American Born Chinese

Sections 1-3

Reading Check

1. Lightning, thunder, hyperactive senses, and quick traveling abilities (Section 1)

2. Because he is not wearing shoes (Section 1)

3. A robot that can transform into a monkey (Section 2)

Short Answer

1. Jin tells the herbalist that he wants to be a “transformer” when he grows up. The herbalist responds with a “secret”: “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul.” (Section 2)

2. Peter is Jin’s first “friend” at Mayflower Elementary School, but their friendship consists of bullying and toxic games, instead of kindness and respect. (Section 2)

3. “Chin-Kee” is Danny’s cousin. Danny is horrified and speechless when he sees him right as he is about to ask out a girl. “Chin-Kee” is represented in a racist and stereotypical manner with large teeth, yellow skin, closed and slanted eyes, wearing traditional Chinese garb, and speaking in broken English. In contrast, Danny is represented as a wholesome “all American” teenager. (Section 3)

Sections 4-6

Reading Check

1. “All monkeys must wear shoes.” (Section 4)

2. “The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven” (Section 4)

3. He urinates in Steve’s Coke can. (Section 6)

4. She says that they are better as friends. (Section 6)

Short Answer

1. The Monkey King informs his people that he cannot be disturbed. He dedicates himself to studying kung-fu, meditating, and pursuing the “four major disciplines of invulnerability” (i.e., fire, cold, drowning, and wounds) and the “four major disciplines of bodily form” (i.e., giant, miniature, “hair-into-clones,” shape shift). (Section 4)

2. Tze-Yo-Tzuh is the creator deity who informs The Great Sage that no matter how hard he tries to deny it, he is a monkey. The Great Sage attempts to escape, flying to the boundaries of the universe, where he carves his name and urinates on the five golden pillars, only to realize those pillars were the hands of Tze-Yo-Tzuh. Due to The Great Sage’s insolence, Tze-Yo-Tzuh buries him under rocks for 500 years. (Section 4)

3. Amelia Harris is a girl in Jin’s seventh-grade class. He realizes that he has a crush on her after she takes off her sweater in class, and he confesses his feelings to Wei-Chen one month later. (Section 5)

4. While volunteering for biology class, Wei-Chen and Amelia get locked in a closet. Here, Wei-Chen speaks on Jin’s behalf, and when Jin finds the pair, Amelia agrees to hang out with him. (Section 5)

5. Danny admits to Steve it is really hard for him to make friends since he has to change schools every time “Chin-Kee” visits. Steve promises to help Danny out and make sure he does not get teased because of “Chin-Kee.” (Section 6)

Sections 7-9

Reading Check

1. Release the kung-fu (Section 7)

2. Roast and eat him for dinner (Section 7)

3. Shoes (Section 7)

4. Because “he had the thickest glasses” (Section 8)

5. A white teenager that he decides to call “Danny” (Section 8)

6. Chinese food dishes (Section 9)

Short Answer

1. Wong Lai-Tsao is the fourth, and seemingly most unremarkable, of the four monks who had achieved legendary status. His acts of kindness and humility lead him to be chosen for a special mission by Tze-Yo-Tzuh and, in order to fulfill this mission, he must find his disciples, the first of which is the Monkey King. (Section 7)

2. After mustering up the confidence, Jin puts his arm around Amelia on their date at the movie theater; however, he realized that since his parents had not bought him deodorant, he should wash his armpits in the bathroom first. After the movie, he is horrified to see that there are soap bubbles on Amelia’s shoulder, and he is worried she noticed. (Section 8)

3. Danny’s final punch blows the head off of Chin-Kee, revealing him to be the Monkey King in disguise. The Monkey King reveals that Wei-Chen is his son, who is being tested for virtue by living in the mortal world for 40 years. After Wei-Chen decided to abandon his testing and live in the mortal world, the Monkey King began to disguise himself as “Chin-Kee” to visit his son. (Section 9)

4. As the Monkey King returns to heaven, he leaves a business card for the 490 Bakery and Restaurant. Jin goes there every night with the hopes of running into Wei-Chen. (Section 9)

5. After one month of waiting, Wei-Chen finally shows up at the restaurant, driving a fancy car, smoking, and wearing trendier clothes. Jin says he spoke to Wei-Chen’s father and the two begin to talk. The final graphic of the novel is the pair sitting in the cafe and talking. (Section 9)