Jade Peony
Part Three: Jung-Sum, Second Brother
Chapter 8
1. What illness kept Sek-Lung from going to school?
2. What causes the young Sek-Lung so much confusion as a small boy?
3. What are “paper sons” or “paper uncles”?
4. What does it mean to be born “mo no” (the direct translation but also
what it implies about the generation of “mo no” children)? How were
“mo no” children dangerous?
5. How does Sek-Lung demonstrate he is not “mo no” when his mother
receives the package from China at the end of the chapter?
6. What are some of the hints that Stepmother is not as happy with her
position as was implied in the earlier parts (there are at least two)?
Chapter 9
1. What is the great concern of Sek-Lung’s parenst at the opening of the
chapter?
2. What is embarrassing about Poh-Poh’s actions? Have you ever felt that
way about an older person in your family?
3. What does Sek- Lung and Poh-Poh’s secret world entail?
4. How does Poh-Poh plan to return to the family home after her death?
5. Why do you imagine the character of the juggler plays such an important
role in Poh-Poh’s life?