American Born Chinese

Jin Wang just wants to blend in. He discovers unexpectedly that he is the sole Chinese American kid at his school when his family relocates to a new area. He has few friends and is often teased by bullies and teasing from peers. Then, to further things, he develops feelings for an all-American girl.

One of the oldest and most famous Chinese tales is the tale of the Monkey King, who was born to reign over all other monkeys in the universe. He is the strongest monkey in the planet, revered by his followers and a master of kung-fu. However, the Monkey King has no desire to be a monkey. He wants to be worshipped like a deity.

The epitome of a bad Chinese stereotype, Chin-Kee is destroying his cousin Danny's life. Danny is the most popular student at his school, but every year when Chin-Kee pays him a visit, Danny needs to change schools to avoid the embarrassment. However, things this year move from bad to worse very rapidly.

These three seemingly unconnected stories come together with an unexpected twist to create a funny, moving, and action-packed contemporary fairytale. American Born Chinese is an incredible journey that culminates in an astounding finale, confirming for readers what an increasing number of them already know: Gene Yang is a tremendous talent.