Consider the unique roles of men and women in the novel. How are men and women characterized differently? How do these differences emphasize the disparities between Chinese and American cultures?

Analyze the tension between dance and family in the novel. How are dance and family oppositional? Which does Robin prioritize? Does this priority ever change? Are there ways in which dance and family are deceptively similar?

Though the novel primarily focuses on Chinese Americans, Laurence Yep also explores other cultures, noting, for instance, that Richmond is a diverse neighborhood. How do these other cultures compare and contrast with Chinese culture? How does Yep utilize this comparison to establish the Chinese American experience?