Throwaway Daughter
on Goodreads (713)
What’s inside...
Throwaway Daughter is a young adult novel by Ting-xing Ye and William Bell that follows Grace Dong-mei Parker, a Canadian teenager who learns about her Chinese heritage after witnessing the Tiananmen massacre on television. She discovers that she was one of the abandoned infant girls due to China's one-child policy and was adopted by a Canadian couple. With their encouragement, Grace studies Chinese and travels back to China to find her birth mother. After facing initial reluctance from the villagers, Grace eventually reunites with her birth mother and learns the truth about her past.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
14-17
Length
256 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Grace felt when she learned about her past and her connection to China? What emotions might she have experienced?
Why is it important to understand and embrace our heritage and history? How does knowing about our past shape our identity?
What are some ways we can show empathy and support to people who are adopted or exploring their cultural roots?
How did Grace's journey to find her birth parents change her perspective on family and belonging?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts about Grace's story, and relate it to their experiences of family and belonging.
Discuss the importance of cultural heritage and how it might influence one's identity and values. Use examples from your own family's background or community.
Highlight the themes of empathy and resilience shown in the book. Discuss with your child how they can apply these values in their own relationships and situations.
Use a world map to locate China and provide a visual understanding of Grace’s journey, connecting the story to real-world geography.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and respecting different cultures
Explanation: Through the protagonist's journey from Canada to China, the story provides a vivid portrayal of cultural differences and the importance of understanding one's heritage.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect diverse cultures they encounter in school, their community, or in the media.
Example Lesson: Importance of self-discovery
Explanation: The main character's quest to uncover her roots and understand her adoption story mirrors the broader theme of discovering one's identity.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to explore their own backgrounds and embrace their unique identities in various social settings.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: The protagonist faces numerous challenges both emotionally, in dealing with her identity, and physically, in her travels and the conditions she finds, showcasing her resilience throughout her journey.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to persist and remain hopeful despite difficulties they may face in their own lives.
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: As readers follow the protagonist's emotional struggles and her interactions with others, they see examples of empathy and compassion.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand and express empathy in situations where friends or family members are going through challenging times.
Example Lesson: Value of family and relationships
Explanation: The story emphasizes the complex relationships within families, including the bonds with both biological and adoptive parents, highlighting loyalty and love.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of maintaining and cherishing family ties and friendships, despite the complexities that might arise.