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The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito Paperback – Illustrated, August 6, 2019

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

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As a child growing up in Malaysia, Shing Yin Khor had two very different ideas of what "America" meant.

The first looked a lot like Hollywood, full of beautiful people, sunlight, and freeways. The second looked more like The Grapes of Wrath―a nightmare landscape filled with impoverished people, broken-down cars, barren landscapes, and broken dreams.

Follow along on Shing's solo journey (small adventure-dog included) along the iconic Route 66, beginning in Santa Monica and ending up Chicago. What begins as a road trip ends up as something more like a pilgrimage in search of an American landscape that seems forever shifting and forever out of place.

“Just like Shing in real life, The American Dream? is quirky, honest, captivating, and filled with recollections of weird roadside statues.”―Carol L. Tilley, comics historian and information science professor

“Shing Yin Khor’s debut graphic memoir The American Dream? is the critical antidote to the whitewashed narratives of the great American road trip.” ―Kristina Wong, performance artist and activist

“A lovely, deceptively simple road trip memoir that revels in quirky discovery and quiet adventure while grappling with the anger and longing of one immigrant’s experience.” ―Greg Pak, comic book writer

"Khor takes that 'feeling of desperately searching for something better, for a new start,' and adapts it to their own 'pilgrimage' as immigrant and artist traveling historic Route 66 . . . in whimsical full-color detail."―starred, Booklist

"This is a book that will make you want to pack a bag, jump in your car and travel across America."―Geek Mom

A Forbes Best Graphic Novel of 2019

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From the Publisher

california, bear

I love Los Angeles, but there is that other America that has always intrigued me.

motel 66, vacancy, sign, Needles

I've been an American citizen for four years.

old sign, dog, walk the dog, look, road trip

And driving historic Route 66 has always been my dream road trip.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Khor takes that 'feeling of desperately searching for something better, for a new start,' and adapts it to their own 'pilgrimage' as immigrant and artist traveling historic Route 66 . . . in whimsical full-color detail."―starred, Booklist



"This beautiful memoir raises thoughtful questions about what it means to be American."―School Library Journal



"An informative graphic travel journal that offers important perspectives on being an immigrant and American identity."―Kirkus Reviews



"A lovely, deceptively simple road trip memoir that revels in quirky discovery and quiet adventure while grappling with the anger and longing of one immigrant's experience."―Greg Pak, comic book writer



"Just like Shing in real life, The American Dream? is quirky, honest, captivating, and filled with recollections of weird roadside statues."―Carol L. Tilley, comics historian and information science professor at the University of Illinois



"Shing Yin Khor's debut graphic memoir The American Dream? is the critical antidote to the whitewashed narratives of the great American road trip."―Kristina Wong, performance artist and activist

About the Author

Shing Yin Khor is a cartoonist and installation artist. Her work has been published in The Toast, The Nib, Upworthy, Huffington Post, and Bitch Magazine. She makes the road trip adventure comic Tiny Adventure Journal, and the tender queer science fiction comic Center for Otherworld Science. She is also the author of The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito published by Zest Books. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zest Books ™; 1st edition (August 6, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1942186371
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1942186373
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11 - 18 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 970
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 6 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.38 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
61 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's modern take on traveling Route 66. They find the artwork engaging and the watercolors rich with emotion. The text is interesting and presented with truth.

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9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's modern perspective on traveling Route 66. They find it engaging and fun, with graphic illustrations. The book captures the essences of the Route 66 Americana experience while reflecting on how culture has changed.

"...book - from tourist culture to camping & van-life, from roadside attractions to abandoned places, from Cars to cars...." Read more

"Enjoyed her trip and all of the zany touristy roadside “attractions “. Felt her “otherness” strongly...." Read more

"...The author covered some weird and wonderful places along the famous old road, with her cute little dog! The book is a modern blast from the past...." Read more

"Route 66 is arguably the most famous road in the world...." Read more

6 customers mention "Art quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's artwork. They find it engaging and the watercolors are rich with emotion. The text is interesting and the experiences are presented truthfully.

"...The epilogue hit so hard. As always, the art is gorgeous, the colors beautiful, but the reason to read this travel comic is for the story it tells..." Read more

"...The illustrations are adorable - and many of them are also hauntingly beautiful. (Blue Mesa, for example, and the sunset in California.)..." Read more

"...weird and wonderful places along the famous old road, with her cute little dog! The book is a modern blast from the past. Purely delightful!" Read more

"...If you want to see beautiful artwork that showcases small-town America, this book is for you...." Read more

