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In your response, share:

1. Respond to all columns in this activity Padlet with as many impressions as you can manage.

2. For EACH impression, pick out one or more quotes from the book to support your view.

3. Explain why you formed that impression of Ah Guan.

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Ah Guan was very distant and unfamiliar from Lizhi initially. p Pg 36 - He will usually observe from the distance.

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My first impression of Ah Guan was that he was a stern and authoritative figure. He seemed to come across as someone who carried the weight of the responsibility of the family/the land. He seemed to be someone who’s rooted in tradition and intimidating at first.

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Friendly & willing to entertain LiZhi - “you can call me Grandpa” pg 53

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There were more complexities because his actions/motivations peeled several other layers. Beneath his stern and commanding exterior, he comes across as a person who is caring and loyal.

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connecting the past to present. telling Lizhi that her father loved the mangrove swamps too. Showing the fact that Li Zhi's father was dear to Ah Guan. Plays a nurturing grandfather role

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In Chapter 9, Ah Guan brought Lizhi to have Singapore food, reflecting his attempts to make more connections with Lizhi.

Pg 72 - "Next time, you will have to stay longer".

This reflects Ah Guan's wish to spend more time with Lizhi.

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Ah Guan is loyal to both his family/heritage. Despite his harsh actions, he shows a desire to protect what he believe is important. Like the mangrove swamp, Ah Guan is resilient and grounded. He is someone with hidden complexities.

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Lizhi felt safe with Ah Guan. he has built the trust with Lizhi. She could confide in Ah Guan and they had build a bond.

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It conveys how first impressions can be misleading and the importance of taking time to understand a person’s background/motivations. It helps to peel several layers behind a character to reveal deeper truths. As we explore the depth of Ah Guan’s character, we are able to understand and appreciate the main themes in the story- family/ identity/ burdens of responsibility.

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Don't judge a book by its cover. Perhaps it was important to read on to see the change in Ah Guan's character as the story unfolds.

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Wise and caring, someone who wants to impart the same knowledge he did with Michael, curious about LiZhi & Michael’s relationship - pg 58,

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In the ending, Ah Guan stood by his values and went against Aunt Moana.

His actions reflect his personal growth and resilience, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's values even in the face of opposition.

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“How do you think you should treat your elders”
“Thank you for making my son happy”
“Why did you say that you hated your grandfather”
Pages 101 - 103

Family-oriented, where he always believed in uniting the family but could not when aunt Mona took over,
Protective - always looking out for LiZhi & Michael’s wife in his subtle ways

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It highlights the need for why Ah Guan was distant but friendly at the beginning, behaved as an outsider when LiZhi first arrived. He took the time to understand the events that unfolded and when the time was right, took the stand against Aunt Mona to protect his grandchild, daughter in law and by extension his late son as well. It shows his strong familial ties to Michael and his family that he wanted to have had but was not able to due to Aunt Mona’s manipulation. It allows me to understand the decisions made by Ah Guan better.