Chapter 9: “Fate” (pp. 140–155):
1. How does Shan-shan act toward his mother? Why do you think he acts this way?
He doesn't care when his mother falls because she isn't someone to care about from his point of
view.
2. What are some ways that Red Guards scared and humiliated people suspected of rightist
or anti-revolutionary leanings?
They made them attend daily study sessions, which was basically a softened version of verbal
torture. They also did some physical abuse, like when the old man had to kneel on a washer
board, which cut into his legs.
3. What happened to Sang Hong-zhen, Du Hai’s mother?
She had to get study sessions because she didn't follow Mao. Du Hai is embarrassed and decides
to not bully Ji Li anymore.
4. Why does Ji-li hate her grandfather?
He was a landlord.
Chapter 10: “Junior High School at Last” (pp. 156–172):
1. Describe Ji-li’s first day of school. What disappointed her? What part of Ji-li’s first day
at junior high school in her new classroom does she enjoy the most?
Ji li thought all her classes were boring and she didn’t get some of the stuff she wanted to learn
like dissections and Galileo
she enjoyed math
2. Ji-li’s father is forced to attend a political study class. What was the purpose of political
study classes for adults like Ji-li’s father?
The purpose is to get people to admit to crimes
3. How does Sun Lin-lin “rescue” Ji-li?
she gives her red book cover when ji li forgot hers.
4. How does Ji-li react to being asked to join the propaganda group?
she doesn’t want to do it because of her family background.
she doesn’t want the same thing that happened at her old school to happen again.