Bound

I loved the beginning and middle part of the book which developed the characters. However, the ending felt very rushed and the character development that was gained was immediately lost in lieu of summarizing the story's denouement/conclusion/ending.

"Bound" is the story of Xing Xing living with her Stepmother and half-sister, Wei Ping. It is an ancient Chinese spin on the Cinderella tale we all know and love. After Xing Xing's father dies, her Stepmother and Wei Ping manipulate and mistreat her, but in the end she comes out on top with her golden slipper and marries the Prince. It's a great story of a young girl finding herself and going against the norms of ancient Chinese society. I would recommend this book for middle school students, especially concerning how much they will learn about ancient Chinese culture and religion - it's a very enlightening tale.

The book club my daughter attends chose this book to read. My daughter really enjoyed reading this. Of course the main character is a female, which is always a positive for our daughters to read instead of books so concentrated on male characters. I believe this book did a good job opening my daughters eyes to the ways of other cultures which is also another positive. She told me it was a good book. Recommended for grades 5 and up

This is a classic and you WILL fall in love with this novel if you are into reading fluid, picturesque tales, that while containing a hint of romance, end up pulling you into a world beyond your own. I honestly cannot think of any cons, besides the fact that when the novel ends, you will be incredibly saddened that the short journey to a different time is over. DJN's writing style is so...perfect for writing a reimagined 'Cinderella' story, I can't recommend it enough.

I really enjoyed this book until the last few pages, it seemed rushed.

The words gracefully paint the images necessary to see through the eyes of the once cherished Xing Xing. A glimpse into Chinese history, of binding feet, of superstition, of prayer, and tradition, makes this read even more worthwhile. Artistic and academic, I recommend this to all readers 5th grade and above.

Interesting interweaving of story elements, cultural traditions, language lessons, practices to represent a variation of Cinderella most pleasing to read.

Beautifully written book about overcoming incredibly difficult life situations through the strength of your spirit and your soul! I love all of Donna Jo Napoli's books for young adults, but this one stands out as an A+++ among A's! Wonderful, realistic female lead character!