question answer chapter Who is the author of When the Sea Turned to Silver? Grace Lin cover
What animal arrived when it was winter? The Black Tortoise of Winter 1
What did villagers request Amah do when Embroider peonies or 5-colored clouds they climbed up the mountain? on silks for weddings and birthdays. 1 Why did people stay with Amah after she finished embroidering? For her stories. 1 What story had an immortal dragon picking up a white stone? The Dragon’s Pearl 1 What story is about no one being able to lift the moon? The Boy Who Rolled the Moon 1 What did a new emperor wear? A gold silk robe. 1
What did people call the new emperor? The Tiger Emporor 1
What was a new emperor supposed to do? Pay tribute tothe mountain. 1 Who was Pinmei’s friend whose hut was farther up the mountain? Hishan 1
What decided if a new emperor was worthy? The Spirit of the Mountain 1 He was humiliated because he was not Why did the new emperor punish the people in able to get up to the top of the The Villages? mountain. 1 The emperor's Soldiers came late at night and took them away to the Vast What happened to the men in The Villages? Wall. 1 What did the new emperor want more than The Luminous stone that lights the anything? night 1
When was Pinmei usually supposed to feel the bottom of the container of rice? When the tree tips were green. 2 What special Bowl was only for special The blue rice bowl with the white occasions? rabbit painted on it. 2 Where did Amah’s grandfather get the blue The king of the city of bright Rice Bowl? Moonlight gave it to him. 2
What could you see from Yishan’s house? The sea. 2 What was another name for the mountain spirit? The old man of the Moon. 2 Who did Yishan live with in the hut before he lived alone? His Aunt Meiya until she died. 2 The little brother of the black Who held up the sky? tortoise. 2 She had a tail like a fish instead of What was the goddess Nuwa like? legs. 2 What happened when the four pillars of the The Starry River crashdown flooding sky collapsed. the entire Earth. 2 What did the goddess, Nuwa, do to the Cut its legs off and use them to turtle? replace the four pillars of the sky. 2 Who was Nuwa’s husband? Fuxi 2 What did Nuwa shove into the holes in the sky? Stones of five colors 2 What happened when Nuway filled the hole in the sky with her body? She turned to stone. 2 What was Fuxi left with in his hand when A single strand of her hair with a tiny Nuwa left him? drop of blood falling from it. 2 The Younger brother of the black Who was the turtle that Nuwa killed? tortoise of winter. 2 The black tortoise brought winter but what brought spring? A dragon. 2 What did it mean when people saw a rainbow You were seeing Nuwa and the colored in the sky? Stone she put there. 2 What did Amah mean when she told Pinmei to A giant clay container that once held get in the old gang? wine. 3 Why had Amah once taken Pinmei to the village? To see traveling entertainers. 5
Why did the soldier think Amah gave up too easily when they took her away? That she was trying to hide something. 5 What came out of the small bamboo container when the soldier kicked it? needles. 5 What did Pinmei see sticking out of the king’s imperial gold silk robe? A silver pin 5 What did the emperor take from Amah’s hut, The blue rice bowl with the white saying it was his? rabbit painted on it. 5 What did the soldiers do before they left Amah’s hut? They burned it. 6 What was Pinmei’s hut made of? Mountain stone. 7
What did the city of bright Moonlight used to be called a long time ago? City of Far remote 8
What did the Jade River constantly do? It flooded. 8
What did the old man tell the key to ask for a The paper inside the mouth of his wedding gift from his father? tiger statue. 8 When did words appear on the Paper of Answers? In bright moonlight. 8 What did the Paper of Answers say about You are a leader only to those who being a leader? choose to follow. 8 Dig ditches and outlets for the river What did a king order men to do to control and make it into an irrigation for the Jade River instead of building a wall? Farmland.. 8 To find the Dragon's Pearl which Why did Pinmei and Yishan decide To go to might be the Luminous stone that likes the city of bright moonlight? the night. 8 When did Amah tell Pinmei she would do When it was time for her to do something? something. 8 What did Pinmei find inside the burned box A quilted jacket made of hundreds of inside her burned hut? different colored patches. 8 What fell from the sleeve of the Quilted Patchwork jacket Pinmei found in a box in her hut? A jade bracelet. 8 Where had the Black Tortoise been floating before he was drug down into the water? In the Lake of Heavens 10
What was the only thing the Black Tortoise could see when he was drug under water? The color gold. 10 What did a soldier do for Amah? Gave her half of his own food. 11
What was the last story Auntie Meiya wanted to hear before she died? The Story of the Ginseng Boy 11 What did the Ginseng Boy wear? A red hat 11
What did the man and woman have to wait for to catch the Ginseng Boy? The night of the red moon. 11 What did the old man tie to a branch to catch A red threat from the sleeve of the the Ginseng Boy? Ginseng Boy’s shirt. 11
