Compestine's decision to fictionalize her memoir was a good one it makes the history far more approachable than, say, a book such as Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang, which is more realistic but, by the same token, harder to relate to. It can seem more like a tale of an insane asylum where the inmates have taken over, and the lack of sense and logic can be almost as frightening as the violence. To a Western child growing up in comfort and privilege, stories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution can be hard to understand as history. All of these features make it an excellent introduction for upper elementary and middle school readers to this frightening period in Chinese history. Her growth in maturity and inner strength makes this as much a coming-of-age novel as an historical one. The events of the book, carefully described so as not to be too overwhelming to the younger reader, often seem like escapades or adventures. As a storybook heroine, Ling is very relatable her determined defiance of the bullies and Red Guards is admirable, exciting, and satisfying.
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