Seventeen

Title: Seventeen Magazine

Publishing Company: Hearst Corporation

Summary: Seventeen contains quick blurbs about fashion, makeup, hairstyles, and other topics that teenage girls will find interesting, such as how to make quick money and interviews with famous teens. Written for those who do not have a lot of time to read lengthy articles, most of the articles are very succinct and to the point and contain a large amount of graphics and price tags, along with locations at which the clothing or other product can be purchased. Similarly, the advertising is all targeted towards teens and, for the most part, have younger models in them. Most of the articles are organized by specific themes, such as Sporty Chic for Spring and Sunny Steals, containing a comparison of different brands and the price ranges. While there are a few longer length articles in Seventeen, they are at the back of the magazine and are not easy to locate. Seventeen also contains quizzes for teens to fill out and test their knowledge, as well as quizzes to discover how they relate to others.

Critical Evaluation: Seventeen is not a literary magazine as much as it is a fashion guide for teens, containing reviews and comparisons for those who want to update themselves on the newest fads quickly without having to dig through lengthy articles. The clean design of the magazine allows for readers to alternate between different products and find out information about where to buy them and the cost. While some spreads may be more cluttered due to the number of products per page, such as Her Style which combines shoes, makeup, bags, etc, it still is easy to find distinguish what text goes with what item. The blend of advertising and articles is almost seamless which, on one hand, makes for a uninterrupted reading experience, but on the other hand makes the entire magazine a shopping catalog rather than a published work that reviews products. The how-to articles were the most interesting, as they did not require the purchase of an item.

Reader's Annotation: Chock full of beauty and styling tips, fashion deals and how to deal with teen issues, Seventeen is a quick and easy reference and entertainment magazine for busy teens.

Information About the Publishing Company: Hearst Corporation is an American publishing media organization. Hearst publishes a multitude of media, from newspapers to magazines as well as broadcasting and interactive media.

Heart's published magazines range from Cosmopolitan and Esquire to Oprah and Popular Mechanics. Read more about the company at their website.

Genre: Fashion; Shopping; Teen Life

Curriculum Ties N/A

Booktalking Ideas:

• Seventeen Magazine provides all the fashion tips, hints, and reviews that teens could need. Written in an entertaining and easy to read manner, it also contains a handful of articles that go in depth into subjects that are applicable to and should interest teens of all ages, from how to make money or how to help someone going through difficult situations.

Reading Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Magazine?: Circulation Statistics

Goodbye Lullaby

Title: Goodbye Lullaby

Musician: Avril Lavigne

Publisher: RCA

Copyright: 2011

Summary: Goodbye Lullaby is Avril Lavigne's fourth released album and strongly deviates from her previous musical style, sounding quite like the old MTV Unplugged sessions, in which musical artists performed on stage with only a set number of musical instruments and live singing. While still classified as pop and rock, Goodbye Lullaby's overall tune is lighter on the beats and focuses on Lavigne's views on life and love. What the Hell does have an upbeat tune and discusses how love feels and the need to break free of limitations now and again. Similarly, Stop Standing There discusses love and the need for people to not waste any time and get to fully understand their loved ones and live life fully. Continuing the love theme, I Love You is a rather sentimental description of loving someone in their entirety and for loving someone for sharing a past together. Goodbye speaks of having to move on to new things despite still having feelings for someone.

Critical Evaluation: Goodbye Lullaby was a rather strange album and while it did deviate strongly from Avril Lavigne's previous musical style, the songs varied in intensity and often felt like they were from two separate albums. While her vocals were as strong as ever throughout, songs like What the Hell and Alice were most reminiscent of her previous style and many of the others were almost like ballads with acoustic accompaniment. Instead of starting and ending with the two strong and more rock-influenced songs, the album could have blended the styles of songs within the track listing and perhaps provided a more varied and alternating musical experience. For example, Minutes to Midnights by Linkin Park alternated between heavy rap songs like Bleed It Out and What I've Done with Leave out All the Rest and Shadow of the Day. Like in movies, the tension of a CD has to be alternated to keep the listeners on their toes.

