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//Snow Flower and the Secret Fan// See, Lisa Alyssa Jacobs

A secret womens’ language forms the structure of the plot in this memorable novel about two Chinese womens' innate friendship. //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan// by Lisa See takes place in nineteenth century China when girls were foot-bound and lived in almost complete seclusion. Uneducated and isolated, these women were barely treated like humans, and their only role to fulfill in life was to have sons and obey their husbands. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret form of writing called Nu Shu. This gave women the ability to reach out of their isolation and express the emotions and creativity they were thought not to have. In special circumstances, some girls were also paired as laotongs or “old sames” in emotional matches that lasted their entire lives, like the two main characters, Lily and Snow Flower. Lily and Snow Flower communicated through Nu Shu; writing letters, embroidering messages on clothing, or painting notes on their secret fan. They shared their feelings about their arranged marriages, their hopes, joys, or tragedies; until a terrible misunderstanding threatens to tear Snow Flower and Lily apart. (187)

//The Help// Stockett, Kathryn Alana Lomis

In the small southern town of Jackson Mississippi proper etiquette is taught at a young age. The white children are also taught that African Americans are below them in the social rank. The irony however is it is usually the African Americans teaching them since it is the black maids who raise them. Author Kathryn Stockett plunges into the world of Jim Crow laws in her eye-opening novel “The Help.” Taking place during the civil rights movement, the story follows amateur writer Skeeter as she secretly interviews the housemaids of her friends and neighbors revealing the truth behind closed doors. Risking her life and the lives of everyone involved, Skeeter decides her book must be published. The accounts of abuse, affairs, and the occasional story of surprising kindness is enough to set the small southern town into chaos once it is released. The unexpected ending proves revenge is dish best served cold, or with a slice of chocolate pie! (173)

//The Secret of Sarah Revere// Rinaldi, Ann Hannah Wilcox

//The Secret of Sarah Revere// by Ann Rinaldi is a prolonged book with the moral insight of answering the question, "What's important, the truth, or what people think?" This question is frequently asked by the main character, Sarah Revere. Sarah is faced with many taunting situations while she is growing up during the Boston Tea Party. Her father Paul Revere sneaks out of Boston and delivers news of the dispute, between Boston and England, to surrounding states informing them when help is needed. Many peers of Paul find themselves confronting Sarah to uncover news of where her father is and what news he is delivering. She always resorts back to her one unanswered question. The young girl, Sarah, often seeks her father for an answer but he always weaves himself around the answer. But as Sarah grows older she learns that the truth is always an immaculate answer. (148) //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//See, LisaSarah Bootman Lisa See, author of //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,// holds fast to her Chinese roots. Her fascination with her heritage and the struggles of women in ancient China//,// is what prompted her to write her bestselling novel. Told with recollections of her past, narrator Lily tells her life story centered on her intimate relationship with her best friend Snow Flower, and a secret language called //nu shu.// Together, the girls endure the harsh reality of foot binding, as well as the pressures of getting married and the joys and heartbreak of producing sons. With each other to lean on, the girls find comfort in their secret language, passing notes to each other on a folding fan. Recounted with striking clarity, and intimate details, //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan// explores what it means to be a woman in ancient China, as well as the boundaries of true friendship.

Snowflower and the Secret Fan See, Lisa Jaymee Kraus In the book //Snowflower and the Secret Fan,// the author, Lisa See, shows how strict life was for a young girl in China, and how easy girls’ lives are now. It tells the story of a girl going through the traditions that were customary at that time, like foot binding or arranged marriage. She gets into numerous difficult situations. It immerses us in her life and allows us to see her true feelings during her life. This book also includes a remarkable friendship. It tells a heartfelt story about two good friends who are there for each other throughout their lives, from girls to grandmothers. //Snowflower and the Secret Fan// is a highly recommended book to read for people want a story that is entertaining the entire time. This novel shows how powerful friendship can be when the bond is strong enough. //Snowflower and the Secret Fan// helps us to know that no matter how hard things may seem, we will make it through if we have a true friend by our side.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan See, Lisa Silvia Seraly

