Book Review: Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Lisa See’s Snowflower and the Secret Fan is a beautiful story of two best friends for life: Snowflower and Lily, and their struggles in 19th-century China. Snowflower and Lily were once from vastly different socio-economic classes. Snowflower’s family was from the upper class and part of the Imperial Dynasty, but her family lost their status and fortune due to her father’s opium addiction. Lily’s family was lower-class and farmers, whose fate was to become part of the upper class through the perfection of her feet via the rites of foot binding. In spite of their upbringing, they were destined to be laotongs (best friends for life). In order to be laotongs , the girls needed to be born on the same day and in the same year, have their feet bound at the same time, and be in the same class. According to Madame Wenn, the matchmaker and Snowflower’s aunt, Snowflower and Lily were perfect laotongs because each could teach the other proper etiquette for their mar...