Jill Lane's EDU 625 Literature Blog: Level Up

Level Up

Author: Gene Luen Yang

Illustrated By: Thien Pham

Genre: Graphic Novel

Reading Level: ages 12 and up

Theme: Respect, Destiny, Profession

Summary: A young boy must decide what his destiny is. Is it to be a gastroenterologist like his father has always wanted him to be or will he be a video gamer, his life long dream? Follow Dennis through various levels of his life starting from third grade to his graduate years. Will there be a continue at the end just like his video game? Following his destiny is a lot harder than it seems, but Dennis will soon find out what he is meant to be is not what he thought it would be at all. Maybe his parents expectations are not too high and he can find a way to make everyone happy.

Pre-Reading Activity: Ask children to talk to their elbow partner about what they want to be when they grow up. Also, ask them if this is something they always dreamed of doing or has it changed over the years. Also, ask if anyone in their family also has this profession.

Post-Reading Activity: Make a venn diagram using doctor and video gamer. Discuss the similarities and differences. Also, talk about those who helped him reach his destiny.

Reflection: I really enjoyed this book and this was actually the first graphic novel that I have read. It is a very easy read with a very important message. This book is excellent for teen readers in that it shows the main character Dennis's struggle with being who his parents want him to be and being who he wants to be. The only thing I would be prepared for if reading as a large group or even in small groups is being comfortable enough to talk to the class about colonoscopies.

Author and Illustrator Information

Illustrator Gene Luen Yang on right, Author Thien Pam on right at book signing

About the Author

Thien Pham first came to America on a tiny boat of dreams and rubber tires in 1980 from his home in Vietnam. Channeling this adventurous spirit, Thien graduated from the prestigious Academy of Art in San Francisco in 2000. After, Thien used his tremendous skills to create one masterful comic book after another, enriching the American literary world beyond measure. He recently finished his graphic novel Sumo, which will be published by First Second Books in the near future. He also founded his own handmade comic distribution company called Global Hobo, publishing the art of local artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not content to confine his copious talents to just the comic book industry, Thien began teaching at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland in 2004. Over the years, Thien has accrued rampant levels of popularity and now boasts 458 Facebook friends and his own fan page. His secret as to how he is capable of authoring comics, managing his company, teaching high school, and keeping in touch with all his friends? A strict diet of Coca-Cola, the only beverage to grace his lips since 1998.(amazon.com)

About the Illustrator

Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles. His 2006 book American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album - New. A short story from The Eternal Smile, his 2009 collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim, won an Eisner Award as well. His books Prime Baby and Level Up (with illustrator Thien Pham) were also nominated for Eisner Awards. Gene currently writes the graphic novel continuation of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender.(www.amazon.com)

Illustrator's personal website: http://geneyang.com

Things I Found Interesting...