American Born Chinese

A groundbreaking graphic novel from 2008, American Born Chinese weaves together three seemingly disparate storylines—a Chinese-American teenager struggling with his cultural identity, a reimagining of the Monkey King legend, and a racist American stereotype come to life. Published by Macmillan as a single, self-contained work, it was created by writer-artist Gene Luen Yang, whose deft storytelling and vibrant artwork earned the book widespread acclaim. This series matters as a landmark in comics, being the first graphic novel to win the Michael L. Printz Award for young adult literature, and it remains a vital, heartfelt exploration of assimilation, self-acceptance, and the immigrant experience.