What did the old man and woman find buried A root shaped like a child --the at the end of the red thread? Ginseng Boy 11 When was the Ginseng Boy completely On the night of the red moon he helpless? turned into a root. 11 Why did the old man and woman want to eat the Ginseng Boy? It would make them young again. 11 What would happen if one person ate the entire Ginseng Boy root? They would live forever. 11 What happened to the Ginseng Boy at the end He ran away with the niece of the old of the story? man and woman. 11 Why did Auntie Meiya say the little girl in the Ginseng Boy story did her aunt and uncle a They would have been miserable favor? immortals. 11 Who was the angry soldier whose eyes Amah recognized? The emperor 11 Who invited Pinmei and Yishan inside to stay the night with them their first night traveling? Old Sai 12
What was the name of Old Sai’s wife? Suya 12 Who was the man in the village who tried to chop the soldier with an ax but it bounced off the soldier’s green sleeve? Feng Fu 12 What did Old Sai always say when something bad happened? This may become a blessing. 12 What did Old Sai always say when something good happened? This may become a disaster. 12
How did Sifen, the son of Old Sai and Suya, Both his legs were broken from being avoid being taken by the emperor’s soldiers? thrown by a stallion. 12 What did Pinmei wish she could give to Suya and Old Sai? The magic red stone. 13
What was the name of the boy who found the red stone while collecting wood? Ku-Ang 13 It doubled the amount of anything it What magic did the red stone do? was with (rice, dumplings, etc.) 13 Why did Ku-Ang’s father tell him he had to take the red stone back to where he found it? It didn’t belong to them. 13 What did the old man tell Ku-Ang the red stone was? The drop of blood from Nuwa 13 What did the old man tell Ku-Ang the red stone could do for a person who was pure of heart? Bring the Sea King to calm the waters. 13
Where did the red stone have to be brought To the top of the mountain north of safety in order to find the Sea King? the village. 13 Why didn’t anyone ever go to the Northern Mountain? There were evil beasts there. 13
What jumped out of the water at Ku-Ang when he crossed the abandoned Black Bridge? A big snake 13 Who was Haiyi? The wicked bully of the village. 13 What did the snake tell Ku-Ang he wanted in exchange for letting him cross the Black The ears of horrible Heiyi’s old Bridge? mother. 13 He landed on the other side of the Why was it good when the snake threw Ku- lake, so he didn’t have to cross the Ang? bridge. 13 What did the big bird with green poisonous feathers say it wanted in exchange for letting Ku-Ang pass and go up the Northern The bones of horrible Haiyi’s younger Mountain? brother. 13
Why was it good when the big poisonous green feathered bird threw Ku-Ang? He landed on the Northern Mountain. 13 Who did Ku-Ang find at the top of the Northern Mountain? Horrible Heiyi. 13
What did Ku-Ang do with the red stone to keep it away from horrible Heiyi? He swallowed it. 13 What happened to Ku-Ang when he swallowed the red stone? He turned into a dragon. 13 What are longma? Dragon horses 13 Who was the Sea King? Ku-Ang 13
Why did Pinmei know the red stone wasn’t the stone the emperor wanted? It never glowed. 13
What did the Tiger king want the stonecutter to do with the giant white stone? Sculpt a statue of himself on a horse. 14
Why did the stonecutter smash the man off He and his daughter thought the man the horse of the statue he made? was so ugly, it ruined the statue. 14
What story was similar to the stonecutter’s who was imprisoned with Amah? The Story of the Stone Fish 14
What did people call the magistrate because of his ruthlessness and greed? Magistrate Tiger 14 What did the Magistrate Tiger want carved from the white stone? A dragon for his formal chamber 14
Why didn’t the stonecutter want to carve a Only the imperial family was allowed to dragon for the Tiger Magistrate? use an image of a dragon. 14
What did the stone tell the stonecutter it wanted to be instead of a dragon? A fish 14 How many days did it take for the stonecutter to carve a stone fish? 99 days 14
What happened when the stonecutters son cried and his tears fell on the stone fish? It became a live fish. 14
What did the fish that used to be a stone carving do for people when they saw it? It made them happy. 14
The tiger magistrate had already Why couldn't stonecutter fix the broken ordered the stonecutter put to death stone fish or the Tiger Magistrate? for not making a dragon statue. 14 The stonecutter in the story was his How did the stonemaker imprisoned with own relative and passed down his skills Amah know the story of the Stone Fish? as a stonemaker to him. 14 What did Pinmei think the falling snow looked like? White butterflies. 15