Listener's Annotation: Blending together love ballads and Avril Lavigne's familiar rock beats, Goodbye Lullaby is her newest studio album that contains the hit song What the Hell.

Information About the Musician: Avril Lavigne is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has been performing since her teens. She is mainly known for her rock-punk songs Complicated and Sk8ter Boi, as well as her heavy eye makeup and skater fashion.

Lavigne has released three albums before Goodbye Lullaby. Read more about the artist at her website.

Genre: Pop; Rock

Curriculum Ties N/A

"Booktalking" Ideas:

• For those who had Avril Lavigne's old hit songs stuck in their head for days on end, Goodbye Lullaby will be a nice change and add some new titles into their mental playlist. Blending a range of styles, Avril Lavigne shows that she will not be stuck into the same niche and will branch out and try different musical styles.

Listening Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This CD?: US Billboard Ranked Album

The Fame

Title: The Fame

Musician: Lady GaGa

Label: Interscope

Copyright: 2008

Summary: Lady Gaga's first album consists of songs that all center around the glamorous life of someone who lives in the spotlight, from Paparazzi to the Fame. Each song has its own mini-theme underneath the lyrics, such as that of Just Dance whose heavy-club beat which also carries undertones of someone attempting to drink their troubles away, which is something that many listeners could appreciate. LoveGame focuses on what the title clearly states, the game of love and sexual tension. Paparazzi's lyrics are reminiscent of poetry in their structure while the words themselves are more akin to that of a stalker in nature. Like many of her other songs, it depicts the disturbing side of fame and stardom. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich's lyrics are simplistic in nature if viewed on paper, but when listened to, it becomes almost a mantra accompanied by the heavy club beats that promote the party going life despite difficulties.

Critical Evaluation: The overall tone of the CD is upbeat and makes listeners want to dance, or at least nod their head to the beat. The lyrics themselves varied between the songs, from those which would make listeners wonder what the songwriter was thinking at the moment, to those which cause people to shake their heads at the writer's audacity. A perfect example is the song LoveGame, in which the lyrics state sexual tension between the singer and someone in the club: "I wanna take a ride on your disco stick." While some criticize Lady Gaga for innuendo of that nature, many other popular songs contain similar lyrics, if not much worse. The childish rhyming nature of LoveGame's lyrics almost has a sense of her poking fun at the abundance of sexual themes in music. The sprinkling of slower songs near the end of the album is quite similar to the general downward slope of a novel's plot after the climax and was a positive way to end the CD.

Listener's Annotation: A blend of the now-famous Lady Gaga's top hits, The Fame is a Platinum ranking album that will make listeners want more.

Information About the Musician: Lady Gaga started off as a song-writer before being signed as a performing artist. Her first album, The Fame, catapulted her into celebrity and she continued with two more studio albums.

Lady Gaga is famous for her outlandish costumes and catchy club songs. Follow Lady Gaga at her website.

Genre: Pop; Dance

Curriculum Ties N/A

"Booktalking" Ideas:

• The CD that started it all, The Fame is Lady Gaga's first released album and contains four #1 songs, while the rest are all recognizable to those who listen to Pop radio. From LoveGame to Paparazzi and Just Dance to Poker Face, those who love Lady Gaga or to those who haven't heard her yet, The Fame is an entertaining and energizing CD that will make you want to move.

Listening Level: 16+

Challenge Issues:

• While some of the lyrics within the album's songs have racy innuendo, it is not much worse than any other music that can be heard on the radio.

