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!

Part Guilty Pleasure, Part Girl Power: A Review of E. Lockhart's Latest

The heroine of E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (2008) is returning to prep school for her sophomore year, and it’s fair to say that she’s blossomed (more physically than emotionally) over the summer. Older boys who barely noticed her when she was just “Zada’s little sister” suddenly pay attention. Frankie’s longtime crush, senior Matthew Livingston, returns her affections at last, and she is thrilled to be included in his social circle.

But after Frankie discovers that Matthew is a high-ranking member of an exclusive all-male secret society (a fact he refuses to discuss with her), she comes up with a plan to prove her worth to this old boys' club: infiltrate the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, and captain their series of pranks on the campus of Alabaster Preparatory Academy.

Fans of Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl and spin-off The It Girl book series will enjoy The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, but E. Lockhart's skilled examination of her characters' struggles will also satisfy readers who are looking for a more substantial story. Frankie's clever manipulation of the boys' pranks is entertaining to follow, and her research into so called "interventionist art" is particularly interesting. Readers who imagined themselves as Kay Thompson's Eloise years ago might picture themselves in Frankie's shoes today.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is recommended for readers in Grade 7 and up.


Megan Estey
Youth Services
Fletcher Free Library

What's Coming In...

Place your holds: these books are hot stuff!

Either newly released or on bestseller lists, these books or on order or in demand at Fletcher Free:

Extras by Scott Westerfield

-- new in a series, lots of holds!

Slam by Nick Hornby

-- a hit, on order

Rhett Butler's People,

a sequel to Gone With the Wind -- on order

The The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick -- so popular!

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman --

the movie's out this friday,

so everyone wants to read it first!

The Nixie's Song

(Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles #1)

by Holly Black -- on order

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Halloween's long gone, but vampire fandom

definitely isn't...

Books to Escape In...

When the winter dreariness sets in, sometimes there’s nothing better than curling up with a book so absorbing that you read it in one sitting and don’t even notice that your foot is in pins and needles. Here are some of our favorites to escape the gray chill…

Which reads keep you comatose on the couch? Click "comment" to share your own picks so others can enjoy them!


East by Edith Pattou

If you like fantasy and folklore, this retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon will satisfy and entertain! --Christine


Joy School by Elizabeth Berg


Katie is so loveable because she notices all the right details. It's a quick read about her first true love. (Sequel to Durable Goods because the author loved the character so much) --Cara





I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak



Mystery, humor, romance, and a big stinky dog. --Beth

The Ramsay Scallop by Frances Temple
An adventure, a romance, and a fascinating slice of 13th-century medieval European life! --Christine



The Beduin's Gazelle by Frances Temple
Medieval Arabia in all its glory! Plus a romance and thrilling adventure! (Companion to The Ramsay Scallop) --Christine




Someone to Run With by David Grossman


Another big dog, pulling Israeli narrator Assaf along a mysterious path through the back streets of Jerusalum. Imagination meets difficult realities of life for young street performers, but hope prevails! --Cara