Everyone has that one person to go to for everything. That one spectacular friend whom is there for support through the magnificent and gloomy situations, that life throws at us. In Lisa See’s novel, //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//, Chinese tradition and difficult times, keep women from having strong bonds and loving relationships with each other. In this inspiring novel, Lisa See recreates a typical Chinese family, of the time period, and develops a tale of love and friendship around Lily, one of the three daughters of the household. Although Lily’s family’s income is nothing near wealthy, Lily is given an amazing opportunity, to have a life long best friend, because of her potential to become a wife of a wealthy man. Through out the novel, Lily and her best friend, or laotong, Snow Flower, grow in companionship until they are as close as sisters. This demonstrates that the most beautiful relationships can develop against all odds, and the tale of Lily and Snow Flower can inspire readers from all backgrounds.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan By: Lisa See Madi Mele It is unimaginable for a woman living in present day America, to put herself into the shoes of a girl being raised in early China. The unfair customs of life, and cruel traditions, that the Chinese women encountered, seem imaginary. Lily, a young, Chinese girl and the main character of the novel, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”, by Lisa See, is in the midst of living this nightmare. She craves her mother’s affection, but she is continually disappointed. Daughters, in China, were considered worthless, and containing no use in the household, because they could not carry on their family’s name and duties. Although, Lily is unique. Lily and her family discovered that she was a candidate to having a “laotang”, basically meaning a best friend, a second half, who they share all of the same Chinese signs, symbols, characteristics, and values with. Lily meets her laotang, Snow Flower, when she is only seven years old. Snow Flower teaches Lily the customs of her more privileged lifestyle, while Lily teaches Snow Flower how to handle daily chores that other, low class families have to do. They remain best friends through the most difficult of times, such as foot binding, marriage, pregnancy, jealousy, and death. This novel not only illustrates a vivid picture of a foreign culture, but it tells of a heartfelt story of two strong willed laotangs, who do not let their unfortunate lifestyle’s break their unique bond.

//Snow Flower and the Secret Fan // See, Lisa Nikkie Naulty

It is rare to hear that people around the world travel to foreign countries in order to enhance their knowledge about a particular aspect of a culture. Lisa See traveled to a remote area of China so that she could visually experience the secret writings that Chinese women devoted their lives to for thousands of years. She vividly described this intricate writing by incorporating it into her original novel, //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//. Lily, a young chinese girl is the main character. Everything seemed repetitive and harsh for Lily until a self-interested matchmaker arrives and states that Lily is one of a kind and should be matched with a laotang from a much wealthier family. Eventually, Lily’s laotang, Snow Flower, writes on one of the folds of a fan in the secret writing to Lily in order to introduce herself. Once Snow Flower met Lily, the two were inseparable. Lily and Snow Flower endured life’s hardships together since they were so close in age. Everything seemed at peace until the two grew older and were married off into different classes. Each were expected to bore healthy boys in order for them to be respected The two continued writing in their secret language on the folds of the fan throughout all of their days apart. Eventually, communication failed and the laotang grew apart. Snow Flower eventually died and Lily was at her bedside wishing their relationship would have been stronger for her perfect match was now gone.

// Snow Flower and the Secret Fan // See, Lisa Julia Norton

A secret language, a secret fan, and a million other secrets: this is what Lily has to deal with throughout her entire life. Lisa See's //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan// grabs a reader's attention by telling a story of Lily and her //laotong//, or old same, during nineteenth century China. The girls have their feet bound together as they live with an occasional visit but an unbreakable bond. While they are away from one another, they write in the Chinese women's secret language, //nu shu//, on a fan that no one else is allowed to see. Meanwhile, Lily dwells in a low class family on a farm and keeps a practical mind. Snow Flower, however, has an artistic mind that dreams of roaming free. The girls become very close until Lily finds out that Snow Flower has lied, and more than just once. Lily's new-found hopes and dreams unravel throughout See's emotional story about strength, sorrow, love, and friendship.

