Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Lau Po

Lau Po is an old man who plays chess at the playground near Waverly's apartment and teaches her the rules and mysteries of the game. We actually don't know much about him—Waverly doesn't even tell us what he looks like, just that he's old—but she goes into great detail about how much she learns from him and how long he spends teaching her (32). Without Lau Po, Waverly might never have turned into the chess superstar she becomes.