 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
- By Ji-Li Jiang
- Genre: History
Common Sense Media says
Devastating portrait of brutal political movement.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
What's the story?
In her memoir of growing up in Shanghai during China's Cultural Revolution, 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.
Is it any good?
Torn by conflicting emotions, author Ji-Li Jiang is the perfect guide to the complexities of the Cultural Revolution, which many readers will encounter for the first time here. She struggles to be a good Communist almost to the end of the book, even trying at one point to change her name to avoid being identified with the landlord Jiangs. At the same time, Ji-Li is too intelligent to ignore the ironies and contradictions in her tormentors' dogma. Jiang's writing sometimes strains for effect, and the narrative ends abruptly, but the story is engaging. She is a true hero who honestly relates her experiences as a child in a complicated time, her growing conclusions about what was happening around her -- and the difficult choices she had to make.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about personal memoirs. How do stories like this impact the way we learn history? What are the advantages and disadvantages in learning about events this way?
Also, can you think of other memoirs by young people who lived through dramatic or terrifying events? What are some other historical autobiographies you would be interested in? Check out Common Sense Media list of recommended books on this page for some ideas.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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Kid, 12 years old
November 17, 2011
AGE
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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| Author: | Ji-Li Jiang |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | History |
| Publisher: | HarperTrophy |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1997 |
| Number of pages: | 285 |
| Hardcover price: | $0.00 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 10 |
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