American Born Chinese Character Analysis

Jin Wang/Danny

The novel’s protagonist. Jin is a Chinese American boy whose mother and father emigrated from China to San Francisco’s Chinatown, where Jin is born. Jin spends most of his childhood playing with his Transformer toys… read analysis of Jin Wang/Danny

The Monkey King/Chin-Kee

The Monkey King is a deity who rules over monkeys on Flower-Fruit Mountain in the world created by Tze-Yo-Tzuh. The Monkey King knows many disciplines of kung-fu. He’s a kind leader, and is very… read analysis of The Monkey King/Chin-Kee

Wei-Chen Sun

A Taiwanese boy who moves to Jin’s neighborhood when they’re in fifth grade. He wears sweatpants, a collared robot shirt, and large, thick glasses when he’s in elementary school. Though Jin is initially cold… read analysis of Wei-Chen Sun

Tze-Yo-Tzuh

The creator of the world in the Monkey King’s story. He’s a tall individual who takes the form of a human, with red flowing robes, long hair and beard, and a tall curved staff… read analysis of Tze-Yo-Tzuh

Wong Lai-Tsao

A monk who, according to the narrator, isn’t special in any notable way—he can’t meditate for more than 20 minutes or fast for more than half a day. He does, however, devote himself to Tze-Yo-Tzuh… read analysis of Wong Lai-Tsao

Amelia Harris

A blond girl who goes to school with Jin beginning in third grade, but whom Jin only begins to take notice of her when they’re in seventh grade. Amelia wears overalls over a tank top… read analysis of Amelia Harris

Greg

A blond boy with curly hair in Jin’s class. When Jin first moves to the suburbs, Greg stands up for Jin when Timmy taunts and harasses him, and though Greg seems potentially interested in… read analysis of Greg

Suzy Nakamura

The only other Asian student in Jin’s elementary school before Wei-Chen arrives from Taiwan. Suzy is Japanese American and wears high-waisted pants and a striped shirt. At first, she and Jin ignore each other… read analysis of Suzy Nakamura

Melanie

One of Danny’s classmates and his crush. She’s a beautiful, busty white girl who, even from the very beginning, seems far more interested in studying with Danny than she does in being romantic with… read analysis of Melanie

The Herbalist’s Wife

While Jin still lives in San Francisco, he spends an afternoon every weekend with his mother at the herbalist’s shop, sitting in the front with the herbalist’s wife. The herbalist’s wife is an ancient woman… read analysis of The Herbalist’s Wife

Ao-Kuang

The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. In the Monkey King’s story, Ao-Kuang is a fearsome god who is tasked with executing the Monkey King for trespassing upon Heaven. He’s self-assured, as well as… read analysis of Ao-Kuang

Peter Garbinsky

A boy at Jin’s elementary school who’s a year older than Jin. He’s hulking, unpopular, and a bully, known to many as “Peter the Eater” due to his habit of picking his nose and… read analysis of Peter Garbinsky

Jin’s Mother

A librarian who emigrated from China during graduate school and met and married Jin’s father the year after. Jin’s mother prizes education and work ethic over anything else: she was attracted to Jin’s father… read analysis of Jin’s Mother

Steve

A student and basketball player at Danny’s high school. He’s older than Danny and is somewhat overweight, but he’s a happy, good-humored, and confident student. Steve seems to take genuine interest in both Danny… read analysis of Steve

Jin’s Father

An engineer who emigrated from China during graduate school. He wears thick glasses and, according to Jin’s mother, has an impressive work ethic—which made him a desirable partner for her. He and his… read analysis of Jin’s Father

The Emissaries of Tze-Yo-Tzuh

Tze-Yo-Tzuh’s emissaries are the lion, the ox, the human, and the eagle. They function primarily as a group and have few defining characteristics as individuals aside from their differing forms. They take the form… read analysis of The Emissaries of Tze-Yo-Tzuh

Mrs. Greeder

Jin’s third grade teacher. Though Mrs. Greeder makes an attempt to defend Jin from a classmate’s racist remark, she behaves in unwittingly racist ways herself when she mispronounces Jin’s name and believes that since… read analysis of Mrs. Greeder

Charlie

Jin’s older cousin. Years ago, Charlie shared that the only way to get around their Chinese parents’ unwillingness to buy their sons deodorant is to use powdered soap from a public restroom on their… read analysis of Charlie

Minor Characters

Lao-Tzu

In the Monkey King’s story, Lao-Tzu is the patron of immortality. Like many others, he laughs when the Monkey King announces his new name, but he stops laughing when the Monkey King transforms into a monkey dragon and scares him.

Yama

The caretaker of the underworld in the Monkey King’s story. He laughs when the Monkey King visits to announce his new name, but changes his tune when the Monkey King clones himself to terrorize Yama.

The Jade Emperor

The ruler of the celestials in Heaven. He laughs and points when the Monkey King announces his new name, but when the Monkey King stabs him in the face with his new cudgel, he goes along with the Monkey King’s demands.

Timmy

A hulking, racist classmate of Jin’s. He bullies everyone no matter their race or sex; he sexually taunts Amelia in addition to bullying Jin about Chinese people eating dogs. Timmy often hangs out with Greg.

Chi Dao

An ancient monk who achieved legendary status by meditating until he turned to stone.

Jing Sze

An ancient monk who achieved legendary status by fasting for 14 months and smirking at Death for several of his final months.

Jiang Tao

An ancient monk who achieved legendary status through his sermons, which were eloquent enough to make even the bamboo weep and want to repent.

Mr. Graham

Jin’s seventh grade science teacher.