Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution (by Ji-Li Jiang)
common sense media says
Devastating portrait of brutal political movement.
parents & educators say
- 50% say language is an issue
- 50% say it's educational
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this a memoir of a girl growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and includes details about beatings and suicides. Ji-Li Jiang paints a clear and devastating portrait of a brutal
political movement that ruined many lives -- and had a deep impact on
her own family. The engaging story makes young readers want to know more
about the subject . The foreign words and phrases in this book can be confusing, though the glossary is helpful.
Educational value:
Will make readers curious to know more about the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Parents and teachers may want to check out the author's website to help readers put the book in some context.
Positive role models:
She is a true hero who shows great courage. Readers will appreciate that she honestly relates her experiences as a child a complicated time, her growing conclusions about what was happening
around her -- and the difficult choices she had to make.
around her -- and the difficult choices she had to make.
Violence:
Ji-Li's grandmother is slapped in the face. Descriptions of beatings and suicides are included.
Sex:
Not an issue.
Language:
Mild expletives are used several times.
Consumerism:
Not an issue.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not an issue.
More on Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Review It
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
- 50% say language is an issue
- 50% say it's educational
Most useful reviews by all members
mominashoe
parent of and 3 , 4 , 12 year old
parent of and 3 , 4 , 12 year old
My son read this for his 6th grade Pre-Ap Language Arts class. He said he liked it just fine. I read some of it to him and it left me wanting to read the whole book. I did have to explain to him what a "sanitary belt" was, other than that we didn't have any concerns with the book.
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vinillabean7
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
The most capturing book i have ever read!!!
this is the first book i have read completly with deep understanding. i am 12 years old and this book taught me a lesson don't abuse your powers of what you have. be happy of what you have and the freedom we have in this country because in the country in this book has no freedom and you relize people have much less thhan you!!!
I sugjest you read this book...trust me!!!
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Must read for everyone
this book was so GOOD! and it was really touching. The only thing that was kind of bad for children was when An Yi's grandma committed suicide
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dancingdivaz
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Horrible
It's horrible. I feel bad for Ji-li and all...... but the way she describes it, uhmm -BORINNGGGG!!!!!! It's like, THE WORST BOOK EVER.
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annyonmousgirl
parent of 17 year old
parent of 17 year old
Dare to explain?
this book will have you stashing kleenex in nearby spots, its a heart wrenching story of a chinese girl who was brought up believing that the loyalty of her family should be traded for the help of bettering the community and society. This book truly captures the struggle of a teenage girl in a communist government struggling to battle many inner demons and outer. It contains deaths, abuse, and other things that are looked down on in our society, but in hers, people simply look the other way. I truly believe if you read this book you will see, we as Americans are lucky.
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tommysportsgirl
adult
adult
A life-changing book!
Every American child should read this!! This is one of those books you can never forget- sad, moving, and heart-breaking!
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LaAnDfAbItY
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
I cried
It was horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^_*
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hotfertea
adult
adult
I got bored
This book is very boring. I do feel pity for her life and what happened but she makes it sound so boring. If you have no life or friends or awareness of whats fun, then read this book. For those of you in touch with reality, don't read it, it's very boring and the name Grandpa Hong made me crack up. By the way, Ji-Li Jiang has very bad grammar.
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Martha-IkBob
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
ages 14+
i am reading this book at school and im 12 years old, we have to read it but i dont understand a thing !
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iMeiMei
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
This was a really good book. Ya'll dumb.
For the people who thought this was a bad book, you guys are stupid. You guys don't know what a good, meaningful book is. You guys take your life for granted. I am 12, in the 6th grade and I read this for my homework in a day. I loved this book. I could compare to it. I don't think the author, who has WITNESSED this whole thing, can "throw in things" in the book when these are TRUE FACTS. I could understand if you guys didn't understand a thing in the book; probably because you're uneducated. "I can't believe some1 published this book!!!11!" Lol, I can't believe someone stupid as you, talkingmajor, is alive in the world. I can't believe you're so stupid someone would make some creature like you come to life. This is sad. You're one of the stupidest people I have ever seen. Go die, please.
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talkingmajor
teen, 13 years old
teen, 13 years old
Terrible for anyone
This book is terrible! I can't believe some1 actually published this!!! If I had a choice I would never have read it. It could've been an okay book if someone she weren't soooooo boring and if the author actually wrote it, i felt as tho the author was just throwing things in there instead of piecing it all together. One of the worst books I've ever read.
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