A valuable perspective on the Main Street of America
5 out of 5 stars
A valuable perspective on the Main Street of America
Route 66 is arguably the most famous road in the world. People come from all over to drive the old two-lane highway and experience, "America before it became generic," as author Michael Wallis says.Shing Yin Khor's graphic memoir provides a valuable, easily accessible window into her journey across the country as a young traveler and an immigrant. It can be a quick read if you really want it to be, but there's a lot here that is worth stopping and thinking about.If you want to see Route 66 through fresh eyes, this book is for you. If you want to see beautiful artwork that showcases small-town America, this book is for you. If you want a book that lingers in the mind after you've placed it on the shelf, this book is for you.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019
    I am a huge fan of Shing Yin Khor's art, and this was something very special. I drove part of this path (TX-AZ) in college in the mid 00s,hitting some of these places, and I loved seeing it from her POV, now. The epilogue hit so hard. As always, the art is gorgeous, the colors beautiful, but the reason to read this travel comic is for the story it tells about living in America from the POV of someone who has a wider perspective than the narrow nationalism so many take today. Route 66 does have a lot of Trump territory; seeing it through the eyes of a WOC, who has known other cultures, (and her dog) is important, I think.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2019
    An absolutely delightful travelogue of Route 66. There's a little bit about everything in the U.S. in this book - from tourist culture to camping & van-life, from roadside attractions to abandoned places, from Cars to cars. There's a glimpse into each state along Rt66 and the fabric of friendships that make up a life.

    And there's Bug, the author's most adorable adventure dog.

    The illustrations are adorable - and many of them are also hauntingly beautiful. (Blue Mesa, for example, and the sunset in California.)

    For me, it's a story of what grounds us, what a home is, what a country is. Without the author ever getting sappy or preachy, each page draws us closer to the conclusion: it's the people we surround ourselves with - some fleeting, some long term. It's the places we establish - and abandon. It's looking at the remnants of what's gone before - and continuing to move on. It's keeping individual culture - and exploring the melting pot. It's balancing stability and change together.

    And the love of a good dog. And the best breakfast burrito. Of course.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022
    Enjoyed her trip and all of the zany touristy roadside “attractions “. Felt her “otherness” strongly. I hitch hiked across America in the late 70’s as a Chinese American. I’d be very leery of doing it now.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2020
    I loved this illustrated travelogue about driving Route 66! The art is engaging and the text is interesting. The author covered some weird and wonderful places along the famous old road, with her cute little dog! The book is a modern blast from the past. Purely delightful!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019
    Route 66 is arguably the most famous road in the world. People come from all over to drive the old two-lane highway and experience, "America before it became generic," as author Michael Wallis says.

    Shing Yin Khor's graphic memoir provides a valuable, easily accessible window into her journey across the country as a young traveler and an immigrant. It can be a quick read if you really want it to be, but there's a lot here that is worth stopping and thinking about.

    If you want to see Route 66 through fresh eyes, this book is for you. If you want to see beautiful artwork that showcases small-town America, this book is for you. If you want a book that lingers in the mind after you've placed it on the shelf, this book is for you.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable perspective on the Main Street of America
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019
    Route 66 is arguably the most famous road in the world. People come from all over to drive the old two-lane highway and experience, "America before it became generic," as author Michael Wallis says.

    Shing Yin Khor's graphic memoir provides a valuable, easily accessible window into her journey across the country as a young traveler and an immigrant. It can be a quick read if you really want it to be, but there's a lot here that is worth stopping and thinking about.

    If you want to see Route 66 through fresh eyes, this book is for you. If you want to see beautiful artwork that showcases small-town America, this book is for you. If you want a book that lingers in the mind after you've placed it on the shelf, this book is for you.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019
    Really wonderful view of rt 66 in art, including both historical aspects, and just being a person of color of any kind traveling through some of the south. It's gorgeous and engaging and I really enjoyed it. Will re-read again to enjoy the art.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
    I’m sure glad that I found this book as I enjoyed traveling with Shing and her dog as she made her journey traveling through parts of the United States and her road trip provided for me, some interesting history. Shing Yin Khor has lived in Los Angeles for ten years after having grown up in Malaysia. Although Shing is now an American citizen, Shing feels that she needs to see more of her new country to actually feel like an American and I thought this was an excellent idea. With some preformed images in her head of America, she now wants to experience America personally, she’s ready to step out of her “Los Angeles bubble” and experience a more historical look at America.

    Beginning in California, Shing and her dog Bug, start traveling Route 66 to Illinois. What a fun and brave adventure! She gets lost, she talks about sleeping in her car, she meets up with a biker, she explores a variety of attractions and she meets such a wide variety of individuals. I liked how she provides the brief, interesting facts and commentaries about each of her stops, in the different states that she visits. Her remarks make me want to visit them. She does have her moments where she misses parts of being home but she knows that, she needs this journey. The water-colored illustrations provided just enough color to add to her journey, making this graphic novel an interesting and entertaining read. I read this book as part of the Read for a Better Tomorrow Winter Reading Program Jan 2022. 4 stars
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2019
    I enjoyed reading this modern take on traveling Route 66. Interesting to see an updated perspective. It captures the essences of the Route 66 Americana experience while reflecting on how much the culture has changed. A quick, fun read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report