Monday, October 24, 2016
Graphic Novel: American Born Chinese
This is a blend between a Chinese Parable and a modern day story. Three stories converge to teach a teenage Chinese boy how to be true to himself. In one story, an old wise woman in an herbal shop tells the boy that he can be anything he wants as long as he forfeits his soul. Tired of stereotypes and ridicule, the boy decides to transform himself into a mainstream Caucasian teenager. In the end, he realizes that it is better to be true to yourself. The theme of this book is the importance of being yourself.
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I would love to hear how you all thought students would respond to this graphic novel, as well as how you characterized the narrative structure. I think this book is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteWe had so many thoughts when discussing this book, and as we continued to engage in our conversation, I think a lot of our views changed. It was so interesting to see how we all interpreted the book in a variety of ways, and picked up on completely different messages.
ReplyDeleteSome of us seemed to be turned off by underlying crude insinuations, whereas some of us couldn't keep up with characters without having to repeatedly go back to reference. We collectively agreed that it was geared towards late middle school and high school aged students. Graphic novels are already very appealing for students, and this one takes surprising turns that would keep readers on edge. It also brings light to the powerful effects of stereotyping and bullying, which is prevalent in their lives as teenagers. Fascinating book to say the least! One that needs to be read more than once to make connections to what happens in the end of the book.