Book description
Gene Luen Yang was the fifth the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and is a MacArthur Fellow, a recipient of what's popularly known as the MacArthur "Genius" Grant.
A tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated…
Why read it?
3 authors picked American Born Chinese as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Even though I’m not a Chinese immigrant, I found this book to be so relatable. It’s all about navigating the adolescent need to fit in while also being true to yourself.
The innovative story structure follows three different threads that eventually come together unexpectedly. The combination of a realistic school-kid, a legendary Monkey King, and a sit-com stereotype antagonist is so creative.
From Corey's list on The best YA graphic novels that combine fantasy and reality to address trauma.
This book seems to be three different stories until one realizes they are the same story told in different ways: the most realistic one is the story of young Jin Wang who suffers intensely from the racist mockery of his peers. Then there is the wondrous tale of the Monkey King who wanted to join the other gods and refused to be a monkey. And finally the parable of Danny who hates his caricature of a Chinese cousin. The three strands converge to reveal one truth: the way to save our soul is to accept who we are.
I particularly…
From Sylvie's list on The best middle-grade graphic-novels depicting different cultures.
This was one of the first young adult, graphic novels I ever picked up and read. It’s one that has forever stayed with me and is still a balm to this day when I read it. It elegantly portrays an overarching message about identity and a solid representation of Asian-American characters. Gene Luen Yang tells the story of Jin Wang and the struggles he faces being the only Chinese American kid at his school. Jin’s story is woven and connected to two other plots in the boom that eventually unite in an unexpected way to conclude the novel in a…
From Jess' list on The best books I wish existed when I was a kid.
If you love American Born Chinese...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…
Want books like American Born Chinese?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like American Born Chinese.
Share your top 3 reads of 2026!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
186
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like American Born Chinese, you might also like...
Child of Vanris
At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, he’s lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a…
Almost Home
Almost Home is a fictional retelling of the last great tragedy of the Civil War.
In late April 1865, almost 2,000 newly freed Union prisoners of war are packed onto the steamer Sultana, in poor repair and with a listed capacity of 376 passengers. Among them are four Indiana soldiers…