What impossible thing did Pinmei see mixed in with all the white snowflakes falling? A red butterfly. 15 What was the name of the white horse the beautiful woman had been riding through the snow? BaiMa 16 A mansion surrounded by a garden, What was the beautiful picture embroidered fishponds, and pavilions with red into the beautiful fabric the woman had in a pillars, a river by a stone wall, bag? mountains, and clouds. 16 What happened when the widow embroidered flowers? Bees would try to get in it. 16 What did the widow want to do with the painting she spent all her money on? Live inside it. 16 What personal things did the widow weave into her embroidery of the estate she wanted Her white hair (clouds), her blood (red to live in? peonies), and her tears (lotus ponds) 16
What happened to the widow’s embroidery when she finally finished it after 8 years? It blew out the door. 16
Why did the Sea King’s daughter take the She and her ladies in waiting were widow’s embroidery? copying it for their own embroidery. 16 What would happen to the widow’s son if he made a sound while swimming in the frozen He would turn into ice and shatter into water? 10,000 pieces. 16 What did the widow’s son ride to the Sea King’s house? A white horse made of white stone. 16
What did the Sea King’s daughter embroider An image of herself but with legs into the garden of the widow’s embroidery? instead of a fish tail. 16 What happened to the widow’s embroidery It grew and came to life, including the after her son brought it back from the Sea Sea King’s daughter holding a silver King’s house? needle. 16
Who did the Sea King’s daughter marry? The widow’s son. 16 Where did the red butterfly land in front of On the noblewoman’s lap on top of the Pinmei and Yishan? embroidery/ 16
What did the noblewoman say when the red butterfly landed on her embroidery? “He is dead”. 16
Who was the noble woman who rode BaiMa? Lady Meng 17 To find out what happened to her Why was Lady Meng going to the City of husband after he left on the king’s Bright Moonlight? business a year before. 17 What did Lady Meng sew to protect her husband? A dragon shirt, leaving her needle in it. 17 When did Lady Meng’s husband tell her he would return? With the flight of the first butterfly. 17 What was the name of the king who had the King KaeJae - the King of the City of dragon’s pearl? Bright Moonlight. 17 Because new emperors usually Why did King KaeJae want advice from Lady executed all the old kings and replaced Meng’s husband? them. 17
What did Lady Meng pull out of the Jade River with her gold chopsticks to show them the way to the City of Bright Moonlight? A mussel 18 What did the mussel Lady Meng threw into the sky turn into? A swallow 18
What did Amah tell the stonecutter happened each time a story was told? It changed. 19 Where had Amah, the storyteller, been invited to live? In the Imperial Palace 19 What was the name of the mountain Pinmei, Yishan, and Amah lived on? The Never-Ending Mountain 19 Why did the dragon have to leave behind his friend, the girl? To help Blue Dragon bring in spring. 19 There would be a day when she experienced her greatest joy and What did the dragon see in the girl’s future in greatest sadness of her life at the the Book of Fortune? same time. 19 What did the dragon tell the girl to do when Look at the stone lions in the city and, she experienced her greatest joy and when their eyes turned red, take a greatest sadness of her life at the same boat to the closest island to find the time? Iron Rod. 19
Why was the Iron Rod at Sea Bottom? To keep the waters steady 19 Hold on to it and don’t let go until the destruction of the city is over, and What did the dragon tell the girl to do with afterwards, throw it back into the the Iron Rod when she found it? sea. 19 According to what was needed...The Sea King’s daughter used it as a How did the Iron Rod change? needle. 19
What was the day when the girl who had a dragon for a friend experienced her greatest joy and greatest sadness of her life at the Her daughter had a baby, but died in same time? childbirth. 19 A mean man painted them red to tease How did the lions eyes turn red in the city? the old woman. 19
Why did the old woman go to a mountain she To raise her granddaughter and keep had visited in her youth? her away from harm. 19 Who was the old woman who held onto the Iron Rod? Amah. 19 How were the palace grounds of the City of Bright Moonlight divided? Inner City and Outer City 21 What did Yishan say rulers loved? walls. 21 What was the emperor’s emblem? A snarling tiger 21 What did Lady Meng hear when she went to see King KaeJae? The queen (his wife) crying. 22
What was Lady Meng’s husband’s name? Wan 22 He wasn’t killed. The Tiger King ripped What did King KaeJae tell Lady Meng about his shirt, and then the Tiger King her husband, Wan? became invincible. 22 What was the name of the servant girl who helped Lady Meng, Pinmei and Yishan hide from the emperor? Yanna 22 Where did Yanna hide Lady Meng, Pinmei and Yishan? In the Hall of Distant Clouds 23
Why did King KaeJae tell Yanna to take his visitors through the Long Walkway to the Hall The emperor would be taking the of Distant Clouds? other path. 23 What did Yanna warn Pinmei and Yishan never Go on the western side of the Long to do while the emperor was there? Walkway. 23
What did the emperor say he would do to anyone if they were found on the western side of the Long Walkway while he was there? Kill them and their family. 23
