A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution - Red Scarf Girl

It was a very touching book it made me realize how lucky I am. I kept on thinking to myself why couldn't they have left her alone she wasn't responsible for her background. I feel so sorry that she didn't get to grow up like a normal child. I wish her childhood hadn't been ruined by Chairman Mae. I really enjoyed the book because it let you know what happened while your parents were younger and how children got brutilized when they hadn't done anything wrong. I really feel sorry for Jiang Ji Li's family I also feel sorry for An Yi's family especially her grandmother. I think it was so sad when An Yi's grandmother and Ming Ming's father commited suicide.

I read this book quite a few books ago. What I remember was that it was very compelling. The author is forced to serve the "People" and endures many hardships while working in an Army production camp. Her description reminds one of Siberian memoirs on not such a grand scale, rather a Chinese adaptation.
The author begins by demonstrating her arrogance through stories of her childhood prior to service in the camp, she was selfish and cruel.
She excels as a patriot, and is promoted as a leader within her work group, she doesn't prove to have much compassion for others. Her colors most vividly show in one particular scene; when two people are discovered as lovers meeting in secret (male/female relationships are forbidden), with horrible consequences a result. The author eagerly participated in their punishment, only to suffer deep regret later. However, this experience, the enduring exhaustion of the camp, and lack of personal freedoms brings about a metamorphosis.
She realizes that there is no humanity in Communism, no true accomplishment in which one can truly take pride; her disillusionment brings about her own self-discoveries in the end making her a better person.
I found the narrative honest, in no sense was did it come across as embroidered to make it more compelling.

"We were proud of our precious red scarves, which like the national flag, were dyed red with the blood of our revolutionary martyrs." Red scarf girl is a compelling memoir of a young girl, Ji-Li Jiang who grew up during the Chinese cultural revolution. This book was a wonderful read, rich in history and culture and was narrated beautifully. Loyalty, love and understanding are the characteristics which make Ji-Li Jiang the heroin she is. The many hardships she endures, strengthens her and allows her sincerity and righteous courage to penetrate and shine through.

Ji-Li is living during the time of a Chinese revolution started by chairman of the Chinese communist party, Mao Zedong, or chairman Mao. Ji-Li is a very bright student, and is offered a spot in one of the most elite junior high schools in China at the time. In school, many would chant phrases praising Chairman Mao, and she willingly joined in, so as to prove her loyalty. However, soon she realizes that the government can achieve their goals by influencing the youth rather than adults who may be resistant to change. Therefore of course, as naive some children tend to be, they become easy targets. In addition you'd expect that in a country where everyone is treated as equals, that justice would for the most part be present, but there is a catch,there is a class system. Ji-Li is below middle class and she pays for it in ways that will always leave a bruise in her heart.

This book not only depicted a picture of bravery and loyalty, but also of sorrow, pain, and loneliness. Ji-Li is exposed to unjust treatment of her people which include harsh physical labor, public embarrassment, abuse and house raids in which the communist party is able to strip families of personal and valuable items. You begin to feel the emotions on the pages which quickly turn sour, and all at once you've opened a door to history, culture, and an unforgettable, heart-rendering story which becomes difficult to put down. I recommend this book. It's a story of survival, and Ji-Li sure is an incredible fighter. I'm almost sure you will not be disappointed.

Jiang Ji-Li, the writer and main character of the Red Scarf Girl, was a girl who grew up in China. The Cultural Revolution, started by Mao Ze-dong, began the year Ji-li turned 12 years old, in 1966. Her early life was joyful. Ji-li was respected because she was intelligent and she was trusted. However, soon she learnt she was from a landlord family, which was one of China's Five Black Categories. Chairman Mao wanted all of China's Five Black Categories to be punished. This would include Jiang Ji-Li. She then realized that some of her opportunities would have to be given up, like her not becoming a Red Successor or Red Guard because of her background. Red Scarf Girl is a worthwhile read because it shows how Jiang Ji-Li is a model hero. She is intelligent, mentally strong, and brave. Throughout the book, she fights hard to keep her family and friends safe.

Red Scarf Girl is an amazing memoir and historical nonfiction book. I would recommend this book especially to teenagers and kids. They can read the book and relate Jiang Ji-Li’s challenges and obstacles with their own problems.

