"Epitome of Simplicity"

That phrase is a frequent clue in the NY Times Sunday crossword.

The answer? "ABC," of course. But American Born Chinese, which is often abbreviated ABC, is anything but simplistic.

More than "Just a Comic Book"

This novel by Gene Luen Yang interweaves three seemingly separate stories in a book that was the first graphic novel ever to be nominated for a National Book Award.

ABC was also the first graphic to win the Michael L. Printz award, an award which is given annually by the American Library Association and which "honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit." So yeah, it's a graphic novel, but it's also a pretty big deal.

That said, it will probably be a pretty quick read for most of you, but you know what that means. 



You'll have time to read this book more than once! 

And when you read a book more than once, you often catch things the second time through that you didn't notice during your first reading. So please, do it. Read this book twice. Or three times. Or more. And then do one of the assignments below and bring it with you to our next discussion on Thursday, November 13th. 

Assignments: 
Lots of possibilities here ... but you only need to do one. 

1. Set a timer and write for 10 minutes about a time when you felt like you didn't fit in somewhere. What was it like? How did it feel? How did you handle it and how was the situation ultimately resolved (or not resolved)? 
2. Relate a significant experience, story, or memory from your childhood, a la Jin Wang's memory of his mother telling his the Chinese parable during their car ride to their new home. You can relate it in graphic format, prose, poetry, or whatever format works best.
3. There are several allusions to historical, philosophical, or religious figures, as well as pop culture and literary references in this novel. Choose one (or more) and do a little research. Figure out exactly who/what is being referenced and then explain why you think Yang chose to include this particular allusion in his novel. 
4. Read Gene Luen Yang’s essay, “Comics, Then and Now,”  and write your own essay about the graphic novel genre and its place in the study of literature. Is there literary value in reading and studying graphic novels? Why or why not?
5. We have a hero’s journey here… decide who it is that embarks on this journey and map the journey out according to the Hero's Journey graphic included on our Links, etc. page.  

Happy reading + assignment doing. See you on the 13th.