What were the beams and ceilings of King KaeJae’s palace corridors painted with? Scenes from different stories. 24 What story character had a bag of red threads? The Old Man of the Moon 24
What story character held up the moon? The Spirit of the Mountain 24 A new painting appeared right before What did people say about the paintings in a story of greatness is about to be the Long Walkway? told. 24 Who painted the pictures in King KaeJae’s corridors? Master painter Chen 24 What did master painter Chen paint that came to life? A dragon 24
What story did Pinmei tell to Yanna in the The Story of How a Girl Brought Joy corridor when she saw a painting of it? to the Heart of a King 24 Where did the girl say she found her beautiful fish? In a rubbish pile outside a rich home. 24 What did the girl say she would do with her Give it to the king to bring joy to his beautiful fish? heart. 24 What did the king do with the beautiful fish Set it free in the lake so it would the girl gave him? bring joy to all the villagers. 24 What was the first king of the City of Bright The greatest ruler in the city’s Moonlight known as? history. 24 Where did Yanna work before she became head of the king’s servants? She worked in the kitchen. 25
Why couldn’t King KaeJae trust his guards? They were all spies for the emperor. 25 Why didn’t the emperor kill King KaeJae like He needed him one night a month when he did all the other kings? the moon was full. 25 Why did Yanna say it was like King KaeJae He couldn’t leave, and no one was ever was in prison? allowed to visit him. 25
What did Pinmei’s braid always remind her of? A long mouse tail. 26 She could make time disappear and bring people to places they never Why did people honor the Storyteller dreamed of, feel sorrow, joy, and (Amah)? peace. 27 Which emperor was called Son of the Heavens? Emperor Zu 27 Which story told of Emperor Zu, Son of the Heavens The Story of the Stolen Bite of Peach 27 What did the Queen Mother bring to Zu for A peach that granted 999 more years his 60th birthday? of life. 27 A magistrate who was related to the Who bit the emperor’s peach of longevity? emperor by marriage. 27 How was Emperor Zu, Son of the Heavens, killed? Soldiers of Emperor Shang killed him. 27 Where did Pinmei and Yishan try to sneak into in order to find Amah? The commander’s tent 27
Why was Yanna looking around the soldier’s camp in the City of Bright Moonlight? She was looking for King KaeJae’s son. 29 What constellation did Yishan see when he saw a shooting star? Beacon Fire 31 What could King KaeJae do that the emperor could not? Read the Paper of Answers 33
What did the emperor tell King KaeJae to ask the Paper of Answers? If he would achieve immortality. 33 How many times could the Paper of Answers One question by the light of a full answer? moon. 33 What did the pavilion where King KaeJae and the emperor talked used to be used for? The king’s painting studio 35
What did the emperor have done with the men who died building the Vast Wall? Buried their bodies under the wall. 35
What story told how the first king of the City of Bright Moonlight became a tiger? The Story of the Green Tiger 36 They had to plant the seed and care What did the emperor tell the kings he gave a for the plant and bring it back to him seed to? at the Moon Festival. 36
Why did the father of the young King of the City of Bright Moonlight have a rare His son’s seed from the emperor never moonflower grown for his son? sprouted. 36 What kind of flower did the King of the City of Winding River grow? Red peony 36 What did the king of the City of Far Clouds An orchid with fragrance like sweet grow? apple. 36
Why did the young king of the City of Bright Moonlight insist on bringing an empty pot to the emperor? He couldn’t lie. 36
What did the paper say that the young King of the City of Bright Moonlight read could not be hidden for long? The sun, the moon, and the truth. 36 What did the Paper of Answers do to the father of the first king of the City of Bright Covered his face and turned him into a Moonlight? tiger. 36 Who did the first king of the City of Bright Moonlight exile? His father in the form of a tiger. 36
What was the dying wish of the first king of To have his father resurrected as the City of Bright Moonlight? human after his 5th year of the Tiger. 36 Why did the old man with the Paper of Answers say he might regret turning the He didn’t seem to learn from his past tiger back into a man? mistakes. 36 How did King KaeJae get the Paper of The paper floated in the air and Answers? landed in his father’s lap. 36
What did King KaeJae’s father think when he That he was really a butterfly woke up after dreaming he was a butterfly? dreaming he was a man. 36 Why did the emperor make everyone bow to the king who presented him with an empty He was brave and virtuou and told the pot? truth, and didn’t blame anyone else. 36
Why could NO ONE have grown a plant from the seeds the emperor gave the kings? He boiled all the seeds. 36 What was stuck into the mussel that fell from the sky at Yishan’s feet? An arrow 36
