From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5?Six stories about school children in Taiwan. The subjects are universal, and readers will recognize the characters' hopes and fears. In one selection, Gao Mai wants to win a school contest without losing her friend; in another, Kun Pei learns that there are more important things than winning a race; and in a third, Da Wei becomes closer to his mother during his beloved grandmother's funeral. Wu includes many facts about everyday life in this country, but the information does not intrude on the tales. The transliterated Chinese terms used in context are perfectly understandable, and they are also defined in a glossary. The cover art is colorful and attractive, but the interior illustrations (one picture per story) are dark and scratchy pen-and-ink drawings. A good choice for anyone wanting contemporary stories about children living in another country.?JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5^-8. Beautifully connected through their common setting and characters, these six simply written short stories, which take place in a small manufacturing city in southern Taiwan, are about values: religious, secular, and cultural. Goa Mai wants to win the abacus--at the expense of her best friend. Kun Pei discovers that the safety of his pigeon is more important than winning. Da Wei questions funeral rituals, only to realize that he derives comfort from them. Honesty prevails after Ping Mei struggles with cheating. These stories provide a look at Chinese life as well as an understanding that young people of any culture deal with everyday issues. A chapter offering brief explanations of Chinese customs and a glossary are helpful.
Susan DeRonne
