Gene Luen Yang is an author, cartoonist, teacher and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature (2016- 2017). Yang is a two-time National Book Award Finalist and an Eisner Award winner. His work includes “American Born Chinese,” the “Secret Coders” series with Mike Holmes, Nickelodeon’s “Avatar the Last Airbender” series and DC Universe Superman comics. His latest graphic novel, “Dragon Hoops” (First Second), weaves together basketball, Gene’s life as a high school teacher and themes of identity and anxiety. The book chronicles his year observing his school’s basketball team as they seek the state championship. Yang recalls, “As I was following the team, I was struck by the courage of the coaches and especially the players.”
Watch Video