How did King KaeJae help Lady Meng, Yishan, He pushed on the stones of a wall and and Pinmei escape his city? sent them through a secret passage. 37 What did King KaeJae give to Pinmei before sending them from his city? The Paper of Answers 37 For reminding him that there were Why did King KaeJae thank Pinmei? worse things than death. 37 What did the woman in the House of Wu look Her face was scarred like the outside like? of an oysster shell. 40
What design was on the bowl of porridge the lady in the House of Wu offered to Lady Meng, Pinmei, and Yishan? A painted monkey 40 What kind of scars did the lady in the House of Wu have on her face? Scars of Stingy Rice 40 How many Year of the Monkeys had the rich lord seen when he decided to throw a banquet? Five times 40 What did the rich lord want to do with the blue silk? Line the road to his house. 40 What did the rich lord tell his servants to use to fill the gaps in the road? Uncooked rice. 40
What happened every time the rich lord’s The rich lord was the one who felt servants beat the old man who ate some rice? each blow. 40
The old man blew the rice out of the How did the lord and his servants get the holes in the road and they stung their scars on their faces? faces and melted into their skin. 40
What did the scarred woman in the House of Wu say her mistress loved? Jade and silk the color of jade 40 She wanted to make amends for Why did the scarred woman in the House of beating the beggar and act like a Wu help Pinmei and Yishan? coward like she did before. 40 Who was the hero the woman with the scarred face was named after? The great Heiyi 40
What happened when the Black Tortoise bit off his own tongue and then blew on it? It turned into a snake. 41
She gave it to the masters of the House of Wu for promising to never What did Pinmei do with her jade bracelet? hit Haiyi again and to leave them alone. 42 The scars disappeared from her face, and rice grains fell out of the What happened when the servant, Haiyi, handkerchief...which was really the wiped her face with Pinmei’s handkerchief? Paper of Answers. 42 What did Pinmei accidently hand to Haiyi the servant to wipe her face with, instead of her handkerchief? The Paper of Answers 43
What happened when the masters of the House of Wu tried to wipe off the scars on They sprouted fur on their faces and their faces with the Paper of Answers? bodies and turned into monkeys. 43 Where did Pinmei figure out the Luminous Stone was located? At Sea Bottom 44
What did the Black Tortoise tell the snake Go to the Sea King and tell him he that used to be his tongue to do? needed help. 45
How did BaiMa (Lady Meng’s horse) get out of Yanna let him out of the city gates the City of Bright Moonlight? before Lady Meng left. 46 He tied it around Pinmei’s wrist and What did Yishan do with a thread from his told her to wear it with pride because sleeve? it was priceless. 46
What did Yishan give to Lady Meng from his The mussel that had been struck by sleeve before she left to find her husband? the arrow. 46
How did Pinmei and Yishan get to the Sea BaiMa rode them there after he Bottom? turned into a longma (a dragon horse) 48 What was written on the scroll the guard gave to the stonecutter and told him to carve in stone? The emperor’s great deeds 49 When the king of the City of Bright When did people stop being able to see Moonlight stopped the floods in the beasts of the heavens and seas? city. 49 What did the first king of the City of Bright Moonlight build, rather than dams, to control the water? Waterways to redirect the river. 49
What was the name of the dragon sent from the sky to help the young king of the City of Bright Moonlight? HuangLong 49
What was the name of the tortoise that was sent from the sea to help the young king of the City of Bright Moonlight? Bauxi 49 How was Bauxi related to the Black Tortoise of Winter? Distant cousins 49 Why didn’t the king’s father want the tortoise (Bauxi) and the dragon (HuangLong) to leave after they helped hold back the river and build the waterways? He was powerful with them. 49 How long did it take for the tortoise (Bauxi) and the dragon (HuangLong) to finish the irrigation system? Nine years 49
Why couldn’t Bauxi get out of the hole where It was too heavy with the stone tablet the king’s father had a stone tablet erected? and he was trapped. 49 Why was the stone tablet that trapped Bauxi It listed all the great accomplishments so heavy? of the world. 49 What happened when Bauxi got mad about being trapped in the hole? He yowled and turned to stone. 49 What did HuangLong do when he kept the oath to the king’s father after Bauxi turned He disappeared and became invisible to stone? so no one could see him again. 49 What did the Jade Emperor do when he He decreed that all beasts of the heard what happened to Bauxi and heavens would no longer be seen by HuangLong? mortals. 49
Why did the emperor want the stonecutter to To put in his wall to make a cage for carve his great accomplishments into stone? the Tortoise of Winter. 49 What were the red trees Pinmai saw in the ocean? coral 50 What were the glowing lanterns Pinmei saw in the ocean? jellyfish 50 What were the twinklng stars Pinmei saw in the ocean? Tiny swimming fish 50 What was the name of the palace of the Sea King? The Crystal Palace 50 What happened to BaiMa when they got the He turned into a statue on the stone Crystal Palace? platform. 50 What were the many names of the man with a coral cane and a scar on his body that Stone Fish, Happy Fish, Not a Dragon, greeted Pinmei and Yishan at the Crystal Special Treasure, Gift, and Joy to the Palace? Heart. 51
