Daughters of Shandong

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Would you say this novel is a tragedy, or do you think it has a happy ending? Share your reasons for this conclusion.

2. Were there parts of the book that made you angry? Sad? Afraid? What parts did you like the most?

3. Compare this book to other novels about Asian women’s experiences of war and occupation, like Love in a Fallen City (1943) by Eileen Chang or Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (1991) by Jung Chang. What similarities do you see in women’s experiences of war worldwide?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Which character did you relate to most strongly? What made you connect with this character?

2. What do you think of the book’s illustration of extreme poverty? Can you relate to this?

3. What did you think of the ways the Ang women built community in their different cities? What role has community played in your own life and sense of identity?

4. What do you think about the values of family and family duty that are expressed in this novel? Where did you see these as being a positive force? In what ways did they cause harm?