Why This CD?: Platinum Album

GamePro

Title: GamePro Magazine

Publisher: GamePro Media

Summary: Each issue of GamePro, a monthly release magazine, covers a specific gaming theme, from a preview guide of new games being released in the fall, to eleven reasons why personal computers (PCs) are still valid gaming consoles, and to themes such as suspense, covering games like Diablo 3, Dead Space 2 and an article on Dracula's Legacy in media. While covered in advertising like any other modern magazine, GamePro's are almost seamlessly integrated into the magazine's gaming theme, such as an internet security ad featuring Tron: Legacy. Each article goes in depth into a specific issue or game and ranges from a very detached writing style to one that directly addresses readers' responses. GamePro covers game and product reviews and polls from other online gaming sources, as well as articles covering other topics that also can relate to gaming. Also, the articles often dip into gaming history and compare how things have changed as well as honoring the origins of specific themes and styles of gameplay, such as the Nintendo 64's James Bond Goldeneye as the advent of third-person shooters on home consoles.

Critical Evaluation: Compared to other game reviews both online and in print, the reviews within GamePro lean more towards the side of an analytical essay versus a written blurb about the reviewer's experience with the game. The articles cover both pros and cons as well as comparisons between similar games with a complexity that belies its humble print format. The very layout of the magazine is also very clean cut and minimalist, blending clean screenshots and artwork with their lengthy articles. The writing styles within the articles is also varied enough to ensure that the readers do not become bored, by alternating between personalized reactions to games and clean-cut reviews. One article which caught my eye was a female editor responding to how much she disliked responding to her view on women in games, as she believes herself to be a gamer first and woman second, rather than a spokesperson for female gamers.

Reader's Annotation: GamePro is a professional magazine that delves into the complex world of the games that you love and the games that haven't been released yet.

Information About the Publisher: GamePro Media, along with its printed magazine, has a website that hosts the same reviews and articles alongside downloadable games and other content. GamePro Media's mission is to engage, entertain and inform gamers of all ages.

Check out the newest from the gaming world at their website!

Genre: Gaming; Reviews

Curriculum Ties: National Gaming Day

Booktalking Ideas:

• While many look down upon magazines as literature and gaming even more so, GamePro's articles discuss games in an analytical and engaging manner that could easily fit in an academic journal. The sheer coverage of all the games can draw in both new and old gamers, as well as gamers of all ages.

Reading Level: 16+

Challenge Issues:

• Some of the games and the articles could contain adult themes and graphic images that would be inappropriate for preteens. However, the target audience for the majority of the games is for teenagers, especially regarding the detailed nuances of each article that could bore younger readers who just want the basic facts on a game. Hopefully, the titles of the games on the cover of each issue as well as the cover themes (Diablo or a busty World of Warcraft Elf, for example) should give users a hint of the reading level.

Why This Magazine?: Staff recommendation

High School Musical

"In my other school, I was the freaky math girl. It's cool coming here and being...whoever I wanna be."
Title: High School Musical

Director: Kenny Ortega

Production Company: Disney Channel

Copyright: 2006

Plot Summary: Troy and Gabriella are two very different teens who meet each other at a New Year's Eve karaoke event. Troy, one of the star players of the school's basketball team the Wildcats, has a secret love of singing, while Gabriella is a math whiz who is too shy to perform in front of others. At the New Year's Eve party, Troy and Gabriella sing and have an instant connection. It is only when Gabriella transfers into Troy's high school and they have the same home-room class that they meet once more. Auditions for the musical start causing waves throughout the school: from Troy's teammates who believe he is abandoning them, from the math club who want Gabriella to win the tournament for them, and the original musical stars who feel like they are being challenged.

Critical Evaluation: While the movie is made by Disney and thus has rather juvenile humor, the themes within the story are more suited for teens than preteens, especially the theme of trying to fit in by rejecting some aspect of the self. Both Troy and Gabriella, the main protagonists, have a comfortable niche that they have made in their teenage lives, with Troy as an athlete and Gabriella as an intellectual. That Troy and Gabriella breaking away from their stereotypes frees many other teens and allows them to admit their own quirks and hobbies. The villains of the movie were rather one-dimensional in comparison to the two protagonists, with little motive other than to continue ruling the musical. The ending of the movie was rather Disney-perfect but that was anticipated.

