{"id":38327,"date":"2020-09-09T23:12:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T03:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38327"},"modified":"2020-09-09T23:14:30","modified_gmt":"2020-09-10T03:14:30","slug":"review-of-superman-smashes-the-klan-by-gene-luen-yang-art-by-gurihiru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38327","title":{"rendered":"Review of Superman Smashes the Klan, by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Superman Smashes the Klan<\/em><\/p>\n

by Gene Luen Yang
\nart by Gurihiru
\nlettering by Janice Chiang<\/p>\n

DC Comics, 2020, 240 pages.
\nReview written September 5, 2020, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

This fabulous graphic novel is based on a story told on the radio in the 1940s, and it\u2019s wonderfully timely today. A Chinese family has moved to Metropolis. The older brother plays baseball and is welcomed on the neighborhood team at the \u201cUnity Center,\u201d sponsored by a priest, a pastor, and a rabbi. The younger sister, Roberta, misses their home in Chinatown.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a group that doesn\u2019t want a Chinese family to move into their neighborhood \u2013 the Klan of the Fiery Kross \u2013 and they burn on cross on the Lees front lawn that night.<\/p>\n

And you know what happens, because it\u2019s in the title \u2013 Superman smashes the Klan! But along the way there\u2019s plenty of danger and mixed loyalties and evil plots, and the kids get to ride with Superman as he \u2013 leaps. That\u2019s right \u2013 Superman didn\u2019t yet realize he could fly. In this book, Superman comes to terms with who he is, and that he, too, is an alien, even though his skin is white. And he learns to use more of his powers.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite parts was a flashback to a time when teenager Clark Kent went to the circus with Lana Lang. Clark notices that the Strongman is the same guy who took their tickets. Their conversation goes like this:<\/p>\n

What? No! That guy was bald! This guy\u2019s got longer hair than mine!<\/p>\n

Lana, he\u2019s clearly wearing a wig!<\/p>\n

Well. . . It\u2019s not just that. Look at the way he carries himself! And that costume!<\/p>\n

You like his costume?! He\u2019s wearing his underwear on the outside!<\/p>\n

Yeah, but he makes it work somehow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Later the Strongman advises Clark, “The more colorful the costume, the better.”<\/p>\n

It\u2019s nice seeing Superman defeat bad guys who are still with us today.<\/p>\n

The Grand Hornet of the Klan tells Superman that nothing binds us to people who don\u2019t share our blood or our history. Superman responds by saying that we are bound together by the future. \u201cWe all share the same tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

That’s right, Superman! Speak up for what’s right!<\/p>\n

geneyang.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/superman_smashes_the_klan.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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