Yeh-Shen: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Yeh-Shen · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Golden-Eyed Fish” (pages 1–7, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 7, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Yeh-Shen's fish look like when she found it?
   The story's answer: It had red fins and golden eyes
2. How did the stepmother trick the fish?
   The story's answer: She wore Yeh-Shen's old coat
3. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
4. The part we just read is called "The Golden-Eyed Fish". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Yeh-Shen · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Two, “The Festival”; Part Three, “The Golden Shoe” (pages 8–16, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 16, the end of the story.

1. Why did Yeh-Shen run home from the festival?
   The story's answer: She was afraid her stepmother would know her
2. How did the king find Yeh-Shen?
   The story's answer: His men followed her when she took the shoe
3. Why did the fish bones stop giving the king treasure?
   The story's answer: The magic was meant for someone in need, not for greed
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "The Golden Shoe". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. What does this story tell you about the place it comes from?
   Listen for: Food, weather, animals, how people live: anything the story shows.
2. Does it remind you of another story you know?
   Listen for: Many folk tales have cousins in other countries.
3. Who was the cleverest person in the story, and how did they show it?
   Listen for: Ask for the moment.