The novel repeatedly refers to women trafficked into the sex trade by a Chinese euphemism: “hundred men’s wi[ves]” (29). How does the novel’s inclusion of this detail inform its major themes?

How does Lisa See juxtapose inside and outside spaces to illuminate tensions between captivity and freedom?

Consider the untranslated or partially translated Cantonese phrases woven through the dialogue. What effect do these have on the novel, and why do you think See included them?

Examine the novel’s treatment of time and pacing. How do the compressed months of 1870-1871 compare with the long gap between those events and Moon’s 1926 recollection? What does this asymmetry suggest? Use evidence to support your answer.

What does the novel have to say about moral choices and judgments? Draw on examples to argue whether these are more binary or more nuanced.

How does the novel create a precise sense of place in and around Los Angeles, and how does this inform its narrative of migrant experience?

What role does reading and writing play in the novel, and how does this change as the narrative progresses?

How are parents and parenthood depicted in the novel?