Tag Archives: Gene Luen Yang

Asian – American Heroes, Hopes, and Hurts

This is an important time to look at graphic works depicting Asian-American heroes, hopes, and hurts. The Covid-19 pandemic has spread some virulent ideas along with its deadly virus. Once-common stereotypes and fears about Asian–Americans, in particular Chinese-Americans, have flared … Continue reading

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Celebrating a New Year

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. These words from a Tennyson poem are one traditional New Year’s … Continue reading

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Twenty-first Century Genius

Two graphic novelists were among the twenty-three creative people recently awarded an annual MacArthur “Genius” grant, with its hefty prize money.  The MacArthur Foundation “celebrates and inspires the creative potential of individuals through no-strings-attached fellowships.”  I was delighted to see that … Continue reading

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Cracking Codes and Making History: Then and Now

What connects award-winning graphic author/illustrator Gene Luen Yang and film luminary Orson Welles?   Both have cracked codes—figuratively, and in Yang’s case literally, too—and made history.  Welles did this back in the 1930s and 40s, when kids sometimes thought that access … Continue reading

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Making the Grade

None of our family now remembers the actual grades that my adult son Daniel earned in fourth grade, but we all remember his early student activism.  When the school principal decided that lunchroom noise was getting out of hand, she … Continue reading

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Story Times: Kamishibai, Manga, and More

When my son (now 27) was a tot, library story time was an important part of our week. We both looked forward to that circle of eager kids, listening and watching as the librarian dramatically pointed out scenes in the … Continue reading

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War-Torn Pages Ripped from History

World War II is making headlines again. A 94-year-old man, living just a few miles from me here in Minnesota, has been revealed as a probable war criminal. Michael Karkoc was an officer in two Nazi-led Ukrainian military units. He … Continue reading

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