What is like to be the first generation born in the United States?
Grade: 6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.9: Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.
Gene Luen Yang's Graphic novel is three stories interspersed together. The main story follows Jin Wang- a kid born in the United States to Chinese parents. He lives in a mostly white neighborhood and is just trying to have a normal All American life while staying under the radar.
The graphic novel also gives us the moral story of the over ambitious Monkey King that is trying to prove himself and the hilarious, but uncomfortable story line of Chin-Kee, the over the top Chinese cousin that seems to ruin everything when he visits the U.S.
What are some examples of Jin trying to fit in? Does he always stick to his plan?
What are some of the stereotypes that Chin-Kee represents?
Why do you think the author included the story of the Monkey King?