The Boy Who Became a Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story

by Jim Di Bartolo, Jim Di Bartolo (Illustrator)

Overview

The astonishing story of martial arts legend Bruce Lee . . . told in spectacular graphic form.

Bruce Lee was born on November 27, 1940 - in both the hour and the year of the dragon. Almost immediately, he was plunged into conflict: as a child in Hong Kong as it was invaded and occupied by the Japanese; as the object of discrimination and bullying; and as a teenager grappling against the influence of gangs.

As the world knows, Lee found his salvation and calling through kung fu - first as a student, then as a teacher, and finally as a global star. The Boy Who Became a Dragon tells his story in brilliant comic form.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338134117
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/04/2020
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	662,010
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jim Di Bartolo is a mixed-media illustrator, painter, and visual storyteller. In his freelance career he has illustrated novels, comic books, and role-playing games. He and his wife, the author Laini Taylor, have collaborated on several books, and their most recent joint effort, Lips Touch: Three Times, was a National Book Award finalist. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and their daughter, and can be found online at jimdibartolo.com. Chances are, he probably could use more sleep.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Boy Who Became a Dragon: "Reminiscent of Lee's kung fu movies, Di Bartolo's bold artwork portrays dramatic fight sequences and expressive characters. Recurring images of a dragon that helps Lee focus are a refrain, and add an epic, otherwordly quality." — School Library Journal "An ambitious graphic novel...Di Bartolo paints colorful, realistically stiled panels, his account of Lee's early life laced with frequent allusions to the Chinese zodiac." — Kirkus Reviews"Visual highlights include several intricate martial arts displays and gorgeous, painterly spreads that focus on the films that turned Lee into an indelible part of world culture." — Booklist"If you are looking for a high quality graphic novel biography, then look no further...the illustrations and plot work seamlessly and realistically together to tell Bruce Lee's life story." — School Library Connection

From the Publisher

12/01/2019

Gr 4–8—This laudatory graphic biography follows actor and martial artist Bruce Lee from his tumultuous childhood to his death at age 32. Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 (the Year of the Dragon) while his father, an actor and Cantonese opera star, was touring America; they returned to Hong Kong three months later. Soon after, the Japanese invaded Hong Kong and Lee's father agreed to use his fame to help Japan, safeguarding the family but leaving young Bruce vulnerable to bullying by those who considered the Lees traitors. Lee followed in his father's footsteps, acting in films as a child, but disappointed his family by responding to disputes with violent street fighting. Studying kung fu taught him discipline, and, at 17, he moved to the United States, where he attended college, developed his own style of martial arts, and became an influential film star. Reminiscent of Lee's kung fu movies, Di Bartolo's bold artwork portrays dramatic fight sequences and expressive characters. Recurring images of a dragon that helps Lee focus are a refrain, and add an epic, otherworldly quality to an otherwise straightforward biography. When there are conflicting accounts, like an infamous duel between Lee and martial artist and teacher Wong Jack Man, Di Bartolo depicts Lee's version of the story, or the one that presents him in the best light, without acknowledging that there might be another side. VERDICT Readers will appreciate this admiring account of the film and kung fu legend, but should seek out additional sources for a more nuanced portrait of Lee.—Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

School Library Journal

2019-10-23
An ambitious graphic novel takes on the life of Chinese American star Bruce Lee.

A twisting red dragon looms over the Golden Gate Bridge to mark Bruce Lee's birth in San Francisco in 1940 before his family returns to Hong Kong soon after. Di Bartolo paints colorful, realistically styled panels, his account of Lee's early life laced with frequent allusions to the Chinese zodiac. Concise narration and dialogue chronicle Lee's experiences growing up in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation and his many street fights as an adolescent. He also has an early movie career and eventually studies Wing Chun Kung Fu under revered master Yip Man. A brief overview covers his adult life in Seattle and Oakland before Lee lands his first movie deal. Here Di Bartolo relates the storied fight between an adult Lee and martial artist Wong Jack Man in Oakland. It unfolds like a scene from a kung fu movie, initiated by racial tension, but is a cinematic if oft-retold departure from the less-dramatic reality of a combination of Lee's confrontational personality, several messages about a challenge, and weeks of planning. While readers may gain insight to the early years of the martial artist, this artistic liberty adds dramatic flair but flattens the complexity of Lee's character.

An entertaining but not entirely faithful account of the movie legend. (Graphic biography. 11-14)

Kirkus Reviews