My Chance
Book Discussion Questions
General Questions
Did you like the book? Why or why not?
Are there any aspects of the book which you wish were different?
Do you feel connected with any of the characters? Who and why?
Questions on Content
What have you learned about China’s Cultural Revolution from this book? Is it consistent with what you have already known? Are there any discrepancies?
The book covers many moments and events between 1966-1980 that were important in shaping Lianlian's life. Some of these were at national and regional levels, and some were at family or local levels. Which moments most influenced the development of Lianlian's character and temperament? Which moment or event do you think was the most important turning point in Lianlian's life? Why?
What roles did Lianlian's father play in her childhood? Do you think Lianlian will or should ever reconnect with her father in the future?
What was the relationship between Lianlian and her mom? Do you think Lianlian's mom was an ideal mom under the circumstances? Did you sense any tensions between Lianlian and her mom? Do you think their relationship may change in the future?
Lianlian's sister Shanshan was only one year younger and was inseparable from Lianlian until when they were ages 14 and 15, respectively. How do the two sisters differ in personality and attitudes toward life? Did you feel Shanshan might have had a different experience growing up than Lianlian? Why? What might have caused her unique experience? Did she have similar relationships with their father and mom as Lianlian did?
Besides her family members, which characters played significant roles in Lianlian's life? Why? In what ways do you relate to these characters?
Questions on Writing
What makes this book engaging? Are there places you felt lost or needed more information? Was this because of the writing, or because of your unfamiliarity with what was happening in China during that period?
The structure of this fiction is largely chronological. Is this effective at showing the ever-changing environments and the overall story of what happened during those years?