Name: Red Scarf Girl
Rating: 3.740740740740741 (27 reviews)
ISBN: 9780439063005

Ji-li Jiang

A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

Red Scarf Girl

Flavia Louise

3.5 stars
I liked the beginning of the book a lot more than the last third but overall thought this to be an interesting look at the world and "Communist China". I had to stop reading this for a while because it unfortunately got very wet a few days ago.

Story Eater

During my first few years in the United States I was continually astonished at the freedom Americans enjoy. One Halloween evening I was watching the parade at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. I was amazed to see that all the celebrators were enjoying themselves so freely. They had no fear of being criticized by their bosses or arrested by the government for expressing themselves, even if they criticized or mocked the president. (271)
 Ms. Jiang's experiences, told at a level that young children in upper elementary can understand, are very harrowing and creepily familiar of the growing tensions arising in the United States today.

I am amazed of the work ethic Ms. Jiang and her young contemporaries held, and that she stood so firmly against the constant fear and pressure to betray her family. Even more amazing still, her inner monologue shows a critical thinking ability that resisted the propaganda and peer pressure fed to her everyday. What a great example she shows for modern young people (and older people) of the world.

This narrative also told a very scary story in a way that provides just enough warning and anxiety to young readers without being too mature, graphic, and upsetting. It is a great addition to any history curriculum studying China's history and/or the dangers of communism and the mob mentality that can bring down a whole country with hatred.

Jeni Enjaian

Until I came to enter a review, I did not realize that I had already read this book. The only thing familiar about the book recently was the title. I knew I had heard of it before but could not remember where. Now I know.
Unlike other books that I choose to read to knock them off the to-read list and then discover that I have read this low-quality book before, this book has a lot of quality. Usually I do not remember the others because they were so lousy that I stopped paying attention. I am not sure what the story behind this one is.
Through the book, my historian's heart kept breaking at the loss of so much culture and history in the name of a "Cultural Revolution." The terrible prejudice that remained shows that prejudice is part of the human race that exists regardless of what political or commercial system is followed.
This is an excellent book to learn about the events and witness the incredible destruction that they wreak.

Red Scarf Girl A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

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