"Red Scarf Girl" illuminates with great clarity the dehumanizing oppression that the Cultural Revolution imposed for a decade on political and social life in China. The powerful story of the adolescent Ji-li Jiang and her family's fate is told with extraordinary clarity, simplicity, balance and pacing. Its effect is suspenseful, frightening, even terrifying, as an extreme and inhumane political ideology takes hold of China and insinuates itself into all aspects of life. Revolutionary fervor becomes a devastating wedge when thrust into the heart of families with the power to pry apart the most intimate of human bonds. I learned a great deal about how this form of totalitarianism, which was attractive on a certain level, was also able to suppress so many harmless human freedoms and personal ties and turn them into crimes. It caught many people, who couldn't help their hereditary bourgeois "class status" any more than handicapped persons can help their handicaps, in a diabolical no-win situation where they were forced to chose between denouncing and disowning families who had loved, raised, and needed them, and loyalty to the "greater good" of a revolution that willingly trampled over human rights. "Red Scarf Girl" contains many lessons for Americans in these difficult times when the need to preserve our freedoms from real threats bred of fanatacism must be answered with responses that don't compromise our historic commitment to democracy, tolerance and human rights.

Have you ever thought that you didn't have a good class status? Well, this girl didn't! That's girl name is Ji-Li. Ji-Li hated going to school just because of her class status! Can you believe it?! Some people get teased and they still like going to school.

Well Ji-Li lives in China. She lives in a house with her mom, dad, brother, and sister. Her brother's name is Ji-yong. And her sister's name is Ji-yun. Ji-Li has this one best friend. Her best friend understands Ji-Li a lot. Her best friend's name is An yi. An Yi has always been there for Ji-Li. An Yi stood up for Ji-Li when Ji-Li was in trouble.

One day, she went to school, and something terrible happened! Read this book, "Red Scarf Girl" by Ji-Li Jiang. I don't like this book, but other people will. Different people have different tastes of books. Find out what this terrible thing did to her life!

An excellent narrative of what happens when a culture falls apart. Ji-li starts as a happy Communist child looking forward to her future, going to high school and college, and helping to make China a better place. But when the excesses of the Cultural Revolution take over, her professor father is imprisoned and their friends revile them. It becomes a culture of fear and ignorance, where the desire to learn or teach is considered a criminal offense. It makes a wonderful foil for 21st-Century United States, where education and thoughtful examination of the issues is considered elitist and even anti-American. It doesn't take much for a culture to fall apart when education and compassion are vilified.

Although this book is rated as "Young Adult," I found this book to be suitable for all ages. Its style is mature, fails to be self - pitying, culturally and socially aware, and is also very down to earth. The epilogue finishes the work beautifully, giving the reader a look at the present life of the mature Ji - Li Jiang, and positively sums up why she wrote the book. If you want an excellent idea of how Chinese Communism appeared from an adolescent's point of view, this book is your best bet. It will definitely be classified as one of my more vivid memories of books I've read.

This is a wonderful book that drew me in. I really felt for Ji-Li Jiang, the main character. I read it when I was in elementary school and didn't know anything about the Cultural Revolution. It educated me and I also liked how realistic it was (that's because it is a true story) and how Ji-Li agreed with communism, and it took a long time for her to realize how wrong it was even though she herself suffered a lot.
It's not five stars though. It's a good book and I can't find anything wrong with it, but I've read better and it's not one of my favorite books. But I still highly recommend it.

