Sam Strives For 55 - Week Thirteen

Here is week 13 of Sam's reading journey, the metrics and first week can be found here

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

1. Intrigue
   1. With three unrelated - as far as you know - tales, Gene Luen Yang tells the story of Jin Wang, whose sole desire is to fit in. The only Chinese American student at his school, Wang feels as though he does not fit in, and this creates an enormous problem. 
   2. Even if you’re not looking for a story about how we learn to accept who we are, or want to build empathy, or read a very touching story, you should read this anyway. Yang hooks you in immediately with mythical and literary fiction. This graphic novel has such an amazing twist in it, it should be considered one of the great American classics. 
2. Writing Style
   1. The crux of this story relies on Yang’s ability to weave these three stories together. He does so, and in a way that makes the book an absolute revelation. The drawings convey as much of the story as the writing does. It’s economical in line, and word. 
   2. Juicy quote: 
      1. “It's easy to become anything you wish . . . so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul.”
3. Flow of Storytelling
   1. At first you may, as I was, a bit confused as to why and when the different tales left off and started back up. But it soon becomes clear, and you may realize that this is really the only way to tell this story. 
4. Re-readability 
   1. I have reread this several times. American Born Chinese is an incredible empathy builder, and the twist at the end makes this book worth rereading to see how it all laces together. 
5. TESS
   1. Though the graphic novel might be about a Chinese American boy learning how to fit in, this is a universal message about accepting who you are. I encourage everyone to read this novel to both help themselves and also to build empathy for what others, especially immigrants and people of the global majority might be feeling, even right now. 

Final Rating: ★★★★★

J. Sam Williams is an illustrious black-tailed hawk, longing to eat as many vegan mice as possible. In his human form, he is a High School English Teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives with his wife, one dog and two cats. A somewhat retired breakdancing teacher, he is now a co-host on the Alohomora Podcast! He has been published on Lunch Ticket, immix: a journal for justice, Mugglenet, and a slew of small sports journalism publications. You can find him on twitter @Jabbernator.