Reader's Annotation: Troy and Gabriella live worlds apart in their social circles and it is only when they are forced to sing a duet at a New Year's Party that they realize what they have been missing.

Information About the Director: Kenny Ortega is a California-born producer, director, and choreographer. Famous for the popular High School Musical series of Disney Musical movies, he has also directed This Is It. Ortega has also directed for the television series Ally McBeal and Gilmore Girls.

Follow Ortega's projects at his website.

Genre: Musical; High School Life; Sports; Romance

Curriculum Ties N/A

"Booktalking" Ideas:

• Troy and Gabriella are brave individuals for leaving their comfort zone and trying something new, let alone being able to stand up and sing on stage while being uncomfortable doing so. What are other ways that you can do something new without going to that extent?
• How did the songs in the movie make the themes more accessible to the viewers through the lyrics and catchy beats? Or do you believe that the songs can take away from the themes by having the viewers distracted by the tune rather than concentrating on important dialog?

Viewing Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Movie?: Emmy Award Winner

Reference Page:

Ortega, K (Director). (2006). High School Musical [Motion picture]. USA: Disney Channel.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Director: John Hughes

Production Company: Paramount Pictures

Copyright: 1986

Plot Summary: Ferris Bueller's Day Off beings with Ferris feigning illness to his parents in order to skip school. As a senior, Ferris believes that every day should be seized to its full capacity. His definition of a full day does not involve being trapped in school. While his parents believe his hammed up acting, Ferris' sister knows his tricks. Once on his own, Ferris hitches a ride from his friend Cameron and they borrow Cameron's rigid father's Ferrari to break Ferris' girlfriend Sloane out of school. Once freed, the trio drive into Chicago for a day on the town, one more day of freedom before the upcoming summer then the time when they will be separated for college. Meanwhile, as Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane have fun in town, escalating to Ferris singing and dancing on a parade float, the school Principal swears to catch Ferris in the act of skipping school, going so far as to go to his house.

Critical Evaluation: Despite being a prankster protagonist and narrator who lies to his parents, Ferris Bueller is an easy-going and sympathetic narrator who audiences should relate to and whose antics elicit a laugh. Ferris' direct conversation with the audience could be startling at first but then his casual nature makes it feel natural and makes the audience wonder when he next will talk directly to them or simply make eye-contact with the screen and pull a face. While the plot of this movie was simple and direct to the point: boy skips school with girlfriend and friend for a joyride into the city while avoiding being caught, the best part of it is in the journey and the memories that the three friends make. Regarding characters, many viewers will most likely relate more to Cameron rather than Ferris, as a character who is insecure and does not know what he will do with his life.

Reader's Annotation: For Ferris Bueller, life shouldn't be wasted in school, especially when graduation is coming up and everything as he knows it will change. Life is for living, so Ferris skips school with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron and live it up in Chicago.

Information About the Director: John Hughes was born in 1950 in Michigan. In 2009, he died of a heart attack after a lengthy career.

Hughes was famous for writing and directing many popular teen movies other than Ferris Bueller's Day Off. These movies included Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and the Breakfast Club.

Genre: Comedy; Coming of Age; High School

Curriculum Ties N/A

Discussion Ideas:

• What sort of protagonist do you believe Ferris Bueller to be? Do you believe he provides a good example to teens of having "harmless" fun in order to enjoy your life? What about his view of stopping the high speed, always-busy life in order to have fun and live a little?

Viewing Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Movie?: Nominated for a Golden Globe Award

Reference Page:

Hughes, J (Director). (1986). Ferris Bueller's Day Off [Motion picture]. USA: Paramount Pictures.

