Coyote and the Pebbles

Question: Why do the animals dislike the coyote so much for being late? Why don't they save him a spot in the sky? Why do the animals all leave without the coyote because he was running a little bit late? Should the coyote even have went to throw the pebbles into the sky if he is a day and night creature?

Comment: I think that the idea of the animals throwing pebbles at the sky is great and imaginative. The comic is really creative in having the animals throw pebbles to make their own portrait in the sky for brighter nights. Since the animals don't know any better they don't realize that what they are searching for is already there, the stars. I think it is very interesting that each animal is able to turn itself into human form and back to animal form at their own will. The illustrations portray the characters with so many emotions that I find it almost intriguing. 

Critique: I don't like that the coyote is conceited where in the poem he claims to be the "greatest in the world." I wonder why he feels the need to have the biggest portrait of them all. That makes us wonder why can't the other animals have the greatest and biggest sky portraits. Another thing I do not like is that when all is said and done and the wall of mystery announces that the animals won't be receiving more light at night, they once again blame the coyote for their unfortunate news.

American Born Chinese

Question: Why do the children in "American Born Chinese" act as if they've never seen an Asian person before? Do Asian people not exist in that part of America? Why doesn't the teacher try to stop the children or discipline them when they claim that Jin Wang eats dogs?

Comment: When the new foreign exchange student arrives to the elementary school, Jin Wang brushes him off and leaves him feeling uncomfortable. I thought that Jin would be the first child to be understanding of an exchange student and become friends with him immediately. The boy approaches Jin Wang assuming since they are both Chinese, that they would be able to speak to one another in their native language perhaps since the boy has trouble speaking in English. Jin Wang eventually begins to act friendly with the boy but I can't help but to wonder what clicked in his head.

Critique: The point that the author is trying to get across is that Jin Wang is lonely and that he can not find friends. I don't like that he becomes friends with one of the bullies. Since the bullies are constantly picking on him, becoming friends with one of them would make things worse as the author portrays throughout the illustrations in the comics. I think the author is sending a mixed message to the viewers of this comic. He shows the bullies making fun of Jing and then he shows Jin becoming friends with the bully and the bullying basically continues. I think that Jin becoming friends with the bully sends the message to kids reading it that its okay to become friends with the bullies and support the bullies when it actually isn't.