TAB Book Review by Maya

Title: American Born Chinese
Author: Gene Lueng Yang

Quick Plot Summary: This graphic novel is a collection of three separate but interwoven stories, each related to Chinese culture in various ways.

The first is the legend of the Monkey King, ruler of Flower-Fruit Mountain and master of kung-fu. Denied entrance to a dinner party, he's no longer satisfied with being a monkey and desperately wants to become a god. So he studies more of the major disciplines of kung-fu, embarks on a life-changing pilgrimage, and meets Tze-Yo-Tzu, or He Who Is, the god who created him from a rock.

The next tale is about an American-born Chinese boy named Jin. He moves from San Francisco and goes to a new school where he has a difficult time because he's the only Chinese-American student. Wei-Chen, a Taiwanese boy, comes to his school, and though Jin wanted to beat him up at first, they become friends. Later, Jin begins to have a crush on an all-American girl and wants to transform himself into an all-American boy.

The third story, "Everybody Ruvs Chin-Kee," is about a popular boy named Danny whose Chinese cousin comes to visit. Chin-Kee's annoying behavior causes Danny terrrible embarrassment and ruins everything.

Favorite Character: Chin-Kee. He made me laugh so hard with his super-stereotypical Chinese ways.

Favorite Part: The end. All three stories come together in a very surprising way.

Favorite Quote: Early in the book, and old Chinese woman asks Jin what he wants to be when he grows up, and he answers, "A transformer." She replies, "It's easy to be anything you wish, so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul." I think that being true to yourself is what this book is all about.

Out of five stars, I would give this book all five. I couldn't stop reading and finished it before I knew what was happening!

New Books for January

New titles are in! You can place holds online, or come browse through them on the new books shelf in the teen area on the top floor.

Head Case by Sarah Aronson -- a physical therapist from NH writes fiction about a quadrapelegic
Baby by Joseph Monninger -- a sled-dog driver and fishing guide from NH writes fiction about dogsledding
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell -- a new version of the legend of Elaine, the Lady of Shalott
Beige by Cecil Castellucci -- a "nice girl" is plunked in the middle of the L.A. punk scene
Taken by Edward Bloor -- a kidnapping... and that's all I can tell you
Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks -- family secrets, fly fishing, and love
Gym Candy by Carl Deukit -- a young football player struggles for success. By the author of High Heat
The Last Knight by Hilari Bell -- A knight errant rescues a damsel in distress that turns out to be the distressor
Sure Fire by Jack Higgins -- 15-year-old twins are drawn into the world of their father, a spy.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Between the Sea and the Stars by Beverly Gherman -- a biography of the wife of Charles Lindbergh and her flying and writing adventures
Jinx by Meg Cabot -- a girl moving to NYC is jinxed... or cursed....
The Way by Joseph Bruchac -- martial arts and control within anger
I'm Being Stalked by a Moonshadow by Doug Macleod -- a comic look at courtship
Cassandra's Sister: Growing up Jane Austen by Veronica Bennett -- a fictionalized biography of Jane Austen when she was writing Pride and Prejudice at age 19.
The God Box by Alex Sanchez -- fiction tackling the experience of balancing homosexuality and identity as a Christian