By Lensey Namioka, 1999. Great book! Informative, educational, interesting. Story of Arlen Tao, in China 1911, about traditions of that time. A young child in a high class family, Arlen has no experience with life outside their home. She is schooled at home, a marriage is arranged when she is 5, but her future mother-in-law is very disproving that they haven't bound her feet yet. Her older sister invites her into her rooms when the servants are washing her feet, and she sees for the first time what binding the feet means and refuses to let them do that to her. Her father takes her side. He realizes that times are changing and they need to move in that direction in their family. He also lets her go to a school for girls where she learns English and about the outside world. Of course, the marriage is cancelled since she isn't a proper girl anymore. Her father dies, an uncle takes over the family compound and refuses to pay for her schooling anymore, and basically kicks her out.
A lot of historical information, intriguing story, and a look into a culture we know almost nothing about. One of my favorites that I've read recently!
2 comments:
I'm so glad you told us about this. I will definately be reading this one sometime. I love the young "historical" type fiction.
It looks like there is a sequel to this book too. It's called, An Ocean apart, a world away.
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