44. Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka
ISBN: 0440415993
Laurel Leaf, New York, 2000
160 pages

Teaser: Ailin is a wealthy Chinese girl in 1911 who refuses to allow her feet to be bound. With the support of her father, she is successful in avoiding this painful fate, but her future is threatened when her father dies.

Summary: In 1911 China was beginning to accept modern ideas, though some were faster to adapt than others. Ailin is horrified when her grandmother tells her it is time to bind her feet into the tiny, deformed shape that wealthy girls are expected to have. Ailin manages to convince her father to allow her feet to remain unbound. Additionally, her father allows her to go to school, an unusual privilege for a girl of that time. Ailin's life is turned upside down when her father dies and her more traditional Uncle becomes head of the family. Uncle stops allowing Ailin to go to school, and gives her the choice of marrying a peasant or becoming a nun, as no man of higher status would marry a girl with unbound feet. Ailin rejects these choices, and finds a third option.

Evaluation: I liked the details about China's culture that were presented in this book. Ailin was a very strong willed girl during a time when that was not usually encouraged, so it was interesting seeing how others reacted to her. The characters were well written, and the story felt well researched.

Challenge issues and age recommendation: Foot binding and arranged marriages are both a large part of this story. Ailin's courage and strength, along with the numerous details about China during the early 1900s make this an excellent historical fiction book for readers interested in this era. I would recommend this book for readers 12 and up.