Hairspray

"I think I've kind of been in a bubble... thinking that fairness was gonna just happen. It's not. People like me are gonna have to get up off their fathers' laps and go out and fight for it. "
Title: Hairspray

Director: Adam Shankman

Production Company: New Line Cinema

Copyright: 2007

Plot Summary: Hairpsray tells the story of Tracey Turnblad, a rather short and stout teenaged girl living in 1960s Baltimore. Her life is filled with song and dance and she loves to watch the Corny Collins Show and her favorite member Link. When a spot in the show opens up, Tracey auditions without a moment's hesitation, despite being put down by the show's station manager Velma and her daughter Amber. After being sent to detention, Tracey discovers a new type of dancing from the school's black students as well as a glance into a world that she had never known and the unfairness of segregation that exists even on her beloved Corny Collins Show. Tracey struggles with her love of dancing and being able to dance with her new friends.

Critical Evaluation: The themes of this remade version of Hairspray are the same as the previous version: of self-acceptance, standing up for what you believe in, and never giving up. Tracey Turnblad is a typical underdog but her persistence and her generally happy demeanor is endearing to the audience and that she never seems to become disgruntled or hopeless could give viewers hope despite their own troubles. The very catchy songs and the amazing singing and dancing all lend the movie a feeling of hope, exuberance, and the ability to reach your dreams. The characters in the movie were not fleshed out in the manner that a reader of a book would expect, but throughout the course of the movie, viewers get to understand characters through their behavior, dialog, and lyrics.

Reader's Annotation: Tracey Turnblad may not be the typical slender and blonde teen that comes to mind when viewers think of Miss Hairspray, but her love of dancing and music will take Tracey further than even she thought possible.

Information About the Director: Adam Shankman is an American film director, producer and choreographer. Shankman has been nominated for two Primetime Emmys and is famous for his directing abilities as well as his choreography.

Having started as a dancer, Shankman then broke into the choreographing business and from there, he moved on to directing and producing. Follow Shankman at his Twitter page.

Genre: Musical; Historical; Race Politics

Curriculum Ties: African American History Month

"Booktalking" Ideas:

• How is Tracey Turnblad an underdog in this story? How is she easy for viewers of all ages to relate to? This can be in terms of her age, physical appearance, or demeanor.
• Would the themes of Hairspray work as well without the upbeat atmosphere caused from the music, singing, and dancing of a musical? Could it have worked without the song-and dance or do you think it is an intrinsic part of the movie, as shown by its roots as well as the plot of the movie itself?

Viewing Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Movie?: Nominated for 3 Golden Globe Awards

Reference Page:

Shankman, A (Director). (2007). Hairspray [Motion picture]. USA: New Line Cinema.

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

"I mean, if I had to choose right nowbetween a single kiss from Sophieor, say,being the only guy at a week-long orgy with of the modelsfrom the Victoria's Secret catalog,I'd choose that single kiss.Honest."
Title: What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

Author: Sonya Sones

ISBN: 978-0-689-87602-8

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2007

Plot Summary: What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know begins with Robin Murphy and his girlfriend Sophie as they begin their romantic relationship in high school. However, due to Robin being highly unpopular, to the extent that his last name is used as an insult, Sophie's friends abandon her and the rest of the school mocks her. Robin, being used to this aimed at himself, bridles at the changes Sophie has to encounter just for being with him. Sophie, however, thinks of ways to fight back and believes that it will all blow over once something new happens. However, Robin suddenly gets a new chance at his teenage life when he is accepted to a college-level art program, where nobody knows what a Murphy is and nobody knows his embarrassing past. He gets a new group of friends who automatically invite him to hang out and he is the center of attention. Robin struggles between supporting Sophie and enjoying his teenage years with his new college friends.

Critical Evaluation: The format of Sones' novel is intriguing. Each page consists of a short poem format with no set rhyme scheme, but with indentation that causes the reader to pause at certain points in the sentences, as can be seen in the quote above. While at first, the format felt stilted and awkward, as the reader continues reading they are drawn in by the unfolding plot and the format becomes smooth and rhythmic. It is a very original format and may put off readers at first, but if given a chance, it allows for a quick and entertaining read. Similar to reading song lyrics, What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know has innate music within the writing. The main characters within the novel of Robin and Sophie are endearing and well-rounded, especially as the plot continues and Sophie's friends return to her, her actions are believable. The side characters do not have enough time devoted to making them complete and three-dimensional.

