The Tea
Girl of Hummingbird Lane
By Lisa
See
(Tansley Reads Rating: 70%)
Icebreaker
What photo would you send in
your Christmas card this year?
Questions
1. The relationship between Ci-teh and Li-yan
was complicated, it alternated between competitive and caring. Was this truly a friendship?
2. So-sa (Li-Yan’s mother) puts
aside many traditions and taboos for Li-yan. How can the mother reconcile this
with her strong beliefs in the Akha ways?
Why do you think Li-yan’s mother allowed her to let the baby live?
3. Do you think San-pa followed Li-yan to kill
her or bring her back?
4. Why is Li-yan so devoted to and protective of
Deh-ja?
5. Teacher
Zhang could have returned to the city after his time of punishment was served,
but he instead chose to remain in the mountains, seemingly unhappy in his work. Why? Why does Teacher Zhang encourage Li-yan to
complete her education?
6. After San-pa dies and Lin-ya eventually gets
to the college, she obviously has interactions with other students, but she
doesn't seem to have any friends. Why?
7. On page 285, during the therapy session with
the 5 girls, Dr. Rosen introduces the idea of "grateful – but – angry” . How can that phrase be
applied individually to the characters of Li-yan, Jin and So-sa (Li-yan's
mother)?
8. When asked if she sees herself as Chinese or
American, Haley responds saying she is 100% Chinese AND 100% American. How can
this be?
9. Tobacco is the gift that is given to a Chief
or to Elders when visiting a First Nation community. It is a sign of respect.
On page 289 Tea Master Sun and Mr. Huang exchange cigarettes, although were
told neither man smokes. Why cigarettes?
10. Why didn’t Mr. Huang reveal himself to Li-yan
as the silent partner in her tea business? Why didn't he use the partnership to
pressure Li-yan to take him to her grove?
11. How did you feel about the way the author
ended the story? What do you imagine
happens next?
12. This novel uses a number of devices to tell Haley’s
story, including letters, a transcript of a therapy session, and homework
assignments. Did this style of storytelling enrich your experience of the
narrative?
13. The
Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane begins with the Akha aphorism, “No
coincidence, no story.” What are the major coincidences in the story? Are
they believable? How important are they in influencing your reaction to the
novel as a whole?
14: Quick
round: What did you think of the book? Is there anything you want to discuss
that we missed?
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