- Ji-li often refers to how life was different in the past. List at least two examples of how life “used to be” in Shanghai, according to Ji-li.
- What were the “Four Olds”? Why did Chairman Mao want the Four Olds to be destroyed? What examples does Ji-li give of destroying the Four Olds?
- Humiliation is a theme in this memoir. Find an example of a moment when someone was being humiliated. Who was being humiliated? By whom? For what reasons?
How were school assignments made before the Cultural Revolution? How are they being made now? What does Ji-li think of the new school assignment system?
Why is Ji-li so excited when she hears where she will be going to junior high school? What changes at the end of the chapter?
What does Ji-li think will happen to many of the books in the school library?
Chapter 6-10
- Why were Ji-li’s parents burning photographs in their bathroom?
- What is the Precious Red Book?
- What happened to Sang Hong-zhen, Du Hai’s mother?
- Why does Ji-li hate her grandfather?
- How does Sun Lin-lin “rescue” Ji-li?
Chapter 10-13- Why does Ji-li decide to join the group preparing the Class Education Exhibition, despite her family background?
- What is the Class Education Exhibition? What type of projects do the children work on?
- Ji-li tells her friend Lin-lin about how Ji-li’s father has been detained. How does Lin-lin respond?
Chapter 14-17What story does Ji-li tell as part of the exhibition rehearsal?
After Ji-li receives praise for her role in the Class Education Exhibition, why is she replaced by Fang Fang?