Level Up

Level Up

<p><b>From Gene Luen Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and author of <i>American Born Chinese</i>, comes a </b><b>magical realist coming-of-age tale, by turns whimsical and deadly serious.</b></p><p>Nothing is what it seems when life collides with video games.</p><p>Dennis Ouyang has always struggled in the shadow of his parents’ expectations: Stay focused in high school, do well in college, go to medical school, and become a gastroenterologist.</p><p>But between his father’s death, his academic burnout, and his deep (and distracting) love of video games, Dennis can’t endure. He’s kicked out of college. And that’s when things get . . . weird.</p><p>Four adorable―but bossy―angels, straight out of a sappy greeting card, appear and take charge of Dennis’s life. He’s back on track to become a gastroenterologist. But is he living the life he wants?</p><p>Partnered with the deceptively simple, cute art of Thien Pham, Gene Yang has returned to the subject he revolutionized with <i>American Born Chinese</i>. Whimsical and serious by turns, <i>Level Up </i>is a new look at the tale that Yang has made his own: coming of age as an Asian American.</p><p>Gene Luen Yang is the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and is the author of <i>American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints, The Shadow Hero,</i> and <i>Secret Coders</i>. </p><p><b>A <i>New York Times </i>Notable Children's Book (Young Adult) for 2011</b><br><b>A YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults</b><br><b>A YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens</b><br><b>An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Title</b><br><b>A<i> New York Times</i> Notable Children’s Book</b><br><b></b><br>“Deliciously imaginative . . . uproariously funny . . . A book so good, it’s hard not to fall back on reviewers’ clichés.” ―<i>The New York Times</i></p><p>“A manifesto for everyone who's ever wrestled with the expectations of their family, their friends, and their society (and who hasn't?), and it's ultimately both humane and inspiring.” ―Boing Boing</p><p>“A piquant, multilayered coming-of-age fable for the wired generation.” ―<i>Kirkus Reviews</i></p>