"Ties that Bind, Ties that Break" by Lensey Namioka

Ties that Bind, Ties that Break, Lensey Namioka, Laurel-Leaf Books, 1999.

 

Lensey Namioka’s novel, Ties that Bind, Ties that Break, opens with a 19-year-old girl, Ailin, working in America and flashes back to her upbringing in China circa the 1900s. Ailin grows up during a time when marriages were arranged young and bound feet were the norm for women. However, her childhood was also a time of revolution as the end of the Chinese Dynasty results in the creation of the Republic of China. At only five years old, Ailin, backed by her father, bravely resists tradition by refusing to have her feet bound, which results in the breaking of her engagement and negative prospects for the future. Years later, faced with the options of becoming a farmer’s wife, a nun, or a concubine, Ailin makes her own path that eventually lands her in America.

This novel can definitely be taught at the middle school level. It’s a story about identity, tradition, standing up for what you believe, and fighting for a better life. Ailin’s ability to defy the dim expectations of her life provides a positive message to students everywhere: it is possible to overcome life’s obstacles. There is a lot of Chinese culture and history scattered throughout the novel, which can be a topic of research for students. The treatment and expectations of women throughout history and various countries could also be interesting to study along with this novel. Though feet binding is nonexistent today, there are still many other areas where women are subjected to limiting traditional practices.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It was a very quick read and I learned a lot about the Chinese culture. The length of the novel (154 pages) and the fairly simple language make the novel very manageable for children at the middle school level.