Ji-li Jiang, the writer and main character of the Red Scarf Girl, was a girl who grew up in China. The Cultural Revolution, started by Mao Ze-dong, began the year Ji-li turned 12 years old, in 1966. Her early life was joyful. Ji-li was respected because she was intelligent and she was trusted. However, soon she learns she is from a landlord family, which is one of China's Five Black Categories. Chairman Mao wanted all of China's Five Black Categories to be punished. This would include Ji-li Jiang. She then realized that some of her opportunities would have to be given up, like her not becoming a Red Successor or Red Guard because of her background. The Red Scarf Girl is a worthwhile read because it shows how Ji-li Jiang is a model hero. She is intelligent, mentally strong, and brave.
Ji-li was intelligent and was at the top of her classes. Throughout the book, Ji-li was the smartest student, had perfect test scores, and she was given the biggest opportunities because of her academics. Ji-li helped other students in math because she was the best in the math class. This was one of the honors given to her because she was intelligent. In addition, her perfect tests reflected how she was so dedicated to her studies. Early in the book, Ji-li was given the opportunity to be a Liberation Army soldier because she was intelligent, physically strong, and flexible. However, Ji-li could not be a Liberation Army soldier because of her family background. Ji-li was given many chances to succeed because she was intelligent and she used her gifts to go beyond what her family history limited her to. When she could not be a Liberation Army soldier, Ji-li kept on studying hard because later in her life, she might be given that chance once more.
Ji-li Jiang, in addition to being intelligent, was mentally strong throughout the Cultural Revolution. She went through many tough times, like when she went through reading a da-zi-bao about her and her teacher, Ke Cheng-li. During the Cultural Revolution, a da-zi-bao was a posted note that humiliated people by telling others what the accused person was charged with. The da-zi-bao was about how Ji-li Jiang was Ke Cheng-li's favorite student. During this time, Ji-li used her mental strength to get through her troubles. She did not take revenge upon the people who wrote this about her although she was the one who helped them through their questions and troubles in the classroom.
During the Cultural Revolution, Ji-li Jiang remained brave, in addition to being intelligent and mentally strong. Later in the book, Ji-li Jiang, along with other classmates, went to work on the rice farms as summer labor. Everyone had to work either in the factories or on the rice farms. At first, Ji-li choose to work in the factories so she could look after her family. Her father was forced to work in labor because he had performed a counterrevolutionary crime, which he refused to confess. A counterrevolutionary crime is a crime that is done against the Communist party. Ji-li's family did not see him for more than three months. Without her father, Ji-li had to go work. Her grandmother was too old to work in labor, and her mother had Ménière's disease. Ménière's disease causes one to be dizzy, weak, and nauseous. Ji-li's mother could not work under these conditions. Lastly, her younger sister, Ji-yun, and her younger brother, Ji-yong, were too young to be able to work in labor. However, a friend, Chang Hong, told Ji-li if she worked on the rice farms, she could work hard so the officials would overlook her family background throughout the summer. It was then Ji-li became brave and left her family to work in the rice-fields.
Ji-li was intelligent, mentally strong, and brave. She always tried to succeed, even when she was held back by her family history. Ji-li was mentally strong, even when she was humiliated among friends and neighbors. Lastly, Ji-li was brave, as when she left her family to work on the rice farms by herself. The Red Scarf Girl is well written. Ji-li Jiang's troubles allow us to know how hard it was to grow up in a politically oppressed family during the Cultural Revolution. She was a real life hero.

Red Scarf Girl is a crushing story that covers two years in the life of its author. Set during China's cultural revolution in the 60s, it reveals the ideologies as well as the brutalities of communism. The author skillfully writes from the perspective of a twelve to fourteen year old girl. Initially its emerging principles bewitch this young girl while its unjust realities simultaneously confuse her.

This book was on the suggested summer reading list when I was in 6th grade and so, since it was about China and I'm in love with China, I decided to check it out.

It was amazing.

I heard the author speak at my dad's school and hearing her in person is just as amazing as reading her book. Maybe I loved it so much because I'm so avid about Chinese history (I study the language in school), so if you're less interested in the topic you'd probably not want to read this.

But if you DO like real page-turners about communisum through a child's eyes, you should read this!