Reader's Annotation: Robin Murphy is a ridiculed 15-year-old who finally gets to date the girl of his dreams, only to realize that all her former friends turn their backs on her for dating the Murphy, a common insult derived from his name. Soon, his guilt overrides his love for her and he takes solace in his college art class, where nobody knows him as Murphy and he falls into a crowd of cool, artistic young adults.

Information About the Author: Sonya Sones was born in Boston and first thought she would grow up to be an artist. Later, she decided she liked animated films and earned her degree in film-making and photography.

Sones started writing after reading to her children and now is a prolific young adult writer who has been awarded multiple honors. She lives in California. Read more about Sones at her website.

Genre: Popularity; Fiction; Dating; Romance; Art

Curriculum Ties N/A

Booktalking Ideas:

• How did the format of the book affect the experience of learning about Robin and his life? Did you feel it helped or took away from the process?

Reading Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Book?: 2007 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Reference Page:

Sones, S. (2007). What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

"When lunchtime rolled around, Macey strolled over to our table, and I braced myself for what was going to happen. If the Communists and the Capitalists could fight together to take down the Nazis...I told myself. If Spike and Buffy could fight alongside Buffy to rid the world of demons... If lemon could join forces with lime to create something as delicious and refreshing as Sprite, then surely I can work alongside Macey McHenry for the cause of true love!"
Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Author: Ally Carter

ISBN: 1-4231-0003-4

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Copyright: 2006

Plot Summary: The first of a Gallagher Girl series, I'd Tell You I Love You begins with the start of a new school year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. As daughter of the headmistress, Cammie Morgan is the epitome of a Gallagher Girl, skilled in spy-craft, intelligent, and well-mannered. The beginning of the new year is a good one for her, in that she is reunited with her two best friends Liz and Bex. On the other hand, there is a new girl in the Academy, Macey McHenry, a glamorous heiress whose enrollment in the Academy is her last chance at schooling, having being kicked out of multiple other schools. Standing out like a sore thumb amongst the sophomore spies, Macey's true strengths are shown when the similarly new teacher gets all the girls flustered: the handsome new Covert Operations teacher Joe Solomon. For their first CovOp test, the girls are thrown into the most difficult mission ever: stalking their highly paranoid teacher and discovering what sort of carbonated beverage he enjoys. Macey's fashion tips grate against Cammie's spy-morals as the girls doll up for the test, but little does Cammie know that despite her great Chameleon skills and her drab clothing, she catches the eye of a normal boy, one who will change her life...

Critical Evaluation: The first of a multi-volume series, this novel is an amusing introduction into the world of teenage spies and the relationship issues that they have, among the difficulties of training and missions that prepare them for the stressful and potentially fatal hazards of espionage. The variation of tension between mission scenes and teenage girls frantically deciding what to wear adds humor to an already humorous writing style and characters. Cammie is a sympathetic narrator who is the wallflower of spy-life, which in her line of work, is a good thing, despite how the blatant beauty of Macey irks her. Similarly, the dialog within the story is witty and the only issue is the use of the many varied languages without including a translation. Showing the importance of being multilingual as an international spy is one thing, but not providing a translation while being in Cammie's point of view could make readers believe that Cammie, like them, do not know what is being said.

Reader's Annotation: Cammie Morgan is the epitome of a Gallagher Girl, enrolled in an elite school for girls that secretly hides an intensive spy-training center. During a Covert Ops test, Cammie bumps into a boy who notices her, when all her training has led her to hold the nickname Chameleon, and suddenly everything changes for Cammie....

Information About the Author: This is Carter's first book out of the Gallagher Girls series of young adult spy novels. Carter has also written the Heist Society series.

Carter lives in the Midwest United States with degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University. Read more about the author at her website.

