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Cover of American Born Chinese

Young Adult · 2006 · PG

American Born Chinese

by Gene Luen Yang

Three intertwined stories — a Chinese-American boy, the Monkey King, and a deeply uncomfortable cousin

For10+GenreYoung AdultLength240 pagesRead time~3 hoursCommunity ratings0

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Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

Mild action violence in the Monkey King mythology sections

Language

Barely any

Mild language; some racist language is used to depict racist characters

Sexual Content

None

No sexual content

Substance Use

None

No substance use

Emotional Intensity

Some

The psychological experience of wanting to deny your heritage to fit in — and the cost of that — is the novel's central emotional weight

What this book is about

Gene Luen Yang's National Book Award finalist graphic novel weaves three storylines: Jin Wang, a Chinese-American middle schooler struggling with identity and belonging; the Monkey King, who refuses to accept his nature; and Danny, whose cousin Chin-Kee is a walking racial stereotype that upends his American life. The stories connect in a powerful and surprising final act. One of the landmark works of American graphic literature.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Racial stereotypes depicted and examined

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