Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

Starred review from May 3, 1999
A gifted interpreter of Chinese and Chinese-American culture, Namioka (Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear) sets this gripping historical novel in early-20th-century Nanjing, as Western influence and political revolution threaten tradition. The irrepressible third daughter in a wealthy upper-class family, four-year-old Ailin resists having her feet bound and her progressive father concedes, over the protests of her grandmother and mother. This decision leaves Ailin without a clear future, as the family her parents have arranged for her to marry into breaks off the engagement ("She can always become an acrobat and street entertainer," her mother says despairingly). Still flying against convention, Ailin's father later sends her to a missionary school run by foreign "Big Noses," where she learns English and other subjects her grandmother dismisses as "useless." But when her father dies, the new head of the family--Ailin's volatile uncle--stops Ailin's education and offers her the only three choices suitable for a woman with unbound feet: becoming a nun, a concubine or a farmer's wife. Ailin creates her own destiny through events that are as dramatic as they are credible. Namioka weaves in just enough political history to help readers understand the turbulent climate, and her writing is so atmospheric and closely informed that it appears to offer an insider's perspective on a vanished way of life. Narrated by Ailin in flashback, this colorful novel has the force and intensity of a memoir. Ages 12-up.

October 1, 2013
Gr 7 Up-Ailin, the third sister and final daughter in the wealthy Tao family, is so full of spirit that she refuses to submit to having her feet bound like her older sisters and nearly every other woman in her family going back for generations. When her engagement to a local family's young son is broken because of her "big feet," her father's support becomes more important than ever. In search of a respectable option for a high-born girl in 1911 Chinese society, her father sends her to public school run by foreign missionaries, where she shows a talent for languages. But when her father tragically dies and Big Uncle becomes head of the family, she's forced to choose between a nunnery, a peasant's life, or worse yet-becoming a concubine. With a courage fueled by grief, she forges her own path as nanny for a foreign family, eventually finding her way to America and a life she never dreamed possible. Emily Woo Zeller narrates Namioka's tale (Delacorte, 1999) of female triumph with lyricism and a strong grasp of character. She weaves in and out of the varying character voices with ease, making the title useful for whole group or individual listening. Written as a flashback, the story is perfect for middle grade listeners interested in Chinese culture. With a cursory allusion to the political changes in the country, younger listeners get a clear picture of the actual events happening during the time, but older students may want more thorough explorations into the role of women and the political climate at the beginning of the century.-"Shanna Miles, South Atlanta Educational Complex, GA"

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.