Genre: Spies; Fiction; Romance

Curriculum Ties N/A

Booktalking Ideas:

• What sort of protagonist and narrator is Cammie Morgan? How does her ability to blend into her surroundings belie her inner strength and spy-abilities compare to the glamorous new girl Macey?

Reading Level: 14+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Book?: Staff Recommendation

Reference Page:

Carter, A. (2006). I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. New York: Hyperion Books.

American Born Chinese

"From then on, she became a tangible presence in my life. Whenever she entered the room I was aware of her, even if I wasn't looking directly at her. I would lie awake late at night analyzing my feelings for her. She wasn't exceptionally beautiful and she spoke with a slight lisp. But when she smiled..."

Title: American Born Chinese

Author: Gene Luen Yang

ISBN:

9781596431522

Publisher: First Second

Copyright: 2006

Plot Summary: American Born Chinese is a set of three short stories, centering around the Monkey King in Heaven, a boy named Jin, and an American boy and his cousin Chin-Kee. While seemingly unrelated, the three short stories have common themes and their plots become intertwined by the end of the collection. The Monkey King in Heaven rules the monkeys and trains himself in the martial arts, becoming a Divine Being by skill if not by appearance. When the other Divinities call him a common Monkey, he is enraged and defeats them all. Soon, after more training, the Monkey King perfects his ability to transform into a more human-like being. Jin is a second generation Chinese boy who does not relate to his Chinese heritage and tries to avoid befriending a "fresh-off-the-boat" new student from China. Jin's sudden crush on a girl in his class leads him to start changing his physical appearance as he believes she is attracted to an American boy. Chin-Kee and his American cousin Danny's short story centers around Danny's complete embarrassment over his cousin Chin-Kee, who is the worst version of a Chinese stereotype ever, both in speech, appearance, and behavior.

Critical Evaluation: American Born Chinese uses the format of a graphic novel to its greatest strength by covering the theme of self acceptance, whether of physical appearance as the Monkey King disliking his monkey form, Jin and him perming his hair to appear more American, or Danny who cannot tolerate his cousin's behavior and becomes ashamed of him to the point of hatred. This common theme was easily depicted through Jin's change in hair and the Monkey King's transformation into his more human, upright form, the description of which could have been awkward or felt forced if described in prose. The main protagonists were all sympathetic including the Divine Monkey King whose powers may have incited awe but his insecurity in himself that caused him to lash out at the other Divinities is familiar to many readers. The plot twist at the end of American Born Chinese was unpredictable but worked extremely well, tying in together the three very different stories. Instead of writing a "happily ever after" epilogue, Gene Luen Yang ends with a single panel that sums it up succinctly through showing the reader without even including descriptive prose or dialog.

Reader's Annotation: The Monkey King, a second-generation Chinese boy named Jin, and an American boy named Danny with a horribly stereotypical Chinese cousin Chin-Kee all have their own seemingly unrelated stories and lives. But when they cannot accept themselves for who they are, their stories all come together.

Information About the Author: Gene Luen Yang has been publishing graphic novels since 1996 and has won multiple awards for his work. His other popular titles are Gordon Yamamoto: King of the Geeks, which was awarded the Xeric Grant, and The Eternal Smile.

Yang's newest upcoming project is another graphic novel called Level Up, which is due out in June of this year. Read more about the author/artist at his website.

Genre: Graphic Novel; Asian Americans; Cultural Identity

Curriculum Ties: Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

Booktalking Ideas:

• How does the format of the graphic novel impact and change the storytelling technique that Gene Luen Yang uses for his three stories? Do you believe that it could have been told in another manner without losing any of the impact of the story, especially near the end?
• How do the three protagonists differ from each other and how are they similar? How is the theme of self-acceptance reinforced by the fact that they are so different and yet none of them can accept how they are?

Reading Level: 15+

Challenge Issues N/A

Why This Book?: Michael L. Printz Award Winner

Reference Page:

Yang, G. L. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York: First Second.