Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

This book was actually not one I had intended to read. Don't think it was even on my to read list. It was just a stripped cover book I'd picked up at the store to put on the bookshelf in my classroom for my students to read. Well, last week at school, I didn't bring my book to school with me, feeling I had too much else to do during my lunch than just sit and read while I ate. But of course, I'm so stressed by lunch with the 8th grade schedule, that I just need to sit and do nothing during that time. Well, not nothing, I need to read. So I had to pick one of my own books off my shelf. I decided to pick up Bound by Donna Jo Napoli.

I guess I'd not really ever read what the book was about. I just assumed it was about life in China when they made the womem have their feet bound. And yes, this was a major part of the story. But really, this was a Cinderella story.

Xing Xing lives with her stepmother and her half sister Wei Ping. Wei Ping has had her feet bound, but really later than it should be. So because of that her feet are already too big to be dainty. Xing Xing is basically treated like a servant. And so must find ways to be happy.

I love the way it goes into the traditions with their ancestors and the dead relatives. I also love the poetry and the animals as symbols that were included in the story. It was a very unique story, andone I will definitely be promoting when possible.

Gateway 8: North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

This was a really good book. The main character is Terra. Both she and her brothers are named after map related things because her father was a mapmaker. A humiliated mapmaker as he bought into a fake map supposedly from ancient China. Her brothers are both old enough that they are away at college or out on their own, and Terra is in high school. Her mom is overweight, and her dad is hateful and cruel to her and her mother. And Terra has one other strike against her, a huge port wine stain birthmark on her face. She's learned how to cover it with makeup as she's gotten older, in fact, she has a very hot boyfriend. Terra's outlet is art. She creates collages that represent people and things in her life. When a guest speaker at school gives Terra a suggestion of a new laser surgery that is supposed to fix this type of birthmark, Terra decides to try once more to get rid of this defect. On the way back home from the first treatment, it is a snowy, icy day, and they have an accident. The other car involved includes a Chinese boy named Jacob, and his adopted mom. Jacob looks like a goth, but Terra sees he has a cleft lip scar. This is why Jacob was probably given up in China as normally boys are not adopted.

Jacob and Terra connect, as do Jacob's mom and Terra's mom. After a bad holiday experience with her brothers, Terra's oldest brother invites her and her mom to visit him in China where he works. Jacob and his mom choose to go along, as they keep trying to visit the orphanage he came from, but keep hitting brick walls. The trip is a growing experience for all involved. And in a good way, they all come back changed. But Terra must decide if she wants to give up the "perfect" boyfriend that she doesn't "deserve" with her looks for someone like Jacob, who she has instantly connected with, as he just seems to "get" her.

Awesome, awesome story. I look forward to reading more by this author.