Bound

Napoli, Donna Jo. Bound. ISBN-10: 0689861788, ISBN-13: 9780689861789. Simon Pulse. 2006.

Summary
Bound is a beautiful retelling of the classic Cinderella fairy tale with a Chinese twist. Xing Xing has been orphaned, and is now a slave girl to her stepmother and her big-footed half-sister. The sister, Wei Ping, has just begun the painful tradition of foot binding to prepare for marriage. Because no cares if Xing Xing gets married, she is spared this treatment. During her daily slave girl duties, Xing Xing speaks to the spirit of her mother, who she believes is watching over her while inhabiting the body of a fish. When Stepmother kills the fish, Xing Xing wants to keep the bones, yet they must be hidden. In the same bone hiding place, she finds a beautiful gown and slippers that once belonged to her mother. She wears the the striking gown and slippers to a local festival, where she sadly loses a slipper in her efforts to escape notice. The slipper ends up with a prince who searches the land looking for the owner. Xing Xing is then able to decide her own fate and future… and is bound to no one.

Critical Evaluation
There are many tellings of the Cinderella fairy tale, and Napoli does a great job incorporating the historical facts of the Ming dynasty to create a touching tale. She creates a very likable Xing Xing, who is orphaned and left to the mercy of her stepmother and half-sister. In her bleak life, she seeks guidance and love from a beautiful fish that she thinks is the spirit of her dead mother. Readers will maybe make the connection of the spirit of her mother and the idea of the fairy god-mother. The story will certainly be recognizable by the classic threads of Xing Xing finding a well-hidden gown and slippers that belonged to her mother, especially when she loses a slipper while she's trying to avoid Stepmother at a festival. Readers will also celebrate when Xing Xing will find herself loved, valued and free from her bindings.

Reader's Annotation
Napoli has taken the Cinderella story to China, and has given us Xing Xing, an evil stepmother and a big-footed half-sister.

About the Author
The Pennsylvania author, Donna Jo Napoli holds degrees in mathematics (BA) and romance languages (PhD) from Harvard, and has taught linguistics at several institutions over the years. In additions to gaining degrees, teaching, and writing and speaking on the topic of linguistics, she has written over 50 books for children of all ages—19 specifically for young adults.

Genre
Myth, Legends, Fairy Tales
Historical

Challenges
n/a

Curriculum Ties
Sociology: the traditions of Chinese foot binding
English: traditional fairy tales
English: rewriting of fairy tales
History: Ming Dynasty
Booktalking Ideas
Do you believe in the spirits of your favorite people watching over you and guiding your life today…
If you rewrote the Cinderella, how would you change it…

Awards
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Why I included this title...
After reading Hush, I'm a newly devoted fan to Napoli.