Red Scarf Girl, by Ji-li Jiang, is about her experience of growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Chinese ruler Mao Ze Dong launched the Cultural Revolution to rid China of anti communist ideals. Many people were ruthlessly prosecuted for being considered capitalists, revisionists, or threats to communism. Ji-li Jiang's family was among these people. She captivates audiences as she relates her heroic tale of surviving the Cultural Revolution. Ji-li symbolizes many heroic traits, like perseverance and courage, which readers will admire. She faces difficult decisions between family and politics while trying to achieve in that harsh environment. Ji-li Jiang captures the attention of readers in Red Scarf Girl as she struggles to establish her identity, strives to succeed, and she displays courage during China's Cultural Revolution.
Ji-li Jiang at the tender age of twelve was expected to assert an identity either for or against the communist party. Ji-li's father's boss told her, "Now you have to choose between two roads. You can break with your family and follow Chairman Mao (Mao Ze dong) or you can follow your father and become an enemy of the people (pg. 226)." Readers could comprehend the immense difficulty that Ji-li felt in making this decision. She was forced to be a hero, determine which side was right, and defend her position. During the revolution, Ji-li's family was considered a black family, or a family against Chairman Mao. Ji-li considered changing her name. One could only imagine the hard time Ji-li was having if she was considering to break from her family. Due to her black status, Ji-li was unsure if she should participate in the Class Education Exhibition at school and risk unwanted criticism. She wanted to avoid bad publicity but also longed to succeed. Audiences became curious to learn if Ji-li will remain true to her family or if she will follow her beloved Chairman Mao and the communist party as she grew up during the Cultural Revolution.
Ji-li always strived to succeed, even when it was difficult to in the Cultural Revolution. The heroic perseverance Ji-li demonstrated is amazing despite her hard situation. Ji-li tried to rid herself of luxurious "bourgeois" habits by doing housework. She felt by performing chores she would not be associated with her black class status and her grandfather, who was a landlord. When Ji-li was sent to the rural country to perform summer labor, she showed the strength and ambition a hero has. Ji-li's summer task was to help with the rice harvest in the withering heat and harsh conditions of the farm. Readers admire Ji-li's ambition to continue with this labor and the devotion to Chairman Mao she showed while harvesting was impressive. In the classroom, Ji-li also worked diligently to earn good grades in school. In school, if Ji-li aced a test, her classmates congratulated her. She felt the approval and appreciation a hero experiences when he or she succeeds. Ji-li Jiang was determined to achieve during the Cultural Revolution, despite the barriers of this time and readers will feel inspired by her determination.
To survive the Cultural Revolution required courage, and Ji-li definitely had this courage to overcome the obstacles she faced. At school, humiliating da-zi-bao was written about her that made her feel angry and embarrassed. Still, she continued to attend classes and maintain her personal dignity. Facing the classmates who wrote the awful posters took admirable courage. The incident that first required Ji-li to show all her bravery is the detainment of her father. Her father was held at his theater for being a rightist. Ji-li must display she is not afraid of what could happen since she had to be responsible and she could worry her mother. Another time Ji-li showed courage was when her family was accused of owning large amounts of land and businesses in the past. This was considered a crime in communist China and her family was scorned and mocked for it. Ji-li tried very hard to reeducate herself and maintain honor and dignity. The courage Ji-li showed in Red Scarf Girl was astounding.
Ji-li Jiang's story shows readers that despite how difficult times become, one must strive to survive as best as possible and maintain faith in oneself. She is truly a hero that readers of all ages will love to read about. She is ambitious, determined, and audacious. She demonstrates qualities of heroes throughout the ages. Her story makes readers appreciate the individual freedoms of the United States. Ji-li Jiang is a true hero who covets success and shows bravery during China's Cultural Revolution.

The memoir Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang is a poignant and true story about a young girl's coming of age during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Set in the late 60s, Ji Li was an enthusiastic Young Pioneer who dreamed of becoming a part of Chairman Mao's renowned Liberation Army. However, the intelligent young girl was about to get a startling insight into the true nature of the Communist Party. This memoir shows how youthful enthusiasm and patriotism were exploited by the political party and plunged the era into tragedy and turmoil.

