I have mixed feelings for this book; on the one hand the story moves along at a good pace and you can see Xing Xing's life (how she is able to draw small comfort from just being called her name, how strongly she believes in the spirits of her father and mother, her stepmother's disdain) and you are given a very detailed accounting of what life could have been like back then. From Xing Xing's unwavering sense of duty to Wei Ping's selfishness and self-delusions and to Stepmother's (who is given no other name) obvious abuse of Xing Xing as a punishment for her husband caring for her more.

My main concern was the quick way that Xing Xing gains her confidence (in herself and trusting the future). The book isn't very long, but up until the last quarter of the book she accepts her fate, does her best to make the most of things and doesn't resent anyone. Indeed if her Stepmother hadn't done something so heinous, I doubt she would have spoken up for herself at all. Which is a crying shame because Xing Xing in the last five pages is very interesting!

The book however, like Napoli's other fairy tale retellings, offers a different look at what has been done to death. A fish as a 'fairy godmother', bibbity-boppity-boo indeed. ( )

Based loosely on the Cinderella story. ( )

This morning when I woke, I was hungry. Weighed getting up and eating breakfast or starting a new book. Ancient China won. Excellent story. Finished in time for lunch. ( )

This YA novel is a retelling of the Cinderella story, set in the Ming dynasty era of China.

Xing Xing is bound to her Stepmother and half-sister. She is bound by tradition. She is bound to her ancestors, particularly her deceased parents. Her feet, however, are not bound. And she is also unusual in that her father believed in educating his daughters. While her half-sister Wei Ping showed no interest, Xing Xing thrived under her father’s tutelage and is an accomplished poet and a skilled calligrapher.

I loved the way this story unfolded. I learned from the author’s note at the end that the Cinderella myth is a common one through many cultures. And that she took her inspiration for this novel from the Chinese legendary folk tales. Still, Western readers will recognize many elements … from losing a shoe to evil stepmother to the prince’s search for “THE girl.”

I particularly appreciated the occasional poem which so eloquently expressed Xing Xing’s feelings. I’m a great fan of magical realism; Napoli incorporates this literary technique seamlessly. ( )

Bound is an amazing book it teaches you many lessons i'm glad i read this lovely book. Many people believes it the worst book ever in the entire world when its not. Its the Asian Cinderella which i find pretty cool. ( )