In 2007, Gene Yang's American Born Chinese became the first graphic novel to win the Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature. A few months earlier, in 2006, it was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. ABC even won the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album!
So what makes this book literary? What text features or aspects of the writing do you think led more than one award committee to single this book out for its literary merit? Also, what is it like for you as a reader to look for literary elements in a book whose graphic format may be entirely new to you?
Jennifer Buehler
I think what makes a book literary is the clarity and ease with which is presents complex ideas. I think that this graphic novel was great in that it was so clear and concise but had such a distinct message.
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