Iron Dragon Never Sleeps

This is a story of a daughter of a supervisor on the Transcontinental Railroad. She visits him and has an awaking about racism and discrimination towards the Chinese workers.

Focus Questions: The following questions are meant to be read prior to reading each chapter to help the students focus and build comprehension related to central ideas of the text. After reading, students discuss the focus questions for the chapter.

Chapter 1

 What is an iron dragon?

 What do we learn about Winnie and her family?

 Why does Winnie think Chinese workers are brave?

Chapter 2

 Who are the Celestials?

 How does the storekeeper treat the Chinese boy?

Chapter 3

 What surprise does Papa have for Winnie?

 What do the Chinese workers wear?

 How does Winnie feel about Lee Cheng, the boy she met at the store?

Chapter 4

 What is Lee Cheng’s hair like and why does he keep it that way?

 What do the Chinese workers do every night?

Chapter 5

 What does Winnie sketch?

Chapter 6

 What are some of the negative things people say and think about the Chinese people?

 What connections can you make to the novel, Patty Reed’s Doll?  What does Lee teach Winnie?

 What is concerning Winnie and why?

Chapter 7

 What do the Chinese decide to do? Why do you think they do this?

 How much are the Chinese workers paid per month?

 What do the Chinese want?

Chapter 8

 How does Winnie treat Lee? What does she do?

 Why is this morning so special to Lee?

Chapter 9

 What worries Winnie and her mother?

Chapter 10

 What happens to Winnie’s dad? Why?

 How does Winnie feel?

 How do the workers react to solve the problem?

Chapter 11

 What does Winnie learn about the doctor?

 How does Winnie feel about the doctor and why?

 How does Winnie change over the summer?

 What does Winnie learn about Lee’s brother?

 How are Lee and Winnie’s lives different?

 How does Winnie stand up for Lee in the store?

Chapter 12

 What does Lee give Winnie?  How does Winnie and Lee’s friendship change them and better the world?

Afterword

 How did the Chinese people contribute to the building of the railroad?

 How were they treated during and after the completion of the railroad?