The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Li-yan’s attitude towards her identity as an Akha is non-linear throughout the story. Explain how and why it shifts, and what consequences it has on her life. 

When Li-yan sees her tea grove for the first time, she can’t hide her disappointment. Yet her mother is very protective and proud of the place. What is the significance of the tree grove, and especially of the mother tree, in the novel? Why is it passed down the female line in a culture that is strongly patriarchal? 

How has China’s rapid economic growth contributed to the destruction of old gender roles? Support your argument with examples from the novel.

Mr. Huang’s arrival in the Spring Well Village can be interpreted as both a blessing and a curse: He was the first to show the villagers the real value of their tea, yet as they begin to earn more money by selling tea leaves, they start abandoning their traditions. Analyze Mr. Huang’s ambiguity in the context of changes that unfold in the village after his arrival. 

The novel starts in 1988 when China was already rapidly developing, yet people in Spring Well Village at that time knew nothing of even basic amenities, such as electricity and running water. When Li-yan learns about the outside world at school, she initially finds it terrifying, but then it allures her. Describe the discrepancies between the life of the Akha people on Nannuo Mountain in the late 1980s and the life of average Chinese people in urban areas. 

Li-yan goes to San-pa’s village after his death and tells his parents about what happened. According to the Akha Law, no one is allowed to cite incarnations for keeping his spirit away or ever mention his name again. Since there’s no usual mourning ritual, this Akha rule might ease her suffering. Can you list and analyze a few other instances in the book when the Akha Law, particularly concerning the issues of marriage and family, worked for the benefit of the Akha people, and especially women?

Sending young, educated people from cities to villages to work in rural areas was a comprehensive government policy during the Cultural Revolution. Using the examples of Teacher Zhang and Jin’s parents, explain what harmful effects the policy had on the youth and how it affected the future of the country.

Author Lisa See uses many different forms to tell the story from Haley’s perspective, using her school assignments, emails, and a transcript of a therapy session. The readers can only make assumptions about Haley’s opinions based on these fragments. Why do you think the author waited until late in the novel to present Haley’s point of view? Analyze this type of storytelling.