Discussion Questions

1. Would you be willing to leave your family for an unfamiliar land and foreign culture based solely on the hope of creating a better future for your family such as Evelina’s father did? (p. 73) What were his fears? Why did the family place such importance on education?

2. Evelina and her father clash over a homework assignment. She is frustrated and wants to give up. Her father is angry and wants her to keep trying as he expects great things from her (p.75) Are his expectations too much? How might immigrant families' expectations for children differ from those who are not? Why?

3. Evelina is apprehensive to travel with her mother. Parents and their children can clash over many different things and traveling together can heighten tension. Share a story from your own experiences in traveling with your family, perhaps where your perception of a parent or child was challenged and maybe even changed.

4. Part of this memoir is Evelina confronting her fear of going to China. Why did it take so long for her to choose to go? What are her fears? What does she learn about herself? Her family?

5. Evelina’s Chinese name is Sung Lien which means “Lotus Blossom” in Chinese. She used to be embarrassed by the name as it isn’t American sounding. (p. 6) Has the trend of naming immigrant children “American” sounding names continued to the present day? Does this practice help new immigrants become acclimated to American culture and foster a sense of belonging? Could this practice make immigrants feel like they are giving up their native culture?

6. Evelina’s mom shares the story of “my bomb” with her for the first time in Shanghai. (p. 125). How do families choose which stories to share and when?

7. Were you familiar with the culture of China and the Cultural Revolution before you read “Yeh Yeh’s House”? What did you learn about this part of the world from the book? How do the difficulties faced by the characters in this book compare with the difficulties or experiences faced by people you know?

8. What did you learn about personal identity and cultural identity from this book?

9. “Yeh Yeh’s House” is the story of a search for family history and a sense of connectedness. What would you be willing to share about your own search? Why is it important that everyone feel a sense of connectedness to their past?

10. Evelina sees what life is like for her relatives in China, and it is very different from her life in America. What responsibility does she have for caring for her extended family?
 

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