Monday, February 27, 2017

Finishing American Born Chinese



I really enjoyed American Born Chinese. The entire time I was wondering how the three stories within the book would entwine, and I got super excited when it finally happened and thought it came together beautifully. I love the lessons this book tries to convey. From the start of the book it seems Jin is kind of struggling with who he is as he tries to fit in to a new school. He is constantly trying to forget where he came from it seems, and just mold in to what the kids at school are like. This can be seen when he first meets Wei-Chen, and tells him to stop speaking Chinese, as they are in America now. He has a hard time accepting his own self in this new world. This comes to full when the herbalist’s wife visits him in his dream and asks what he would like to become. Finally, Jin gives in totally, becoming a blonde haired white kid, “Danny”. At this point it is realized that Danny is Jin, and Jin is Danny. My mind was blown. Now, I was only wondering Chin-Kee’s place in the story. This was finally given when Danny, or Jin, or whatever name he wants to go by, knocks Chin-Kee’s head off, only to reveal the he is a monkey. Not just a monkey, however, he is the monkey king, and he is Wei-Chen’s father! I was dumbfounded. After taking in all this information, we see that Wei-Chen’s mission on earth to live free from human vice is put to the test when Jin tries kissing his girlfriend. Wei-Chen loses his hope in humanity, and does not want to serve these foul people. And who can blame him? People are extremely flawed, nobody is perfect, and anyone would be upset if their friend tried kissing their girlfriend. I was glad to see Jin find Wei-Chen after so long and say sorry and just start talking to him again. The book ends giving you hope as we see them laughing together. I really liked this book and the way it came together. One thing I did not mention yet, and I do not want to leave out, was one quote from the monkey king near the end of the story. He is talking to Jin and says, “You know, Jin, I could have saved myself from five hundred years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I realized how good it is to be a monkey.” I just thought this was extremely insightful and wise, and a good quote for accepting you for yourself and to embrace it and be who you are.
http://www.themillions.com/2010/07/the-millions-interview-gene-luen-yang.html
http://www.npr.org/2008/01/23/18328964/growing-up-chinese-american-graphically

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

American Born Chinese

Our newest book is American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. It has been interesting so far. I was thrown off at the start of the book with scene about the monkey king, I was not expecting that. However, I actually ended up enjoying the scenes with the monkey king. He got so upset that he couldn't get into the party for not wearing shoes, that he becomes consumed with himself and making himself not a monkey, and how he calls himself, "the great sage". Due to this, when he his called into heaven the "God" character Tze-Yo-Tzuh, buries him under a mountain of rocks. I really liked this part, and was entertained by it. When it was revealed that the five gold pillars that the monkey had relieved himself on, were indeed Tze-Yo-Tzuh's hand, I thought this was brilliant, and was not expecting that at first. 


So far, the main focus of the story has been on Jin, and his life mostly at school. We have also seen Danny and his cousin Chin-Kee. I have yet to really figure out where Danny plays into the story, but I am interested to see where he goes. I have also found Wei-Chen’s character very interesting. I felt bad for him in the beginning when he first moved and Jin didn’t really want to be his friend. Jin gets mad at him for not speaking English, as he reminds him he is now in the United States. I can’t imagine how difficult a transition it is to move to a new country that speaks an entirely different language from you. Normal every day functions would be difficult. Watching TV, going to the store, you name it, that has got to be tough. However, I would bet that it makes learning the new language happen a little faster, being so quickly immersed into a whole new culture. I am excited to see where the story goes in American Born Chinese.
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/chinese-immigrants-united-states

Monday, February 20, 2017

Finishing Brown Girl Dreaming


I enjoyed Brown Girl Dreaming, for the most part. I found the style of it, being written in verse, very interesting. It made scenes and emotions easier to picture for me. After moving around a few times in Ohio and then to South Carolina, Jackie and her siblings finally join their mother in New York City. Jackie and her siblings were not all that thrilled to be moving from Greenville. They were pretty happy there, and a lot of the time, Jackie wrote, how she wished those moments in Greenville with her grandparents and siblings would go on for eternity. However, I think it is in New York, where Jackie settles in and really discovers who she wants to be: a writer. She drops glimpses of it throughout the book, ultimately leading up to her creating her first book (“The Butterfly Book” I believe) and finally earns praise from one of her teachers telling her that she is a writer. She is finally able to get out of her sister’s shadow of brilliance and find her own brilliance in words, as her brother found brilliance on the stage singing. Two parts that I thought were pivotal in Jackie’s life that were very sad, were when her brother Roman has to go to the hospital for lead poisoning, and her grandfather, also known as Daddy, dies. Jackie was very close to her grandfather, and he even told her that she was his favorite when he was sick. Due to her grandfather’s death, her grandmother comes up to New York to live with them. At this time I think this is where Jackie really embraces herself and the way she was raised. She starts to be herself and talks about embracing the "Power to the People" and is inspired by Angela Davis. I thought the last few pages were really nice where she talks about what she believes, dreams, and becoming who she wants to be. I thought the last few pages were beautiful, especially the way they were written in verse, and really put a nice touch on the end of the book.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis