{Quick Review} American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang and Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

3:33 AM

Title: American Born Chinese

Author: Gene Luen Yang

Publication: September 5th 2006 by First Second
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Cultural, Graphic Novel
ISBN: 1596431520 (ISBN13: 9781596431522)
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback

All Jin Wang wants is to fit in. When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he suddenly finds that he's the only Chinese American student at his school. Jocks and bullies pick on him constantly, and he has hardly any friends. Then, to make matters worse, he falls in love with an all-American girl...

Born to rule over all the monkeys in the world, the story of the Monkey King is one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables. Adored by his subjects, master of the arts of kung-fu, he is the most powerful monkey on earth. But the Monkey King doesn't want to be a monkey. He wants to be hailed as a god...

Chin-Kee is the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, and he's ruining his cousin Danny's life. Danny's a popular kid at school, but every year Chin-Kee comes to visit, and every year Danny has to transfer to a new school to escape the shame. This year, though, things quickly go from bad to worse...

My Thoughts

I love how well the author has interwoven the 3 stories in this book! I also think that the author did a very good job in delivering the themes and morals of the story. That art wasn’t necessarily outstanding but I do think that it works for this story. Overall, a very satisfying short read.

Rating

This was a solid 4-stars!!!

About the Author

Gene Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan's Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim) and The Rosary Comic Book. American Born Chinese received National Book Award. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his lovely wife and children and teaches at a Roman Catholic high school.

Title: Anya's Ghost
Author: Vera Brosgol
Publication: March 25th 201 by Square Fish
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novel
ISBN: 1250040019 (ISBN13: 9781250040015)
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "Forever" part.

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs. Or so she thinks.

My Thoughts

Loved the color scheme on this one! The art was also well done. I didn’t feel there was much character development though. And, I really wish it was a lot more spookier. The story was also a tad bit predictable. It was an just an okay read.

Rating

This is around 3.5ish but since I really loved the art, I am rounding it up to 4!

About the Author

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. She received a diploma in Classical Animation from Sheridan College, and currently works at Laika Inc. in Portland, Oregon drawing storyboards for feature animation.
She has done illustration work for clients such as Nickelodeon, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Simon & Schuster. Her first graphic novel, Anya's Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second Books. She loves knitting, baking, and trying not to kill her plants.
She hopes you are enjoying looking at her drawings!