Joan asked Gene Luen Yang:

I teach English as a second language and American Born Chinese has brought excitement and depth to the conversations about the craft of writing to my classroom. My students' wonder - why did you choose to become a writer? Also, what books do you recommend for elementary students?

Gene Luen Yang Thank you so much for teaching American Born Chinese! It's an honor to be a part of your classroom.

Both my parents are storytellers. It was a part of my childhood, so I always wanted to tell stories myself.

There are all sorts of great graphic novels for elementary students! Check out work by Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Kazu Kibuishi, Jenny and Matt Holm, Frank Cammuso, Ben Hatke, Jarrett Krosoczka.

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Hi Gene, I noticed that you write comics for avatar the last airbender. I used to love that series. I was a diehard zutara fan and wanted to know. Are you Kataang or zutara? Also how did you get the rites to write for them?

Kalie Ringwelski asked Gene Luen Yang:

American Born Chinese is a book I read in multicultural children's lit., so I was wondering if while you were writing it did you go into the project thinking it would be a big multicultural book?

Aaron Hollingsworth asked Gene Luen Yang:

With "The Shadow Hero" are you retroactively combating the Fu Manchu era of comics in which Asians were mostly portrayed as diabolical villains?

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Gene Luen Yang

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I teach English as a second language and American Born Chinese has brought excitement and depth to the conversations about the craft of writing to my classroom. My students' wonder - why did you choose to become a writer? Also, what books do you recommend for elementary students?

More Answered Questions

Hi Gene, I noticed that you write comics for avatar the last airbender. I used to love that series. I was a diehard zutara fan and wanted to know. Are you Kataang or zutara? Also how did you get the rites to write for them?

American Born Chinese is a book I read in multicultural children's lit., so I was wondering if while you were writing it did you go into the project thinking it would be a big multicultural book?

With "The Shadow Hero" are you retroactively combating the Fu Manchu era of comics in which Asians were mostly portrayed as diabolical villains?

About Goodreads Q&A