American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

ABC Definitions:

  1. Stereotype- a common public belief about a specific group/individuals, based on prior assumptions. Stereotypes can be generalizations or assumptions that people make about the characteristics of all members of a group, based on an image (often wrong) about what people in that group are like
  2. Assimilation- to make similar or to be absorbed into a culture. Those who assimilate, or adapt, to the culture they find themselves in.
  3. F.O.B. -fresh off the boat. This is a phrase used to describe immigrants from a foreign nation who have not yet assimilated with their new nation’s language customs.

Chapter 1 (pp. 7-20)

  1. How do the monkeys feel about their king? Identify support for your answer.
  1. What is the significance of the last two panels on page 20?

Journal Entry (on your own paper): At the end of this chapter, the Monkey King is no longer content with his status in life. He faces the reality of his situation—he is a monkey and not a god. Describe a time in your life when you came to a realization about some aspect of your life and you were finally able to see it for what it was (called disillusionment). Describe the effect on you.

Chapter 2 (pp. 23-40)

  1. Explain the lesson in the parable on pages 23 and 24.
  1. Jin does not understand the herbalist’s statement, “It’s easy to become anything you wish. . .so long as you forfeit your soul.” What does she mean by this statement? Answer the question as you’re reading the chapter and AFTER you finish the book.
  1. Why does Jin avoid Suzy?
  1. Identify three instances in which American students and teachers make prejudiced (and, might I add, ignorant) remarks.
  1. What racist game do Peter (the eater) and Jin play? Explain.
  1. Why does Jin eat sandwiches, wear tee-shirts, and refuse to speak Chinese with Wei-Chen?

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Have you ever distanced yourself from someone because you didn’t want to see “uncool”? Has anyone ever done that to you? Explain why and how it felt (or how you feel about it now in retrospect).

Chapter 3 (pp. 43-52) “Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee”

  1. Name at least three Chinese stereotypes found in this chapter.

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Have you ever been stereotyped? Explain. What is the danger of stereotyping others?

Chapter 4 (pp. 55-84)

  1. What is the Monkey King’s motivation for his behavior on pages 55-61?
  1. Why does the Monkey King behave so aggressively towards the Dragon King of the Western Sea, Lao-Tzu, Yama, and the Jade Emperor?
  1. Why have the frames been removed from pages 73-76?
  1. Why does the Monkey King’s punishment fit his “crime”? What crime has he committed?

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Describe negative outcomes in life for anyone who refuses to accept who they are. Are there any positive outcomes? Explain.

Chapter 5 (pp. 87-106)

  1. What do the dotted balloons on pages 91-92 mean? How do you know?
  1. Why does Jin change his hair?
  1. If Wei-Chen had not told Amelia about how Jin became his friend when he first moved to the U.S., do you think Amelia would have become interested in Jin? Why or why not?

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Have you ever considered changing yourself for others? Explain.

Chapter 6 (pp. 106-130)

  1. Why do the words “clap” and “haha” appear at the bottom of some of the boxes in this Chin-kee chapters?
  1. Name other Chinese stereotypes in this chapter.
  1. Describe Danny’s behavior towards his cousin in this chapter.

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Can you think of any friends or family members (or even acquaintances) you behave differently around (or want to behave differently around)? Explain the circumstances.

Chapter 7 (pp. 133-160)

  1. How is the Monkey King freed from his “prison”? Who freed him? What is the significance?
  1. Why is it important that the Monkey King leaves his shoes behind at the end of this chapter?

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Describe a time you accepted some aspect of yourself.

Chapter 8 (pp. 163-198)

  1. What is the purpose of the story about Jin’s parents’ marriage at the beginning of this chapter?
  1. What incident brings Jin back to reality? What does Greg (kid with blonde hair) mean when he says, “I just want to make sure she makes good choices, you know?”
  1. Why is Suzy upset? Describe what happens between Suzy and Jin and explain why.
  1. Why do the < > brackets surround Wei-Chen’s response to the incident between Jin and Suzy? Why does Jin respond without the brackets?
  1. Explain Jin’s dream (relate it to the question 2 in chapter 2) and his new identity. Who is Danny and how is he related to the Chin-kee story? Why is thisan important discovery?

Chapter 9 (pp.201-233)

  1. Why does Danny start a fight with Chin-Kee?
  1. Who wins the fight? Defend your answer.
  1. What does the Monkey King imply Jin lost over the course of the years (think about the herbalist’s words)?
  1. How do the scenes on page 226 show/reflect just how much Jin has lost of his soul?
  1. What single act caused Wei-Chen to fail his test and why did he commit the act?
  1. As Wei-Chen abandons his job as an emissary, what evaluation does he make of human beings?
  1. Explain how Wei-Chen has changed since the last time we saw him.

Analysis

  1. What does the Monkey King (and other characters who undergo transformations) learn from his experience as a whole?
  1. What is the universal theme of the book? Why do you feel this way?

Part II. Match the quote to the speaker. Each speaker may be used more than once or not at all!

  1. “Why cousin Da-Nee bling me to school so rate?”
  2. “I’m nothing like him. I don’t even know how we are related!”
  3. “Sorry, Jin, please say again? Suzy and I were looking at each other with eyes of love.”
  4. “I just flew through the boundaries of reality itself, and where was your ever-present reach?”
  5. “I shall now be called The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.”
  6. “What?! No, No! She’s like a sister to me! We’ve known each other since, like preschool or something….She just needs to make better choices.”
  7. “I will spend the remainder of my days in the mortal world using it for my pleasure…the humans are soulless.”
  8. “Walk with me…Leave your shoes behind.”
  9. “I don’t know, Jin. I think we should just be friends.”

Journal Entry (on your own paper): Write a journal response. Do you think it’s possible to try to fit in with others and not lose who you are or where you came from? Provide an example to prove your point.

Written Response: See Mrs. Riddick to pick up the Gene Yang interview on stereotypes from 2007. After reading the article and reviewing the cartoon below, write a paragraph explaining your opinions on Chin-Kee and how you responded to his character when you were first introduced to him in the novel. Did you find him funny or were you offended by his actions and what he stood for?

(Uncle Sam Visits a Chinese Restaurant): This is the controversial cartoon by Pat Oliphant that gave Yang his inspiration. The high school Chin- Kee attends is named after this cartoonist and a direct quote from this cartoon is used on page 114.