American Born Chinese

The author’s use of American colloquialisms contrasts with the formal speaking manner of Tze-Yo-Tzuh, the creator of the universe. How does language help develop the characterization of different individuals in the novel?

Select three Asian stereotypes embodied by the character of Chin-Kee and break down the offensive nature of each one in detail. Explain why each stereotype is damaging to people of Asian heritage using evidence from the novel to support your response.

The term ‘ally’ is used in diversity and inclusion work, and it describes individuals who use their privilege to fight oppression. Do any characters in American Born Chinese meet this description? Explain.

Analyze the title of the novel. For some, the term American-born Chinese is pejorative, while for others, it is an emblem of pride. Examine and explore the complexity of the title, researching the term if necessary and considering it from the points of view of Jin and Wei-Chen.

Yang incorporates characters like the Monkey King from Chinese mythology into the story line. Research the myth of the Monkey King and identify parallels between the traditional story and Yang’s novel.

Select a series of panels from the novel to analyze. Examine the author’s use of color, line, and lettering. How does the author use graphics to communicate his message, and what message do you think is foremost in his mind?

The Transformer franchise, a real-life franchise involving toys, television shows, and comic books, adopted a tagline that reads “more than meets the eye.” How can this tagline be understood as a theme of the novel? Support your response with evidence from the novel.

In section 2, Jin explains that his classmates believe that he and Suzy are related. How does this assumption reveal discriminatory attitudes on the part of Jin and Suzy’s classmates?