Lan is never given a definite ethnicity, race, gender, or other identity beyond “human” in We’re Not From Here. How did you picture Lan? What elements of Lan’s personality led you to picture Lan that way? Do you think your perception of Lan or the story would have been different if you’d had more information about Lan? Why or why not? Why do you think Rodkey chose not to give Lan identifying characteristics?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may not have noticed the lack of Lan’s identifying characteristics, and answers may vary depending on whether they were aware of Lan’s unspecified identity. If students insist that Lan is a specific identity, ask if they can cite details from the text.

Differentiation Suggestion: Visual learners might draw what they imagine Lan looks like. These depictions can generate discussion in much the same way an oral or written response to the prompt would.