What was the name of the girl who gave the fish of joy to the first king of the City of Bright Moonlight, who released it into the lake for everyone? Meiya (Yishan’s aunt) 51 What was the fish’s favorite name for himself? Joy to the Heart 51 In honor of the Sea King because he used to be a mortal man, so he felt Why did the Joy to the Heart fish take the more comfortable with them in mortal form of a man? forms. 51
He was the statue that broke when Why did the Joy to the Heart fish have a the magistrate wanted to put him in a scar and was missing one leg? fancy gang (container) to carry him in. 51
Why wouldn’t the Joy to the Heart fish use It would be an insult to the fishtail his fishtail while in the Crystal Palace? goddess, Nuwa. 51
Who was the only one allowed to take on fish The princess, who had some of Nuwa’s form while in the Crystal Palace? blood in her. 51
What did the Joy to the Heart fish give to the princess of Crystal Palace? The needle from the treasury 51
When did the Joy to the Heart fish know When they were both stone that BaiMa before? dreamed of becoming something else. 51
What did the creatures of Sea Bottom need if they wanted to become something else? The help of someone above the sea. 51
Who did Joy to the Heart fish say were the only ones that could give immortality? mortals. 51 What were the tiny guards at the Crystal Palace? shrimp 52
To alert the creatures above the sea that he couldn’t keep the ocean Why did the Sea King light the beacons? unfrozen for more than a moment. 52 What was the twisting black string that came A snake -- the tongue of the Black to speak to the Sea King? Tortoise. 52 What was the only thing the snake would say to the Sea King? The Black Tortoise needs help. 53
What was another name for the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night? Nuwa’s tear 53
What did the strand Nuwa’s hair become when her husband pulled it out? The Iron Rod 53
What did the drop of blood from Nuwa’s head become when her husband pulled the strand of her hair? The Red Stone 53
What did the single tear Nuwa cried become The Luminous Stone That Lights the when she sacrificed herself to save the sky? Night 53
Where did the Sea King bring Pinmei and Yishan to see Nuwa’s Tear (The Luminous Stone that Lights the Night)? The garden 54
What were the things that looked like fruit in the garden of the Crystal Palace? pearls 54 What did the immortals of the sky call the Heavenly Lake? The Celestial River 54
What did the mortals call the Heavenly Lake? The Starry River 54 What is the Starry River? The sky 54
Where did the ocean and sky connect? At the bottom of the Heavenly Lake 54 What was the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night? The moon 54 Why did the Sea King say the Luminous Stone So everyone could see it because it that Lights the Night floated in Heavenly belongs to everyone in the sea, sky, Lake? and earth. 55
Why did Yishan say that he and Pinmei had to take the moon (the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night)? To give it to the emperor 55
Why did Pinmei tell Yishan he shouldn’t jump The lake was the sky, so he could fall into the Heavenly Lake? forever 55 How did Yishan get the moon (the Luminous He made a lasso from the bracelet of Stone that Lights the Night) out of Heavenly thread he gave to Pinmei and grabbed Lake? it. 56
How many tries did Yishan have to do to finally tie the lasso around the moon? Six times. 56
They saw disgust in the eyes of the good Sea King when he called them Why did Yishan and Pinmei put the moon back thieves, and Pinmei knew Amah would into Heavenly Lake? be disappointed in her too. 56
What did Pinmei cry into after they returned the moon to Heavenly Lake? The Paper of Answers 57
Who read the Paper of Answers for Pinmei and Yishan when they were next to the moon ( The Sea King, because he was Luminous Stone that Lights the Night)? immortal, so he was able to read it. 58 What question did Yishan ask the Paper of How has the emperor captured the Answers? Black Tortoise of Winter? 58
He knew the emperor was invincible Why did Yishan ask how the emperor because he had captured the Black captured the Black Tortoise of Winter, Tortoise, and they had to rescue rather than how they could save Amah? everyone, not just Amah. 59 What did the emperor use to capture the Black Tortoise of Winter? The Iron Rod 59 What kind of animals were the royal guards or generals of the Sea King in the Crystal Palace? crabs 60
