathy for someone who might be different from you.

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/Q5sRG_19RCc

Enjoy!

Tagged book was my favorite read of September - another book club read. #2023ReadingBracket #bookclubread

Finished my 4th read for #SummerEndReadathon just in time for tonight's book club meeting (International Journey Through Pages Book Club: https://meetu.ps/e/Mnp5d/zxXbQ/i). This is a graphic novel, which is not my typical reading format, but I absolutely loved this. It was funny but also had an amazing message.
@TheSpineView

The online book club that I lead is discussing the tagged book in one week (Asian American author), so it is probably time for me to start reading the book 😀. #SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
International Journey Through Pages Book Club: https://meetu.ps/e/Mnp5d/zxXbQ/i

Enjoyed the general story but found the ending a little abrupt.

While I appreciated the themes it was trying to put forth, this graphic novel was hard to follow at times. The three story lines seemed disjointed, although it did all make sense in the end. It reveals the discrimination and alienation sometimes felt by Chinese Americans. I'm curious as to how they are handling the adaptation, as the previews seem to show more of a superhero premise.
#ALSpine @shortsarahrose @monalyisha

I think I hyped myself up too much from the Podcast I heard raising it so much. Yes, it‘s an incredible book about a Chinese-American boy trying to fit in and the nasty stereotypes he faces. Yes, his cousin is uncomfortable to read. This book is made to make you uncomfortable. And it did so. Yet by the end, I didn‘t feel any different. Felt like a tag along story - which isn‘t bad. monkey king was good story, but still do not understand the ending

May 12, 2023 In honor of AAPI month, another book (graphic novel) that I decided to purchase was this one by Gene Yang. I read about it in the Datebook which was part of the newspaper. I was like, "I gotta get that graphic novel". Perfect for this month and also brings awareness to ABCs and how we have been disciminated; just trying to fit into society

I‘d been hearing about this graphic novel for years and I think it lived up to the hype. I was particularly struck by the way the different parallel threads utilized very different emotional and tonal registers, and how well Yang pulled off bringing those threads together in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Next

I thrive as a teacher when I have an anchor text. My seniors are learning how to create professional blogs in my business English course, and I decided to have them write a blog about understanding graphic novels. We read a few chapters from Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, and I just decided this is the graphic novel they'll start reading next week. It was an incredible story about identity, culture, and coming of age.

American born chinese is a very interesting because it has different story lines in one book.

This is a important part of the book because this shows that Jing Jang is getting out of his comfort zone.

This part of the book stood out to me because the main character was opening up and making new friends.

This part of the book really highlights how quick people are to judge other‘s for their culture, while also bringing up a negative stereotype about Chinese people. And while the stereotype presented may not be necessarily true, it demonstrates how people are so quick to judge others for anything that they are not used to or they deem gross.

While I'm uncomfortable with the harmful stereotypes presented in the text, I can relate to feeling embarrassed by my family's culture. My husband's family comes from the North East; my family comes from the South. I had to overcome my feelings of shame regarding Southern American Dialect when the two families collided during my wedding. I'm excited to continue reading because I hope to discover the author's intent in his portrayal of Chin-kee.

Just finished this and wondering if the Disney+ adaptation will be any good…

Smart, funny, satirical, and touching - this graphic novel accomplishes a lot in its relatively short length.

“‘He comes for a week or two and follows me to school, talking his stupid talk and eating his stupid food. Embarrassing the crap out of me. By the time he leave, no one thinks of me as Danny anymore. I‘m Chin-Kee‘s cousin. It gets so bad by the end of the year that I have to switch schools.‘
‘Come on, kid. It ain‘t gonna go down like that here.‘
‘How do you know?‘”

This graphic novel packs a lot into its story. What appears to be three separate stories becomes something more when they all converge.

Although this book talks about immigrants and the issues that come with that, it also just deals with learning to be happy with who you and comfortable in your own skin.

Really wonderful story with a great message.

I absolutely adored this graphic novel that features 3 different storylines that all talk about the Asian American experience. As an Asian myself I saw a lot of realistic feelings and pain in our character Jin Wang. Though there are many cruel slurs and racism in this book, it‘s to show a point of how life can be like and I thought it was done really well. The ending could have done more to tie in themes but overall was a great read.

5/5🌟

It was good; good message about being yourself. The racial prejudice the characters deal with is sad. Not something I would go back to and read again though.

