"'But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.'"
Chap. 1, p. 3

"'When I was three years old, a tight bandage was wound around my feet, bending the toes under the sole and crushing the arch so that my feet would remain small all my life. This has been the custom in China for over a thousand years, ever since the Tang dynasty.'"
Chap. 3, p. 7

"I was winning the medal every week and wearing it constantly. I knew this displeased by siblings, especially Big sister and Second Brother, but it was the only way to make Father take notice and be proud of me."
Chap. 4, p. 15

"Cautiously, I pushed against the massive iron doorway. Trembling with fear, I realized that no one was coming to pick me up...