// Snow Flower and the Secret Fan // See, Lisa Lauren Thomas A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives. This absorbing novel, //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//- with a storyline unlike anything author Lisa See has written before- takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see. Illiterate and isolated, they are not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. But in one remote country, women developed their own secret code, //nu shu-// "women's writing"- the only gender-based language to have been found in the world. An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood- until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan// delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time-female friendship.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan See, Lisa Jenn Coffey With only time left, Lily is haunted by all of her life’s woes including her relationship with her //laotong//. In Lisa See’s //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//, she uncovers the lives of the woman of Nineteenth century China. When the matchmaker arrives they discover that Lily is special and that she is to be matched with a laotong or “old sames”. Lily and her //laotong//, Snow Flower, grow up together from age seven, and face all the challenges woman of women together. When the two cannot be together they communicate through nu shu, secret woman’s language, on a fan and reflect upon their lives. When a simple misunderstanding presents itself their life long relationship is threatened.

//Alias: Dragonfly // Singer, Jane Josh Bowman Jane Singer painted a vivid and detailed picture of the Civil War from a young woman’s perspective in her novel, //Alias: Dragonfly//. The story is about a young woman named Madeline Eve Bradford, whose father is going off to war to fight on the side of the Union in the Civil War. Due to an accident as a child however, Madeline has gained extraordinarily heightened senses. As the story unfolds, Madeline finds a way to use her abilities to assist her father and the Union Army through her service as a Pinkerton spy. Although Singer uses extremely descriptive imagery from Madeline’s perspective, the plot seems to be somewhat lacking. At points, scenes seem to run together and plot points seem disregarded or ignored. Character development also seemed to suffer for the sake of being descriptive as characters were introduced with no background information whatsoever.

//Alias: Dragonfly // Singer, Jane Josh Larimer ==== Jane Singer's curiosity about life during the Civil War for young Americans influenced her to write her first young adult oriented novel, //Alias: Dragonfly//. Throughout the story, the main character, Madeline E. Bradford, sneaks her way into the action of the intense Civil War, which involves many instances of spying on Confederates forces. The reader can experience Madeline's intense feelings that she carries towards her father, who is fighting in the war. Singer uses vivid images and exciting twists to captivate her audience in this book. Using her wits, Singer relays her ideas about the civil war clearly through the perspective of a troubled, young, American girl. ====

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan See, Lisa Shreya Umredkar

When injustice and cruelty toward women are mentioned, the warring nations of Iraq and Afghanistan are thought of today. However, we rarely consider that in Ancient China, malevolent punishments, the debasement of women and other arcane practices were openly embraced throughout society. Lisa See’s novel //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//, entrancingly enhances and illustrates the hidden lives of women in Ancient China. This novel vividly takes the reader through an old woman’s recollection of the strenuous yet embellished life she had led. Through See’s explicit details, the reader can experience the stages that a woman went through in her lifetime. This novel also gives the reader a detailed insight on Ancient Chinese culture and the secret practices of women. From secret messages on fans to the practice of foot binding and the consistent struggle to please society, this novel causes the reader to appreciate life today. However, the novel also causes them to pause and marvel as the characters share their inner-most thoughts. This enticing novel acutely demonstrates how women came to carry the world on their shoulders. (176)The HelpStockett, KathrynAlexis AronsonKathryn Stockett writes a fictitious book about the 1960's based on some of her childhood experiences. She tells the story through three hilarious characters. Aibileen and Minny are two African American maids working for white southerners. Miss Skeeter is a young college graduate who sees them for who they are and not for the color of their skin. The maids talk about their daily encounters and what it is really like to take care of another person's home and children, while dealing with silent discrimination. This entices Miss Skeeter and she decides to secretly compose a book about the maids through direct interviews. The secrets she discovers will annoy, entertain, and shock anyone who reads this witty novel. The Help does not only describe the lives of these maids, but it captures a way of life and teaches a valuable lesson. (141)