Reading Guide
From The Teller of Small Fortunes
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.
Paperback
Reader's Guide
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Discussion Questions:
1. How have Tao, Mash, Silt, and Kina each changed—or not changed—by the end of the book?
2. Does Tao’s experience of being an immigrant caught between cultures resonate with any experiences from your own childhood?
3. What stance do you think the book takes on people being driven by free will versus fate? What are the most important choices that Tao
makes throughout the book?
4. Who or what would you consider the “villain” of the story? Is there one?
5. How does Tao’s experience of gaining a found family change her view of the world? Do you think it has any bearing on the resolution of her problems with her mother?
6. Did you find the ending of the book satisfying? What do you imagine will happen next to each of the characters?
Julie Leong is a 29-year-old Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author. She grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey and lived in Beijing, China for several years as a teenager. Her experiences of feeling too Asian for suburban America and too American for China color her stories of identity and belonging. She studied Economics and Political Science at Yale and now works at a startup, but has always nurtured a deep love for sci-fi/fantasy beneath her corporate exterior. Julie lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things.
The Keeper of Magical Things
Julie Leong