1. What was the longest time you were ever left alone as a child?

2. One of the central themes in DRAGON SPRINGS ROAD is that of identity and belonging. Which story elements echo this theme?

3. DRAGON SPRINGS ROAD is set during a time of great social and political upheaval. Discuss how grandmother Yang’s reactions to change differ from those of her eldest grandson, Dajuin.

4. Fox spirits are popular in Chinese folklore. What culture(s) are represented in your family’s background and what folktales do you know about supernatural creatures?

5. Missionaries in 19th-century and early 20th-century China faced many challenges. Have you ever met or known anyone who was a missionary in a foreign country?

6. From the tidbits of information Fox shares with Jialing, it’s clear that Fox has her own agenda. If you were to tell the story from Fox’s point of view, how would you describe the motivating factors behind her decisions?

7. Jialing is disadvantaged because of her mixed race, but other characters also suffer because of the customs and values of that era. Discuss these characters and how their situations contrast with our 21st-century expectations.

8. What would you do if you were given the opportunity to become a Fox?