Throughout the book, there is a constant stream of unpleasant events popping up in Ji Li's life.Chairman Mao was a turgid river,washing away the soil that was Ji LI's revolutionary spirit with the sticks and stones of hard work and poverty until her righteous courage began to shine through. The many hardships she faced only served to strengthen her in ways she had not known she had before. She found out that she had an inner courage and stubbornness, as well as the feeling that what they were doing in school was wrong. Events at school, at home, and even in the street were gradually showing Ji Li that Chairman Mao's Revolutionary China would not be at all what they expected.
Ji Li Jiang had always thought of her family as perfect. In times when rooms were small and cramped,her family had a room ten times as large and a hundred times brighter than many of her classmates. On Saturdays there would sometimes be wonderful parties where her Dad's colleagues would come and visit. Everything was perfect in her life until the Liberation Army Dancer came to Xin Er Primary School. After being tested for flexibility, Ji Li was chosen as one fo the few students recruited for the honor of auditioning for the elite Central Liberation Army Arts Academy. However,when she shared the happy news with her family during dinner, their reaction was different from what she expected. "Don't do the audition" was all her father said, but those words revealed that the political background of her family was not as perfect as she would would like to believe. Should she obey her father or pursue her dream? None of her classmates at school could see the innter battle that wreaked havoc within Ji Li's mind. Then, when some of them turned upon her in revolutionary righteousness, Ji Li was thrown even deeper into confusion.
When she was forced to listen to her bourgeois Aunt Xi-wen read the shameful da zi bao posted about her, Ji Li realized that there was something truly wrong with Chairman Mao's ideology. Surrounded by her revolutionary clasmates, however, she could do nothing but stare at her feet in shame.When her father was detained on the basis of a false accusation of listening to foreign radio, Ji Li was pressured to stand againsd her father in trial. By so doing, she would be allowed to purge herself of her family's bad class status and go on to become a Red Successor. Ji Li knew that it was not the right thing to do. She stolidly refused to betray her father each and every time the matter cameup and it showed that there was a great deal of inner strength in the 14-year-old girl.
The story of the Red Scarf Girl flows smoothly. The honest and staightforward way that Ji Li retells her childhood makes the reader feel as if he/she were really there. However, it is mildy depressing to follow so many tragic events in a young girl's life. For readers who are looking for fun books to read, this is not a good choice.

Overview of book:
Ji Li Jiang, was a twelve year old girl living in China during the 60's, who had everything going for her; intelligence, admiration of her peers, and a leading personality-all until Chairman Mao Ze Dong, launched his views of communism in the year of 1966. Everything began to change for Ji Li and her family, she and her family were now the center of numerous accusations, and humiliating insults all because her family's past class status. Because she was well off economically, she was criticized for over working the poor and paying them little. Some poor citizens blamed the countries poverty on unequal distribution of wealth. Many thought it wasn't fair that there were rich people driving by in their nice automobiles while poor starving beggars living on the streets were desperately struggling to survive. "Down with the Four Olds!" was a common fraise that was expressed, which meant execute old ways. The majority of the country was completely brainwashed and was teaching their children that they must get rid of the way things used to be. It got so ridiculous, almost everything you did and owned was considered a four old, and was either confiscated and destroyed or you were criticized and humiliated in public. Then, Ji Li was faced with the most important decision of her life; part with her family and follow chairman Mao, or stay with her family and continue to be humiliated and accused of breaking the four olds and live in fear of the communist party. Ji Li as well as many others lived in great fear during this time, and lives were changed dramatically forever.
Opinion:
The Ideal audience for this book was for everybody! It was a book about a serious issue that adults can understand and relate to, but it was told through the eyes of a child so that children too, can understand. The author's literary techniques were used in the form of foreshadowing, and through static characters. Ji Li Jiang, initially stayed the same throughout the story, although she was forced to mature a lot quicker than she normally would have, with having the new responsibilities of taking care of her younger brother and sister and her mother. The story was told through an interesting point of view that was very personal because it was based on a true story of the author herself. The book was an absolute page-turner with the point of the theme to show "just how much one person can effect the lives of so many". Ji Li was so innocent and had an admiring personality. She ran into breathtaking events that kept you off the edge of your seat and made it extremely interesting to read. Recommendations for this book are, I believe everyone should read this book because it teaches you a good lesson, with a little bit of history from a very personal point of view.

Red Scarf Girl is about a memory of the Cultural Revolution. Ji-li Jiang is the main character. She also has a brother called Ji-yong Jiang and a little sister called Ji-yuong Jiang. She has a friend, An-Yi, who often helps her when she has a problem. Ji-li Jiang had a rich family. Being rich in China at that time could cause families to be separated. It could cause families who were rich five months ago to have to live in a cottage working on a farm, getting whipped by the farmers who owe the land they're working in. It could even cause them to be killed! Ji-li is aware of all of this, and is trying to keep her family safe.
This is not a fiction book -- it is a memory about what Ji-li Jiang thought about the Cultural Revolution. You might think that this book is a girl book; but it's really about how people lived in the Cultural Revolution. If you like humor, this is not the book you're looking for -- it has a little humor in it, but it really is a sad story. Nothing goes well in the story. All the cliffhangers keep the reader in the story to see what happens next. Not all chapters end with cliffhangers, but sometimes there is a cliffhanger in the middle of a page which make the reader read a lot faster to see what happens to the person or what happens next. This book is a really detailed story about how people lived during the Cultural Revolution.

