The Lotus Shoes

1. How does the relationship between Little Flower and Linjing evolve over the course of the story? Do you think they ever reach a point of true "friendship," or was there always some level of resentment between them?

2. Why do you think Linjing is resentful of Little Flower's bound feet, despite her wealth and status? What does this say about how society valued women and how women in society measured their own worth?

3. In the book, Little Flower's embroidery is her way of expressing herself. How does this embroidery help Little Flower feel superior as a servant? Does her art give her the freedom that Noble Siu Je cannot provide?

4. How do Little Flower and Linjing's personalities change after they join the Sisterhood? Does Linjing struggle more with losing her status than Little Flower does? Why does Little Flower continue to help Linjing?

5. Little Flower reaches a point where she stops putting Linjing's needs first, ending their old dynamic. What do you believe was the driving factor behind this?

6. Which character did you relate to more, and did your view of Linjing change by the end of the book?

7. Linjing's father seems to care for her, but when forced to choose, he doesn't protect her. Do you believe parental love should be unconditional? Was he weak or simply a product of his time?

8. Do you think the women truly gained "freedom," when they entered the Sisterhood, or did they simply trade one set of shackles for another?

9. The Aunt used physical discipline and public shaming to control her younger sisters. Why would a woman who escaped patriarchy do this? Is she trying to protect the Sisterhood, or has she become corrupt with her power?

10. What does foot binding reveal about the price women were expected to pay for acceptance and security? Did you find it ironic that the "servant" possessed the ultimate symbol of status that the "mistress" lacked?

11. The novel concludes with a sense of transition for China. Considering the "Lotus Shoes" as a symbol of the old world, which character was better prepared for the "New China": the resilient, self-made Little Flower or the adaptable, formerly aristocratic Linjing?

Book Club Talking Points:
Choosing what to discuss first about The Lotus Shoes is almost as tricky as the choices Little Flower and Linjing face! This story dives into everything from family betrayal to the secrets of the Sisterhood, the characters make complex, sometimes uncomfortable choices, and the story explores issues like survival, power, love, and social pressure in ways that still feel relevant today

Fact or Fiction?:
If the "barbaric" customs in the book felt too intense to be true, you might be surprised to learn how much Jane Yang grounded in reality. The muizai system was a very real form of child domestic slavery in China, where girls like Little Flower were sold to wealthy families during times of famine. Even the Celibate Sisterhoods (known as Sujia) actually existed! These were radical groups of women who took vows to remain unmarried and financially independent, often working in silk factories to support one another.

Although the death penalty for straying sisters is a dramatic addition to the novel, the social stakes for these women were incredibly high. They truly did trade the traditional family structure for a dangerous, but self-determined, life together.