Customer Reviews

An American Face

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My adopted Caucasian son, raised in a family where he was a minority among 8 Asian-born adoptees, believed for a long time that if he ate enough "pop" (rice), he would "be Chinese" when he grew up. His faith was unshakable. Being different from his siblings in his family was difficult for him. He turned 21 last week, and despite having eaten rice every day, his "American Face" hasn't changed. Jesse, the 5-year-old hero in Jan Czech's story struggles with being different from his family and peers. For Jesse, it's not rice, but becoming an American citizen that might change everything for him. It doesn't, of course. It's important for adults to be able to remember back to the days when the most important thing in life was SAMENESS above all else. Individuality came later. Jan Czech's poignant book reminds us all of that. While the unconditional acceptance and love of adoptive parents may make us temporarily color blind, this simple story book is a good reminder that the rest of the world is not thus blinded. It's a good lesson for us all.

I read the review that thought that the language of Jan Czech's book was inappropriate. Then I read the other reviews that said that Jan Czech's book was helpful. After reading "An American Face" I have learned the perspective that Ms. Czech was coming from. I don't think that Jan Czech's intentions were to promote children to tease others who are different. But the words of "slanted eyes" and "flat nose" are not inappropriate words. They are descriptions, if you were to look in the mirror how would you describe your face? It's not hard right? Now take those descriptions and try to make them politically correct so that no teasing by children can be made. It's hard, isn't it? Jan Czech is trying to show children, of different races, that no two people look alike.(NOT EVEN TWINS! there is always something different.) Through this book, Jan is showing adults and children that the people of America don't ALL have "AMERICAN FACES", no one does. Can you tell me EXACTLY what an "AMERICAN FACE" looks like? No. It's not possible, there is no one description. You can't say white, black, or tan with big, small, or medium eyes, with a big, small or medium nose, with small, medium or large lips, with small ears or large ears, with blonde, blue, green, brown, black red, or purple hair, with white or yellow teeth, with straight or crooked teeth. Jan is trying to show that through this book. Jan Czech is describing the character in the story the best way she knows how. So how can that be inappropriate, if no one in America can honestly say what a TRUE "AMERICAN FACE" looks like?! Children get teased when they are young. No one can protect them from that. Not even their parents. Jan's book is trying to show people that just because they are "different" doesn't mean that they are not apart of America.

"So What Now?" - Well, now - you have identified the problems that children 'who are different' face. This book may not illustrate Jessie's way to handle these problems, but unfortunately there is no ONE correct way to handle any of the conflicts Jessie faces. As an adopted Korean, I KNOW that each one of those situations are hard to deal with when you are "different". But, NOW is when you show your children that "Yes, this could happen" BUT "remember that you ARE NOT any different from other children in Nationality - YOU ARE AMERICAN." For Parents - REMEMBER: America has never been one ethnicity or another. We are built on DIVERSITY. We must NEVER let children believe that they are inferior. Being conformed to a particular way of life, is NO life to live UNLESS we have something DIFFERENT to SHARE with others. "Similarities in interests CREATES friendships, Differences in Culture holds them together."
Jessie's struggle is hard to deal with as a child and a parent but his struggle is a reality. There is no one way to tell a child how to handle any of those conflicts. The ONLY thing a parent of an adopted child can do - IS SUPPORT YOUR CHILD, BE THERE FOR HIM/HER, AND REASSURE HIM/HER THAT BEING DIFFERENT IS GOOD.

This is a poignant celebration of America's melting pot. I confess to feeling worried for Jessie, wondering what his reaction will be to discovering he doesn't get a new, "American Face," but Jan Czech's ending is both uplifting and highly satisfying.

I recommend this book to both adoptive families and all families interested in discussing the issue of diversity within our community.

I was very touched by An American Face by Jan Czech. This is a story every kid in America should hear or read. It draws the reader right into the world of a Korean boy adopted by a white family. Great for promoting understanding and acceptance between kids, and even adults. Very tenderly makes the point that we are all much more the same than we are different. Great pictures, too!

Reading this with my own adopted Korean daughter, I was pleased that Mrs. Czech addresses the issue of what it means to belong to a family and to a culture. This small volume easily captures a small child's confusion about who belongs where, and for what reasons. The drawings are gentle yet definite, and my little girl adores looking at the book time after time. The lesson of the wrongness of prejudice and the rightness of inclusion is made with power and kindness.

This book disappointed me by not showing children how to deal with mean or disappointing situations. The problem is Jessie's - he has to forget about the women in the store and the child on the playground who make him feel bad.

I can see that it would interrupt the flow of the story, but I still wish the coach would have stepped in to say something to the boy who doesn't like "the way you look." It seems Jessie is just supposed to get over it.

The book is good at introducing and affirming diversity, but lacks in teaching coping skills to children who are different in some way.

I was very disappointed to see this book use the very same stereotypes that one would hope we would be working toward eliminating. I was hopeful that this book would be helpful to bring to my child's classroom to use in a discussion of her upcoming citizenship, but found the the classic and inaccurate depictions of her facial structure that we would like other children not to use in teasing Asian children as passed on in this story. If I chose to read this to my daughter's classmates, I would actually be giving them inproper terms that they do not use today.

I purchased this book to use as a "Story for All Ages" at a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship service. The theme of the service was immigration. At this time many states are enacting laws that encourage racial profiling. This book offers a somewhat subtle but powerful message in oposition to the policy.

Ms. Czech has written a touching story, and Frances Clancy's illustrations are excellent. The young boy's point of view is expressed in a pure and innocent way and is handled with genuine care by the author. If you have adopted a child from another country, or know someone who has, this book is a must have.