How did the Sea King say the emperor must have stolen the Iron Rod? By having an immortal steal it for him. 60 Why did they question the Sea King’s queen They sometimes used the Iron Rod as and her servants? a needle for their sewing. 60 What did the Sea King change into so he could take Yishan and Pinmei back to the shore? A dragon 60 Where did the stonecutter say was the safest place in the world? A prison cell 61 What was the name of the Painter with a magic paintbrush? Painter Chen 61 What was the name of the boy who was the son of a fisherman, but wanted to be an artist? Liang 61 What did Liang wish for most? A paintbrush 61 What did Liang do with the piece of bamboo he found while taking car of his father’s Drew pictures with water on the inside nets? of the boat. 61 What got tangled in Liang’s father’s fishing nets? A girl’s (a mermaid’s) hair 61 Cut it and took the lock that was still in the fishing net and tied it to the What did Liang do to the mermaid’s hair that end of the piece of bamboo to make a was tangled in the fishing net? paintbrush. 61
What happened when Liang painted a frog? It turned real and hopped away. 61 What did Liang paint for himself with the magic brush? Ink and paper 61 What did Liang paint for his dad with the magic paintbrush? A boat 61 What did Liang paint for his mom with the magic paintbrush? A silk robe 61 What did a corrupt judge order some thugs to do to Liang? Steal his paintbrush 61 What happened when the corrupt judge tried to paint a mountain of gold with the magic paintbrush? It was just a pile of dirty stones. 61 What happened when the corrupt judge tried to paint gold ingots with the magic paintbrush? It was just a bowl of rotten duplings 61 What happened when the corrupt judge tried to paint one bar of gold with the magic paintbrush? It turned into a yellow snake. 61 A chicken with golden feathers and What did Liang paint for the corrupt judge? red eyes that layed gold eggs. 61 It disappeared and turned into a wet What happened when rain fell on the chicken piece of paper with a picture of a that laid golden eggs? chicken on it. 61
What happened to all the golden eggs the chicken laid after it rained? They turned to regular, rotten eggs 61
How did Liang escape from the corrupt judge He painted a giant crane, jumped on after he painted a chicken for him? its back, and flew away. 61 What did Liang change his name to after he escaped from the judge? Chen. 61 How did Chen prevent his pictures from coming to life? He never finished them. 61 What did the judge commision Painter Chen to paint for him after he became a magistrate? A dragon 61 What happened when the magistrate put a dot in the eye of the dragon that Painter It came to life, destroyed the Chen had painted? magistrate’s palace, and disappeared. 61
Where was Painter Chen when the magistrate’s men tried to capture him? Painting on the Long Walkway 61 How did Painter Chen escape from the Painted a boat in the water, got into magistrate and his men? it, and sailed away. 61 What quality did the stonecutter think made all characters the same? power 61
Where did Yishan and Pinmei walk to after the Sea King took them to land? To the Capital City 62 Whose husband was a funeral being held for in the Capital City when Yishan and Pinmei got there? Lady Meng’s 62
What did the emperor wear while following the coffin of Lady Meng’s dead husband? White mourning robes 62 What did Lady Meng insist on for the funeral for her husband, even though it could bring bad luck? Burying him at sea 62
Why did the emperor agree on burying Lady Meng’s husband at sea, and follow his coffin in He would do anything to get Lady white mourning robes? Meng to marry him. 62
What did Lady Meng do to the Vast Wall? She destroyed it by crying tears on it. 62 What did Lady Meng put into the coffin with her dead husband? The embroidered bundle of cloth. 62
What did Lady Meng do after her husband’s Jumped into the water after it, and coffin was dropped into the sea? the water froze over. 63 Why didn’t anyone except for Pinmei and Yishan see Lady Meng swim away under the They were all looking the opposite ice and flip a fish tail. direction. 63 Amah told Pinmei she could always Why did Pinmei trust Yishan? trust him. 65 How did a pearl (A Luminous Stone that Hi let Lady Meng use it when she Lights the Night) end up in Yishan’s cried, and Lady Meng was the Sea handkerchief? King’s daughter. 65 What was the pearl in Yishan’s handkerchief made from? Lady Meng’s tear. 65 What three things did the Old Man of the The Bashe Snake that lived under Moon tell Haiyi he would have to get rid of Black Bridge The Noxious Zhen bird for the village could be happy and he would be that lived on Northern Mountain Haiyi called a hero? himself 66 What made the Noxious Zhen bird’s feathers poisonous? It drank the venom of vipers 66
What could the Noxious Zhen bird’s blood do? Melt stone 66
What could the Noxious Zhen bird’s saliva do? Dissolve steel 66 He left the village to rid it of its last evil (himself) and reformed himself, How did Haiyi become a great hero? living a life of peace. 66 What did the emperor say after Amah (the Storyteller) told him The STory of the Three She was never to speak in his presence Evils? again. 66 What did Pinmei ask the emperor for in exchange for the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night? Her grandmother - Amah. 68 Where did they wait for night in order to test the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night? In the Hall of Imperial Longevity 68
