Just Be You

This graphic novel is an awesome work of literature that is very beneficial to the young adult genre. Stereotyping, bullying, and isolating are prevelant themes in the novel. This novel shows the importance of being yourself in every aspect. The most important lesson that all of the characters in American Born Chinese should end up with is the crucial art of being comfortable in your own skin. There are many points in the story that deal with the identity crisis issue, but the earliest incident happened when Jin was speaking to the Herbalist's wife. He told her that he wanted to be a Transformer, and on page 29 she says, "It's easy to become anything you wish...so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul." She wants him to understand that his goals should not be centered around being someone who can transform into someone else, but be about being a successful and positive person. Next, the incident where the Monkey King encounters Tze-Yo-Tzuh, and he tells him that he is just a monkey is a very important moment in the novel. The Monkey King is convinced that he should be classified as higher than his monkey constituents. On page 69, when Tze-Yo-Tzuh tells the Monkey King, "I created you. I say that you are a monkey. Therefore, you are a monkey." The Monkey King is not comfortable with the fact that he is a monkey because other people make fun of him for it. This entire story shows the young adults and all readers how vital it is to be comfortable being themselves. If you are not true to yourself, then you will be either exposed or destroyed.