American Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese
Score Modern
What it's about
When Jin Wang's family moves to a new neighborhood, he becomes the only Chinese American student at his school. Picked on by bullies and short on friends, all he wants is to fit in, and then he falls for an all-American girl.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's a graphic novel about identity and belonging.
You'll love it if you liked
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Blankets
MausGood to know
It's a graphic novel and a quick read.
By the numbers
- Readers33 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller20 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #166 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #1157 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #2202 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
The Golden Compass
A Dog's Purpose
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is American Born Chinese worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #2,202 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is American Born Chinese about?
When Jin Wang's family moves to a new neighborhood, he becomes the only Chinese American student at his school. Picked on by bullies and short on friends, all he wants is to fit in, and then he falls for an all-American girl.
How long does it take to read American Born Chinese?
About 6 hours (240 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after American Born Chinese?
If you liked it, try Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, Blankets by Craig Thompson or Maus by Art Spiegelman.