El Chino
By: Allen Say
Bong Way Wong, also known as Billy, was a Chinese boy that was born in Arizona. All Billy wanted to do was play basketball, but he was too short and there were not any famous Chinese athletes. One year, Billy went on vacation to Spain. There, he fell in love with bullfighting. When he saw the matador, he was impressed because the Spaniard was shorter than he was. He called his family and said that he was not coming home, but instead he was going to school to become a matador. He was excelled at this sport, just like he did at basketball. But again, people doubted him because he was Chinese and not Spanish. The ranchers turned him down, time and time again because of his ethnicity. He decided not to give up, though, He bought a Chinese costume, and when he put in on he felt empowered as he walked down the street, and people began to call him "El Chino." Then, he went to another ranch, and this time he was hired as a matador. Due to Billy's perseverance and dedication, he became the first Chinese matador.
I would use this book in my classroom to discuss the importance of perseverance. I would lead the students in a discussion about how Billy continued to reach for his dreams, despite being told that he was not good enough or that he would never succeed. Even though Billy did not have his family's support and was told "no" numerous times, he kept trying and trying, eventually becoming the first Chinese matador. After this discussion, I would have the students write in their journals detailing a time when they were able to accomplish something that others believed would not happen. This assignment requires the students to make connections with the text and engage in reflective thinking, two things that promote comprehension.
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