Rating: 
Summary: Story of a Journey...
Review: "Ties That Bind, Ties That Break" is a moving story of one young girl on her journey to find acceptance of her "big feet" or feet that are not binded as tradition dictates. It's a fascinating, poignant story that I enjoyed reading and still enjoy rereading. If you are considering reading this book, this reviewer from Jersey hopes you read and enjoy it as much as she has. Happy Reading!
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Summary: Rebelling against tradition
Review: "Ties That Bind, Ties That Break", by Lensy Namioka, was a great novel on a 1911, wealthy Chinese girl who rebells against the ancient Chinese tradition of foot binding - and learns the consequences.Headstrong, playful Ailin, when 5 years old, is told she must begin to bind her feet. However, when she sees how her sister was crippled, she refuses, and her loving father said that she doesn't have to. Later, when her father dies, her uncle becomes head of the household, and he gives now 12 year old Ailin three choices, since the boy she was betrothed to broke their engagement because of her unbound feet. But Ailin doesn't like the choices for a girl with "big" feet - she wants something more to do with her life. This was a great book on a strong girl not so very long ago, and I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and up. I'd also definitely recommend "Shabanu", by Staples, about another girl who's against tradition, and must learn the consequences.
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Summary: An historical novel that will open your eyes
Review: Ailin is the Third Sister in her family. The year is 1911 and it is still tradition for young girls to have their feet bound in the Chinese way. Ailin refuses to have her feet bound, and that one choice changes her life forever. She gets to run free as she always has, but she also loses her arranged marriage to another respectable family. Her father pays a lot of attention to Ailin and she gets to attend a public school. When her father dies Ailin finds herself having to support herself, and her decisions will take her far beyond the shores of China. This book is amazing. The words seem to flow off the page and unfold as Ailin's life before your eyes. In many ways Ailin is a modern girl living in the past. She refuses to have her feet bound after seeing the way her sisters feet are after years of being bound, and she has a free spirit that wants tobe unbound and unkempt. This book contains historical fact in the text, but also has information in the back about the history of the practice of foot binding in China. There are family members to love (like her father) and family members to hate (Big Uncle) - and it all combines to make an unforgettable story. This is a fascinating book that opens a window into another culture - it comes highly recommended. Ailin is a character who will strike a cord with many young women, and the only complaint I have about this book is that I was able to read it too quickly. You must read this book - you don't know what you are missing.
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Summary: read my rockin' review
Review: hey sexy guys out there!
u gotta read this book,
it is emotional,
and full of hope
the main character, Ailin,
is full of strength, hope, conviction,
and power.
she wants to be known as a person not just a good girl in bed
she wants a man to love her,
not own her, and just use her for sex
she wants to die, being someone who changed the world,
not someone who had sex with 50 partners,
she wants to change the world first,
then do the fun part.
she doesn't even know she is thinking that way,
life just falls before sex naturally!
an amazing young woman!
i want to be able to think like that!
o well the way i think takes me many places
Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Book!
Review: I absolutey love this book! Its soo inspiring! Trust me, this book is gonna be fave if you read it! When you're done with it, I strongly suggest you read "An Ocean Apart, A World Away". Happy Readings! ^_^
Rating: 
Summary: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break
Review: I am writing this Critique for a project I'm doing in my 7th grade Language Arts class. Enjoy! Ties That Bind, Ties That Break. A great book it is. It educates you about some tradition Chinese ways, and how they have changed. For instance, young Chinese women binding their feet. Once a tradition that all did is now broken. And Ailin Tao was one of the first young girls to break that torturous tradition. China; shunned from the rest of the world, had their own little world. Ways of government, ways of marriage, and ways of education were different from everyone else. The tao family consisted of three girls and a boy. Ailin was the youngest of the girls. Both of her older sister's were already married or soon to be married. Next would be Ailin. She met a nice boy, but his mother disapproved of her. Ailin was almost five years old and her feet were not yet bound. Ailin refused to go through such an abominable deal; she preferred her freedom of jumping, playing, and running away from her amah, or governness. The marriage arragement was broken and Ailin became a disgrace to her family. Ailin was then sent to public school, which Big Uncle disagreed with, but fathger insisted they all catch up with modern times. A terrible event left Big Uncle in charge of the Tao family and Ailin was taken out of public school-her world, the place she feels where she most belongs. She's then given three choices by her Big Uncle: (1) to become a nun, (2) to become a farmer's wife, or (3) to become a concubine-which was not too much better than a slave. She decides to go to her teacher, who has secretly given her free English lessons since being taken out of school, for help. Recommended by Miss Gilbertson, Ailin became an Amah for Mr. and Mrs. Warner to look after their daughter and son, Grace and Billy. Doing such a good job of teaching and caring for the chilren for three years, Mr. Warner invited AIlin to make a tremendous change in her life to go half way across the world to their homeland of America. Will Ailin go or will she not? Is she going to look for another job or come back home to the Tao house and plead to stay? At the end of each chapter, this book keeps you wanting, needing, and waiting for more information about Ailin until you can totally finish the book. I recommend reading this book for it teaches you about a different culture and is constantly adding an extra 'spice' to life.
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Summary: The Binding Story of a Young Girl
Review: I couldn't put it down, that's all I need to say. The name of the book is Ties that Bind, Ties that Break by Lensey Nomiaka. The book is about a little girl in China during the 1900's. During this time period all girls from wealthy families were to have their feet bound. Having bound feet meant that the girl would no longer be able to run around and play, which she loved to do so much. So she immediately objected. This is a really great book for many different reasons. The book is really well written and has a very strong plot. It really draws you in and makes you see things from the characters' perspectives. You can also really get a feel for what it was like in China during that time period. This is a great book for you if you're interested in China or if you're just looking for a good book, because it is well written and historically accurate. Some people might think that, because they can not relate to the cultural aspects of ancient China that are portrayed in this book, then they can not relate at all to the book itself, and it is not the book for them. If you have this idea then you are all wrong. Though you might not be able to relate to the background of this book, you can probably relate to the character's situation to a certain extent. If you have ever had a disagreement with your parents you can probably relate to the characters situation to a certain extent. If you've ever had a disagrement with your parents then you can definateley relate to the character's situation. And I have found that, in most cases, if I can relate to a book then I at least find it interesting even if I don't especially like the book itself. This a great book , even if your not to interested in reading it right now, I strongley incourage you to give it I shot and I promise you will find some intrest in it.
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Summary: Good book, disturbing subject
Review: I enjoyed this look into a different time and world. The heroine was very brave and resisted having her feet bound. She paid a price for this as her family rejected her. Her strength of character saw her through. My only criticism is that the author didn't say in an afterword whether the book was true.
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Summary: A Great book that should be read!
Review: I raed this book and loved it! I'm not one of those people who love books, but i liked this book. I liked it because it showed me what other cultures are like and what they go through in their life. This story is about a girl who doesn't want to get het feet bound which at the time was a very prpoer thing to do. With this decsion, she loses a lot of things that mean a lot to her. You should read this book while you can!
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I read this book for my 9th grade world cultures class. I was learning about chinese footbinding and this book gave much insight into China and their culture. I thought this book was going to waist my time, but I found it quiet interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. Recommended.
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