Synopses & Reviews
A
New York Times Notable Children's Book (Young Adult) for 2011 Smackdown!
Video Games vs. Medical School!
Which will win the battle for our heros attention in Gene Luen Yangs new graphic novel?
Dennis Ouyang lives in the shadow of his parents high expectations. They want him to go to med school and become a doctor. Dennis just wants to play video games—and he might actually be good enough to do it professionally.
But four adorable, bossy, and occasionally terrifying angels arrive just in time to lead Dennis back onto the straight and narrow: the path to gastroenterology. Its all part of the plan, they tell him. But is it? This powerful piece of magical realism brings into sharp relief the conflict many teens face between pursuing their dreams and living their parents.
Partnered with the deceptively simple, cute art of newcomer Thien Pham, Gene Yang has returned to the subject he revolutionized with American Born Chinese. Whimsical and serious by turns, Level Up is a new look at the tale that Yang has made his own: coming of age as an Asian American.
Review
"Beautiful and thought-provoking; questions unanswered will linger in readers' minds."--
Kirkus "Inzana uses separate visual styles throughout the book to indicate the human world, the spiritual world, and the shared past which resonates through them both.and#160; While the action is at times chaotic, it is never confusing. The excitement and intensity kept me turning the pages, each one more exciting than the next.and#160; I was captivated by Ichiro from the first page.and#160; It kept me guessing and presented me with more ideas and entertainment than I had predicted would come from this book. Make sure you get yourself a copy!"--Stumptown Trade Review "The fluid, expressive brushwork brings the streets of New York City and mythical Japanese creatures to life, allowing the fantastical aspects to be both beautiful and vividly creepy."--
Horn Book "
Ichiroand#160;is a refreshingly honest, well-conceived narrative that is sure to delight, entertain and perhaps educate readers both young and old. Ryan Inzana masterfully integrates a difficult period in history with complicated mythologies and timeless social issues into an enjoyable fantasy adventure. His beautiful black-and-white brushwork is enviable in its fluidity and expressiveness. Whether he's tackling a tender moment between a single mother and her distant son at the dinner table or illustrating mystical battles between gods, his practiced skills shine through with the perfect tone."--
Rations Magazine "This is a graphic novel that explores the Asian American experience by blending modern, ancient, and fantastic elements."--
School Library Journal "Beautiful, full-color art abounds in the folkloric scenes, which sharply contrast with the black-and-white and occasionally sepia-toned reality of Ichiroand#8217;s day-to-day activities, in which dashes of bright color punctuate the action. Inzana brings home another powerful post-9/11 fable, directed this time to a younger audience than he targeted with Johnny Jihad (2003).
Ichiro asks the hard questions for readers but challenges them to arrive at their own conclusion.."--
Booklist "Inzana mixes the mystery with the matter-of-fact in his lively artwork, creating a mood of enlightenment throughout and offering an insight into Japanese culture with a maximum of imagination."--
Publishers Weekly "What really makes the book stand out is Inzana's mixed media artwork. It's a lush looking book, with rich details and a very thoughtful handling of the world Ichiro moves through. The book is somewhat broken up visually, with mythology told in full and rich color, while the present day is told in a muted set of greens and the mythological world Ichiro finds himself color coded based on mythology (a subtle nod to Oz, assumedly), an element that makes sense the more you read the book. In one large hardcover book like this, it certainly makes for a beautiful collection of pages. Both the personal storytelling from Inzana and the illustrations go a long way to selling the title, and it's familiar yet new all the same tale of a boy discovering his ancestry amount to quite a wonderful read, and it's certainly an early contender for graphic novel of the year; a compelling story sure to wow and impress on many levels."--Multiversity Comics.com
Review
andldquo;Itandrsquo;s a thoughtful story about grief, outsiders, and moving beyond family expectations.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Just So Happens is a thoughtful, subtle and smart graphic novel. It presents one of those quiet stories that sticks in your mind with its charming spirit and depth.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Delicate lines and vivid watercolors create bold and flowing scenes, as well as a slow, ethereal Japanese summer.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;An intimate and thoughtful story that highlights the struggles Asian immigrants face in assimilating to Western cultures.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Obataandrsquo;s book is refreshingly understated; his sparse dialogue leaves lots of room for his expressive, water-colored imagery, which can appear cartoony or super-detailed or dreamlike, depending on the storytelling needs.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Dennis, the son of Chinese immigrants, yearns to play video games like his friends and, upon his strict father's death, becomes obsessed with them but later, realizing how his father sacrificed for him, he chooses a nobler path.
Synopsis
Gene Luen Yang is the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and is a MacArthur Fellow, a recipient of what's popularly known as the MacArthur "Genius" Grant.
A New York Times Notable Children's Book (Young Adult) for 2011
Smackdown
Video Games vs. Medical School
Which will win the battle for our hero's attention in Gene Luen Yang's new graphic novel?
Dennis Ouyang lives in the shadow of his parents' high expectations. They want him to go to med school and become a doctor. Dennis just wants to play video games and he might actually be good enough to do it professionally.
But four adorable, bossy, and occasionally terrifying angels arrive just in time to lead Dennis back onto the straight and narrow: the path to gastroenterology. It's all part of the plan, they tell him. But is it? This powerful piece of magical realism brings into sharp relief the conflict many teens face between pursuing their dreams and living their parents'.
Partnered with the deceptively simple, cute art of newcomer Thien Pham, Gene Yang has returned to the subject he revolutionized with American Born Chinese. Whimsical and serious by turns, Level Up is a new look at the tale that Yang has made his own: coming of age as an Asian American.
"
Synopsis
This striking, full-color graphic novel follows Ichiro as he moves from New York to Japan where a shapeshifting tanuki brings him on a fantastic adventure into the mythological world of Japanese gods.and#160; This journey brings him closer to his Japanese roots, and to understanding the nature of good and evil, war and peace, gods and men.
Synopsis
Ichiro lives in New York City with his Japanese mother. His father, an American soldier, was killed in Iraq. Now, Ichiand#8217;s mom has decided they should move back to Japan to live with Ichiand#8217;s grandfather.
and#160;and#160;and#160;Grandfather becomes Ichiand#8217;s tour guide, taking him to temples as well as the Hiroshima Peace Park, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. After a supernatural encounter with the gods and creatures of Japanese mythology, Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. In doing so, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answersand#8212;for gods or men.
Synopsis
Yumiko was born in Japan but has made a life in London, losing herself in its cosmopolitan bustle. She has a gallery show of her art, a good job, and a good guy she plans to marry. The culture she grew up in seems very far awayandmdash;until her brother phones with the news that their father has died. Yumiko returns to Tokyo and finds herself immersed in the rituals of death while also plunged into the rituals of lifeandmdash;fish bars, bullet trains, pagodasandmdash;as she confronts the question of where her future really lies.
Just So Happens deals both gently and powerfully with grief, identity, and the pressure not to disappoint oneandrsquo;s parents, even after theyandrsquo;re gone, in a look at the relationships that build the foundation of our lives.
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About the Author
Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received a Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncans Kingdom, The Rosary Comic Book, Prime Baby and Animal Crackers. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. He also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he teaches high school. He got his Masters in Education at Cal State Hayward, where he wrote his thesis on using comics in education. THIEN PHAM is a comic book and visual artist, based in the Bay Area. He is also a high school teacher. Pham illustrated Gene Luen Yang's Level Up, a YALSA Great Graphic Novel and New York Times Notable Children's Book. Sumo is his first solo work.