What gate did the guards bring Amah through to the Hall of Imperial Longevity? The Black Tortoise Gate 68 Why did the emperor have someone taste his food before he ate it? To make sure it wasn’t poisoned. 69 He was using the blue rice bowl with What did Pinmei see when the emperor eating the white rabbit that was taken from a dumpling with his silver chopsticks? her hut. 69 What were the many names of the mountain Endless Mountain, Moon-Holding Peak, Pinmei and Amah lived on? Never-Ending Mountaing 70 What did they saw rested on top of the Endless Mountain? The moon. 70 The Wise Sage, the Spirit of the What were the names of the old man of the Mountain, and the Old Man of the moon? Moon. 70 Why were new rulers supposed to climb to To meet with the Mountain Spirit and the top of the Endless Mountain? gain his wisdom and approval. 70 Why did the ruler have to climb the mountain The mountain can only use its powers cliffs all alone? for one person at a time. 70
What did the Spirit of the Mountain tell the Green Tiger emperor he was stuck with until he let the Black Tortoise go? Winter 70 He had to steal... a bite of a long-life Why did the Spirit of the Mountain say the peach, the Iron Rod, and the power of Green Tiger emperor was poor? the Black Tortoise. 70
What did the Spirit of the Mountain call the Green Tiger emperor that insulted him most? A poor mortal. 70
After the Green Tiger emperor returned from the mountain, what could everyone see? He was crazy, cruel, and ruthless. 70 What did Pinmei see glinting from the The metal pin sticking out of an emperor’s collar? embroidered image. 70
It was a trap...the emperor didn’t What did Amah yell when she got the gag out really want the Luminous Stone that of her mouth? Lights the Night...he wanted Yishan. 70 Yishan was the Ginseng Boy...and also the Old Man of the Moon or Spirit of Why did the emperor want Yishan? the Mountain. 71 Why did the emperor know that Yishan would He could never ignore mortal come? suffering. 71 What did the emperor want to do to Yishan (the Ginseng Boy)? Kill him so he could be immortal. 71
What did Pinmei grab from the emperor’s The needle that was really the Iron black embroidery of a tortoise? Rod. 71 What was crushed when Pinmei pulled out the needle and the black thread of the embroidered turtle unraveled? The Black Tortoise Gate 71 What protected Pinmei when the Capital City was destroyed? The needle Pinmei held in her hand. 72
He pricked his finger and held it over the blue rice bowl with the white rabbit on it, and fed the clear golden How did Yishan heal Amah? liquid that fell into the bowl to Yishan. 73 What did Yishan look like after he healed An old man dressed in gray with a red Amah? bag in his hand. 74
She wanted Yishan to live his life as a Why did Amah think Meiya would never boy and grow old instead of always forgive her? giving up his youth to keep her alive. 74 What happened when Yishan shook the needle in his hand? It became a walking stick. 74 How old was Yishan, really? ninety-nine 74
What happened when Yishan threw the white- It covered him and grew into a rabbit rice bowl at the body of the emperor? mountain. 74
How did the emperor become immortal, as the Paper of Answers said he would? Through stories. 74 Immortality is a gift that has to be What did the emperor never understand? given….it can’t be stolen. 74 When would Pinmei see Yishan? As the moon, every night. 74
What silhouette did Pinmei see sitting at the top of the mountain, waiting for Yishan? A rabbit. 74 What was the loveliest wonder of all those Pinmei saw on her journey? A rainbow by the light of the moon. 74 Who did Yanna see coming into the City of Bright Moonlight? Her father 76 Why did Pinmei and Amah come back to the To return the Paper of Answers to City of Bright Moonlight? King KaeJae. 76 What did King KaeJae call his pavilion where he painted? Pavilion of Solitude 76 What did Pinmei see in the fingers of a maiden painted on the beams of the Long Walkway? A maiden holding a silver needle. 76
What did the author learn to do in Chinese author's when she was a child? Count to ten. note
What does the number six sound like in author's Chinese? Smooth or peaceful note
What does the number eight sound like in author's Chinese? Good fortune note
What does the number nine sound like in author's Chinese? Forever or longevity note
Where do Chinese people often embed In emperor’s robes, paintings, special author's numbers because of their meanings? dates, and license plates note
What number is important in the book Where author's the Mountain Meets the Moon? Eight (good fortune) note
What number is important in the book Starry author's River of Sky? Six (peace) note
What number is important in this book When author's the Sea Turned to Silver? Nine (immortality) note
Who is the main character in the book, author's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon? Minli note
Who is the main character in the book, author's Starry River of Sky? Rendi note
What does the author, Grace Lin, say is how we share our lives, what we mourn when they are lost, connect us to our past, and carry us to our future, what we cherish and author's remember? Stories. note