I just finished reading American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This is a graphic novel that was winner of the Printz Award.
I have to say, as I began the novel I really didn't think I was going to like it. I have never read a graphic novel before, but I tend to prefer words to pictures. I really didn't know how I was going to do with this new format. However, as I got further and further into the book, I realized that I was actually enjoying this just as much as a regular novel. Go figure.
The artwork of this graphic novel was very cool. Simple, clean frames. Subtle colors. Filled with "curved lines" (as Christopher Dean Myers once said). There were scenes that were quite complicated, but some of them appeared easy enough that I could draw them if I wanted. I was quite impressed.
So the story follows two main characters. Jin Wang is an Asian boy who wants to fit into the American culture. The Monkey King is a monkey who wants to fit in with the other deities in the universe. Both of these characters want to be something more than what they are (or should I say, something other than what they are?). They deny their true form, their true selves in order to try to be like everyone else, but only when they realize how cool they really are and embrace their identities do they find happiness.
I know, that was a vague plot description, but you will seriously have to read the book to figure out just how good it was! :-)
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