The Year of the Dog

Although Becky is a minor character, her words have a significant impact on Pacy. Examine when and how Becky appears and determine her purpose in the narrative. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis.

Analyze the conversation between Melody and Pacy about the lack of representation of Chinese people in film and books. After watching this brief video from PBS NewsHour, exploring the We Need Diverse Books website, and considering Pacy’s comments on pages 71-72, evaluate the effects of media representation (and misrepresentation) on a person’s identity.

Throughout her story, Pacy experiences seemingly small instances in which she feels like she does not belong. These moments are often labelled as microaggressions. Learn about microaggressions and examine the impact that such incidents might have on a person.

A bildungsroman is a coming-of-age story in which a young person, like Pacy, learns important life lessons on the road to maturity. Throughout the novel, many people contribute to Pacy’s growth. Examine two characters other than Pacy’s mother and determine their impact on Pacy’s development. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis.

Pacy shares her family’s traditions for the Chinese New Year. Read more about food, music, and other aspects of the celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. How does this background information enhance your understanding of Grace Lin’s novel?

Throughout the Year of the Dog, Pacy experiences several transformative moments. Identify and analyze at least two events that affect her understanding of her identity.

Most longer narratives contain multiple conflicts, but the protagonist often grapples with one overarching problem. What is Pacy’s main conflict, and how does she attempt to resolve this conflict?

Lin’s artwork adds depth to Pacy’s story. Select three different images in the novel and analyze their significance to the narrative. Why do you think the author chose to include them? What do they add to the story? Consider characterization, theme, symbolism, and tone.