Looking at most of the popular media of our time, it is noteworthy that not many films or novels feature Asian protagonists, much less discuss such issues such as Asian American society and culture. This is not to say that there is a lack of Asian American materials. In fact, there is a relative wealth of them, but not many make it into the mainstream American popular culture.

  One such book that has escaped my attention is a graphic novel titled "American-Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang. It is not a very long book (one can finish it in perhaps a day) but it nevertheless explores themes not only in Asian-American life but also in adolescence and identity in general. The book itself contains three stories, one of the Monkey King, a well-known figure in Chinese legends and literature, one of an American-born Chinese Jin Wang and one of a Caucasian teenager, Danny and his visiting, stereotypical, Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee.

  Although it may seem at first to be very confusing, the storyline is actually fairly simple and easy to follow. Throughout the plot, a non-Chinese reader can be introduced to some basic Chinese culture and even a few simple, single Chinese characters. But the plot also makes clear the stereotypes held against Asians in general. Chin-Kee best shows these stereotypes through his eating of cats, his mixing of r’s and l’s in words (his first line: Harro Amerlica!!!), his apparent intelligence and his outfit and general annoying-ness.

  While the book is clearly focused on Chinese culture and Asian-American life, the story also focuses on a much broader theme of finding one’s identity during adolescence. The book shows that the teenage years are full of angst, anxiety and romance and that it may be hard to find one’s identity in the midst of such drama. However, ultimately the story tells us to be proud of our heritage and not to let anyone put us down because of our ethnicity and traditions.