Katie Nedved
Book Paper
LIB 530
Title:
Zen and the Art of Faking It
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Pages: 264 Copyright: 2007 Format: hardcover alk. paper
Price: $11.55 at Amazon.com ISBN: 0439837073 Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Topics with in the book: deception, self-identity, stereotypes, moral growth
Awards and dates: 2010 Oregon Battle of the Books nominee, 2010 Young
Reader’s Choice Award nominee
Plot Summary:
San Lee isn’t your typical 8th grader. He finds himself making up an
innovative identity to impress the students at his new school. San pretends to be
a “Zen Master” and starts off every school day by meditating, only wearing
sandals and exclusively responding in ancient Buddhist quotations. Eventually he
has the whole student body curious and even manages to get his own fan club.
The truth is he was adopted from China by two Caucasian parents, his dad is in
prison and the only reason San knows “all things Zen” is because of the public
library. He finds himself getting buried deeper and deeper into a lie and his
behavior reminds him of someone he never wanted to become…his father.
Author Information/Bibliography:
Jordan Sonnenblick was born July 4, 1969 and grew up in Missouri. He
graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York (1987), and then
attended University of Pennsylvania. Before writing young-adult fiction, he taught
8th grade English at Phillipsburg Middle School. Jordan now lives in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania with his wife, son, and daughter. (Wikipedia)
Some other books by this author are “Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie”,
“Notes from the Midnight Driver”, “Dodger and Me” and his latest, “Dodger for
President.” (http://jordansonnenblick.com)
Read Aloud?
Yes, Zen and the Art of Faking It would be an entertaining read aloud for
both male and female middle school students. The first person narrator, San Lee,
adds self-depreciating humor which many teenagers (and adults) can relate to. I
also think the frequent Zen quotes used throughout the novel would be engaging
discussion openers. Here’s an example from page 149:
How shall I grasp it? Do not grasp it. That which remains
when there is no more grasping is the self.” ~Panchadasi
Students can analyze these sayings throughout the novel, share their own
interpretations and then apply it to San Lee and even their own lives. I think it
might be fun to take a classroom through an actual meditation exercise. Part of
the book talk could involve bringing in a Zen Garden for students to
unconsciously rake through and discover what shapes are formed in the sand
while they clear their mind of all other distractions.
Book Discussion Prompts:
 Why is it so hard for San Lee to be himself? What outside influences effect
people to change or lie about their identity?
 On page 28, the “Four Noble Truths that all Buddhists believe” are
described. What is your interpretation of the true meaning behind each?
Rewrite the title, “Four Nobel Truths” and the four guidelines in your own
words. (Example: “Four Things you Need to Know About Life”)
 San says he’s the “only minority kid in whiteville” (pg 67). Have you ever
felt like an outsider based on race, religion, gender or any other reason?
 How are San and Woody’s family life similar? Why does San keep his
father’s past a secret when Woody shares all about her mom?
 What is the significance behind San’s letter to his dad on page 245? Is there
anything you would add or take out from the letter if you were San?
 Pick one Zen saying that is used in this novel. How can you relate the
message to a decision you’ve made in your life?
Booktalk:
The new kid…Buddha boy…Zen Master- 14 year old San Lee was making a
name for himself at yet another new school. He’s seen more school cafeterias
than the lunch lady herself. “The guys are the same: like a show on Animal Planet
without the cuddle factor. The girls are the same: Martians with human
hormones. And the teachers? Please.” (pg 1)
With a convict as a dad and a single mom doing her best to make sure San
turns out OK, you could say he has a lot on his plate. So when he answers a
question completely unknown to the rest of the class about Zen, relating to the
Chinese religion of Buddhism, he has everyone’s undivided attention. I guess
moving constantly does have its benefits, because San already covered Ancient
Religions at his old school. This is a minor detail he accidentally leaves out.
San was adopted from China as an infant and so the conclusion his
classmates come to, as he shares his wealth of information, is that he must be a
Zen Master! Buddha boy knows the art of meditation, the path of enlightenment
and all things Ancient Chinese. Little do they know, he is more American than
McDonald’s French fries. But again, minor detail.
San is making a new name for himself, and beyond that, a new identity.
Can he keep up his Zen faking until the end of the school year? This new town,
new school and new people don’t know anything about his past…so why not
make a new one?
Curriculum links:
Social Studies- Analyze various world religions and which countries predominantly
practice Buddhism. Discuss the different ways religion affects politics, health care,
education and the economy throughout the world.
Language Arts- Keep a journal of the Zen terminology used throughout the novel.
Students can interpret the Ancient Chinese sayings and modernize them in to 21st
Century language.
Math- Calculate the distance San would need to travel in order to actually visit an
authentic Chinese Monk. With a partner, create your own word problem
involving San’s itinerary and the formula Distance = (Rate) (Time).
Art- Research the significance behind the Ying-Yang symbol. Create your own
reflective symbol which portrays a similar meaning.
Music- Examine the art of meditation and what instruments are typically used to
accomplish zazen.
Reading Advisory from this book:
Fitting In
San Lee from “Zen and the Art of Faking It” isn’t the only one who feels out of
place. Read up on some of these other characters who just wish they could be
anyone other than…themselves.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmid
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going
Schooled by Gordon Korman
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass