Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s structure, which alternates between timelines and perspectives? How did this choice affect your emotional investment in Song’s and River’s parallel journeys?

2. The separation of Song and River at the Beijing Railway Station sets off a heart-wrenching, multi-year search. How did this premise compare to other stories of lost family members you might have read, such as Saroo Brierley’s real-life account in A Long Way Home or Susan Choi’s novel Flashlight? What made this particular search story stand out to you?

3. How did you feel about the novel’s “bittersweet triumph” of an ending? Did the reunion provide a satisfying sense of closure, or did the tragedy of Song’s illness overshadow the moment for you?

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

1. How does Song’s belief that music is River’s only “way out” shape her intense approach to motherhood? Have you ever witnessed or experienced a situation where a single talent or opportunity was viewed as the sole key to a better future?

2. For a time, River quits the piano to escape the pressure and pain associated with his mother’s dream. Think about a time you may have stepped away from a passion or a goal. What prompted that decision, and what, if anything, eventually brought you back to it?

3. Song receives support from her neighbors in contrast with the indifference she faces from official institutions. Have you ever been in a situation where an informal community came together to solve a problem where a larger institution failed? How did that help you relate to Song’s experience?

4. Throughout the story, music is a source of comfort, a connection to memory, and a form of expression. What role does art play in your own life? Do you seek it out for a particular reason, and if so, why?

5. Song’s relationship with her own mother is complex, shaped by differing views on survival and sacrifice. How did their dynamic make you think about generational differences in your own family? How do you navigate these differences, and how do they impact your relationships with family members?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In what ways does China’s hukou system, as depicted in the novel, shape every major event in Song’s and River’s lives? What parallels do you see between this system and other societal structures that limit opportunity based on one’s place of origin?

2. Song’s job as a waimai food delivery worker is dictated by a relentless algorithm. What does the book reveal about the human cost of the modern gig economy, and how did it make you think about the convenience of these services?

3. The final act is set during Beijing’s strict “zero-COVID” lockdowns. How did the author use this specific historical context to amplify the story’s tension and its themes of powerlessness and state control?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Author Sophie Chen Keller is a classically trained pianist. In what ways does her personal expertise enrich the story, particularly in the descriptions of River’s training and performances? How does this compare to other books where an author’s specialized knowledge is central to the narrative?

2. Consider the two piano teachers, Professor Li and Phyllis. What do their contrasting teaching styles and motivations reveal about the nature of mentorship, and how does each of them shape River’s journey as both an artist and a person?

3. How does the meaning of the clothespin dolls evolve throughout the novel? What do they represent about family, memory, and connection in the face of immense distance and loss?

4. Phones and QR codes are a persistent motif. How do these tools function differently for privileged characters versus migrant workers like Song and River, and what commentary is the author making about technology’s role in society?

5. The yellow jacket is another recurring motif representing River’s vulnerability and Song’s search. How does Song’s realization that she can no longer remember her son’s scent on the jacket represent a destructive turning point in her journey?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you had to create a large-scale public message for a lost loved one today, like River’s musical “fire,” what form would it take and why?

2. Imagine you are casting a film adaptation of Little Wonder. Which actors would you choose to play Song and White Dragon, and what qualities would you look for to capture their distinct personalities?

3. The novel ends with Song’s death, but her legacy lives on through River. If you were to write an epilogue set 10 years in the future, what would River’s life look like, and how might he be honoring his mother’s memory?