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About the Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung Discussion category
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1
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38
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September 3, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Daughters of Shandong? (no spoilers, please!)
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38
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191
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September 3, 2025
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What audience would you recommend Daughters of Shandong to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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31
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135
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September 3, 2025
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If you were either Hai or Di, could you forgive your father? What about your grandmother and grandfather?
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31
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122
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September 3, 2025
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Did knowing the book is based on Eve Chung’s grandmother’s experiences change the way you approached the novel, and if so, how?
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24
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78
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September 3, 2025
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Did you learn anything new about China’s culture or history from the novel? What surprised you?
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23
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78
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September 3, 2025
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Di is often portrayed as selfish. When she’s caught stealing the Zhang family’s eggs, she defends herself saying she’s “adapting.” What do you think of her actions here and elsewhere in the book?
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21
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81
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September 3, 2025
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Hai is convinced her father knew that he was leaving his wife and daughters in Shandong with no resources or protection. What do you think his motives were? Do you think he realized how dire their situation would become?
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21
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74
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September 3, 2025
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What did you think of the ending of Daughters of Shandong? Would you have changed anything about it? If so, what?
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20
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183
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September 3, 2025
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Is there an antagonist in Daughters of Shandong? If so, who or what do you think it is, and why?
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20
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116
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September 3, 2025
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Have you traveled to China or Taiwan? If so, what were some interesting experiences or observations that you encountered? If not, would you like to vacation there if you had the opportunity?
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17
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65
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September 3, 2025
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Is there a quote or scene in Daughters of Shandong that stood out to you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
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14
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66
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September 3, 2025
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What are some of the most pressing injustices that continue to affect women and girls today? What do you think we can do to change them?
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12
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75
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September 3, 2025
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Hai says, "Sometimes, success is something that happens over the course of generations..." Why is it important for her to make this observation? Within your own family or community, have you seen examples that reflect this sentiment?
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12
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55
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September 3, 2025
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Hai's mom makes many difficult decisions. Do you think she regrets any of them? Do you think she is happy at the end of her life?
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12
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49
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September 3, 2025
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Hai wonders what her mother would have insisted on joining her husband in Taiwan if she hadn’t been encumbered with her children. What do you think? Would her path have been different without her daughters?
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11
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41
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September 3, 2025
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At Rennie’s Mill, the girls’ friend Biao-Wu turns down a “golden ticket” to Taiwan, opting to stay in Hong Kong instead. Do you think he made the right decision? Why or why not?
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10
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50
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September 3, 2025
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In China, the historical favoritism for boy children has led to terrible consequences for girls and to broad social issues. Are there any harmful traditions in or aspects of your own culture that affected you or people who you know?
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8
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36
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September 3, 2025
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Di often calls Hai a coward. What kinds of bravery does each character exhibit? How does each character's bravery (or lack thereof) shape the family's story?
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6
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41
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September 3, 2025
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Hai and Di each have dreams for themselves. Do they achieve them? If not, was there anything different that they could have or should have done?
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5
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39
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September 3, 2025
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Familial relationships are important to all the characters. How do Hai's and Di's relationship with their mom evolve throughout the book? What about Hai and Di's relationship with each other?
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4
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26
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September 3, 2025
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How does the behavior of Hai's Uncle Sen and the other men in Daughters of Shandong compare with what we’ve come to understand about Chinese culture?
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1
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15
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September 3, 2025
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