Author: Li Cunxin
One-sentence summary: A peasant boy plucked from his family in rural China goes to study ballet in Bejing as a part of Madame Mao’s cultural program and gains the opportunity to visit the United States.
B.A.D. Girls Book Rating: 7
Our favorite thing about it: We loved the overall story and learning more about 20th century China.
Our least favorite thing about it: It is hard to find something we just didn’t like, but we did think the writing was just so-so.
Main Topics of Discussion: Hope/Hopelessness, Communism, Poverty, Chinese culture, Family Dynamics, Freedom, Opportunity
Our favorite quote: “If you are ever in doubt about your own abilities, all you need to do is think of your parents and what they have gone through. Your desire to help them is your incentive to work hard.” (p. 191)
Notes: This was an inspiring and interesting true story and we all really enjoyed reading it. The beginning of the book is fascinating because it details the harsh realities of peasant life in communist China in the 1950-1970s. The Li family endured much hardship and was constantly hungry despite their relentless hard work. It was heartbreaking to read about their way of life and their sense of being trapped in it.
Beyond the practicalities of daily life, it was also interesting to hear about some of the cultural intricacies of Chinese life. Their customs, their behaviors, their way of thinking, and their family dynamics. Just by describing his childhood, Cunxin drew a vivid picture of Chinese life and culture that we soaked up as we read.
One of the most interesting things the book describes is what life under a communist regime is like. The propaganda in schools, the blind loyalty, and the outright lies as told from Cunxin’s perspective were fascinating to learn about. Watching Cunxin experience the freedom and wealth of America after coming from such a polar opposite lifestyle was interesting and humbling. Cunxin describes how he felt so deeply betrayed by his government after visiting America and seeing for himself what it was like.
The story has a fairy tale quality to it because Cunxin is literally selected from millions of Chinese children to take part in a ballet school program that catapults him to international fame and success as an adult. Watching that unfold was truly remarkable. But even more remarkable is Cunxin’s loyalty to his family and especially his parents. Due to their values and character, Cunxin is an extrememly thoughtful, caring, and humble person, even as a child. Their relationship, although expressed differently from what we are used to, was extremely touching to “watch.”
Memorable Meeting Moments: This meeting was at the lake house! About halfway through our discussion, we discovered that Lindsay and Dara had read the “young reader’s” version of the book, which left out a few more “adult” details (although those were not very detailed either.)
What We Ate: Chicken Bacon Artichoke Pizza from Papa Murphy’s (which we all loved), Veggies with Ranch Dip, Cookies and Icing (homemade double doozies!).
One-sentence summary: A peasant boy plucked from his family in rural China goes to study ballet in Bejing as a part of Madame Mao’s cultural program and gains the opportunity to visit the United States.
B.A.D. Girls Book Rating: 7
Our favorite thing about it: We loved the overall story and learning more about 20th century China.
Our least favorite thing about it: It is hard to find something we just didn’t like, but we did think the writing was just so-so.
Main Topics of Discussion: Hope/Hopelessness, Communism, Poverty, Chinese culture, Family Dynamics, Freedom, Opportunity
Our favorite quote: “If you are ever in doubt about your own abilities, all you need to do is think of your parents and what they have gone through. Your desire to help them is your incentive to work hard.” (p. 191)
Notes: This was an inspiring and interesting true story and we all really enjoyed reading it. The beginning of the book is fascinating because it details the harsh realities of peasant life in communist China in the 1950-1970s. The Li family endured much hardship and was constantly hungry despite their relentless hard work. It was heartbreaking to read about their way of life and their sense of being trapped in it.
Beyond the practicalities of daily life, it was also interesting to hear about some of the cultural intricacies of Chinese life. Their customs, their behaviors, their way of thinking, and their family dynamics. Just by describing his childhood, Cunxin drew a vivid picture of Chinese life and culture that we soaked up as we read.
One of the most interesting things the book describes is what life under a communist regime is like. The propaganda in schools, the blind loyalty, and the outright lies as told from Cunxin’s perspective were fascinating to learn about. Watching Cunxin experience the freedom and wealth of America after coming from such a polar opposite lifestyle was interesting and humbling. Cunxin describes how he felt so deeply betrayed by his government after visiting America and seeing for himself what it was like.
The story has a fairy tale quality to it because Cunxin is literally selected from millions of Chinese children to take part in a ballet school program that catapults him to international fame and success as an adult. Watching that unfold was truly remarkable. But even more remarkable is Cunxin’s loyalty to his family and especially his parents. Due to their values and character, Cunxin is an extrememly thoughtful, caring, and humble person, even as a child. Their relationship, although expressed differently from what we are used to, was extremely touching to “watch.”
Memorable Meeting Moments: This meeting was at the lake house! About halfway through our discussion, we discovered that Lindsay and Dara had read the “young reader’s” version of the book, which left out a few more “adult” details (although those were not very detailed either.)
What We Ate: Chicken Bacon Artichoke Pizza from Papa Murphy’s (which we all loved), Veggies with Ranch Dip, Cookies and Icing (homemade double doozies!).
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