Second vaccine in my arm yesterday...today is all about staying in bed with my canine nursemaid here. I finished American Born Chinese in one day and I have to say, what a great book. Simple and linear stories, braided together, gain depth and complex meaning. May the #bookspin be with you.

#bookspin and #doublespin for May.... 2 & 18....what a pair!

Good teen graphic novel about fitting in and being yourself.

I understand where Yang was trying to go with this book in mixing the myth with a contemporary story. To help the target audience feel seen, and that they don't need to blend in, however I think the execution could have been done better. I just was not into Danny and his visiting cousin. It was a distraction, and the story would have been better without it

#jubilantjuly is moving along pretty well! I completed In A Dark, Dark Wood and American Born Chinese. That's two ✔'s on my goal list. Next up: I need to pick one of the MANY ebooks I have acquired and read it. I also need to complete the audiobook I'm currently listening to and select another graphic novel to read.

3 ⭐
This book has been on my TBR for a while and it should have stayed there. It‘s a graphic novel that mixes history, myth, and modern culture, to look at the stereotypical way Americans can treat those of asian descent. It helps to illustrate how these “ABC” can be made to feel, or how they may wish they were born with different skin. By the end of the book I appreciate it more. It was all wrapped together and the story made sense.

First book of my #covidvacay done. It was alright. More later.

#middlegrademarch

Racist much?

I wonder if this is based on the authors like. I‘m sure I‘ll find out soon.

#middlegrademarch

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

This book is about finding freedom through self acceptance. Some people wish to be like Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne, Bill Gates or Kim Kardashian. You can wear your costumes on Halloween, but eventually the mask has to come off. You are left with yourself; your TRUE self.

And this is why I still read comics despite how often I‘m disappointed by them. This is a really excellent exploration of the author‘s experience growing up Chinese American that makes excellent use of the format. It combines straightforward memoir with scenes of Chinese folklore and some pretty gut wrenching media stereotypes. Highly recommend.

Starting off my long weekend sitting on the deck and reading.

Just bought Jacques this harness so he‘s able to join me (I can‘t trust him to stay in the yard yet).

Now off to the pool. #BFCr2 update later today.

YA graphic novel for #AsianAmericanPacificIslanderHeritageMonth.

Not my favorite.

A re-read for my comic book group. This month‘s theme was immigration stories. This comic illustrates the desire to “fit in” with white American culture that many young immigrants or children of immigrants have. Not to mention the racist stereotypes that they deal with as well. The 3 storylines come together in an amazing way.

An excellent graphic novel about identity, stereotypes & self acceptance.

Gene Luen Yang at #ilaac18 !!!

#graphicnovel

I loved it! It was really funny, and had some great themes, like acceptance of oneself. I will definitely be reading the author‘s other books.

Number 6 for #makemereadit! This YA graphic novel has three alternating storylines and at first I found it a bit uneven. One story is handled more seriously, one is told as a myth/legend, and the third is set up as a sitcom—caricatured & with a drawn-in laugh track. But when the three collapse into one, it‘s done so well that it turned into a pick for me. Yang does a wonderful job of exploring themes of assimilation, fitting in, and race-shame.

#graphicnovel #currentlyreading

I just picked this up. I‘m only on the first page and I already had to share. —The Lao-Tzu interchange 😂

I just loved this mix of autobiography and mythology. What a spectacular trick Yang plays on the reader! It was really adorable and a fantastic reminder of how terrible it is to look back on yourself as a teenager.

#ThankGodForPatientParents
#TheyLetUsLiveToGrowOutOfIt
#TeenagersAreTerrible

We need more #ownvoices graphic novels out there like this one. An excellent story about identity, stereotypes, and adolescence, I was impressed at how Gene Luen Yang was able to weave together the three storylines as the book progressed. I‘m glad I read this before we returned it to the library, as it sparked some excellent conversation with Maya, who had asked if I could read it, too.

Really need to stop going to thrift stores.

I read this book while I was on vacation this month. It was phenomenal!
While I enjoyed all the parts of the story, my absolute favorite was the story of the Monkey King. It was funny, insightful, relatable, and wonderfully illustrated. Everyone should read this book. Seriously, if you have not read it go do so.
10 out of 10!

I already reviewed this #ownvoices book, but I don't think I mentioned I was lucky enough to see Yang speak and get my book signed. So grateful for opportunities to meet interesting people and read their work! #Juneinbooks18

Loved this! Yang tells three separate stories that blend together in the end to build an immigrant story of absolute depth, told on a level meant for middle schoolers. Genuinely amazing and perfectly executed. Must read more of his work!