American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)
An exciting new graphic novel imprint of a major trade publisher, First Second's large and impressive inaugural list includes Gene Luen Yan's American Born Chinese, a 2006 nominee in the Young People's Literature category of the American Book Awards. Taking on the subject of Asian-American cultural assimilation, the novel features Jin Wang, the child of Chinese immigrants, as he goes through elementary and junior high school with his much less assimilated yet oddly more well adjusted friend Wei-Chen. Yang parallels this heartfelt and funny story with an illustrated Chinese folktale and a sitcom parody about an outrageously racist Chinese character going to high school. Sharp and entertaining, American Born Chinese tackles issues central to the American experience in a bright, colorful and new way that will appeal to readers young and old.