Ji-li opens up to the world what her suffering meant to her in her childhood. Her bravery held her up through the beginning of communism in her country. Red Guards (supporters of the Cultural Revolution) roamed the streets, ransacked homes, beat teachers, and took Ji-li's father to "detention". The pain of Ji-li flows through the book. The before admiration of her peers went to hate. The bright future as a Red Guard becomes dark. Ji-li's hopes and dreams fall from automatic judgment and ancestry. Ji-li's story is devastating but her determination in Mao's dark world is inspiring.

This is one of my favorite accounts of the Cultural Revolution. I found it totally engrossing. It's often in the juvenile section of libraries though I think it's every bit as interesting for an adult to read, and really helps you imagine what it was like to live during such a tumultuous time. I'm fascinated by China in general and by the Cultural Revolution in particular and this is one of the best books I've read about that time period.

In today's world, people are taught that heroic people must influence the masses. Only those who have monumental physical strength, celebrity status, or piles of money have the resources to affect the world around them. Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang disproves these notions. This non-fiction book tells the story of a 12 year-old girl growing up in the midst of the Cultural Revolution who becomes a hero to her family. The glossary at the end of the book defines the Cultural Revolution as "The social and political upheaval that overtook China from 1966 to 1976. During this time many innocent people were ruthlessly persecuted. THe Cultural Revolution was launched by Chairman Mao, supposedly to rid the country of anti-Communist influences. Long afterward it was revealed that Chairman Mao unleashed this chaos in order to protect his own political position." (pg. 276) Red Scarf Girl is a moving, well-written story.
The book opens with a prologue, in which Ji-Li tells the reader the single most important lesson in school: "Heaven and earth are great, but greater still is the kindness of the Communist Party; father and mother are dear, but dearer still is Chairman Mao." (pg. 1) The people of China are brainwashed with this mantra, but Ji-Li does not feel it plays a large role in her life until sixth grade. Always a high achiever, she is looking forward to attending Shi-yi, an elite middle school. Then, Chairman Mao nullifies all teacher recommendations and divides children into schools by neighborhood; meaning Ji-Li will not go to Shi-yi. This is only the beginning of Ji-Li's problems. She becomes an outcast in school, her house is searched and Communist officers take everything of value, all because of her family's middle class status. Ji-Li's father is held in prison because his father was the evilest of all men - a landlord. Ji-Li is offered freedom from her "black" (non-Communist) class status by Communist officers. All she has to do is break from her family and testify against her father. No 12 year old should have to make the decisions she did.
Ji-Li Jiang used literary techniques to tell her story effectively. She is very descriptive, for example, "The kitchen, located on the landing and crowded with pots and pans and a two burner stove, was crowded and stuffy. With the heat from the sun outside and the heat from the stove in front of me, I was simply melting." (pg. 90) Ji-Li uses dialogue to make the story more interesting. Though she may not have remembered exactly what everyone said, the dialogue keeps the book moving. Although the book does not tell of her life throughout the entire Cultural Revolution, the book has a satisfying ending; not a fairytale finish, but a hopeful one. All of these storytelling elements enrich Red Scarf Girl.
One of the most important qualities of a hero is selflessness. Ji-Li Jiang showed this repeatedly. A Communist officer offered to let her change her name in order to break from her "anti-Communist" family. She almost does, but then, "I thought of Aunt Xi-wen lying in the alley (being punished for having bad class status), and Shan-Shan (her son, who had "broken" from her) walking right past her. I jumped up and ran out." (pg. 215) Later, people from her father's work unit pulled her out of class and gave her a very serious decision to make. "'As I told you before, you are your own person. If you want to make a clean break with your black family, then you can be an educable child and we will welcome you to our revolutionary ranks'...I saw myself standing in the middle of the stage, facing thousands of people...condemning Dad for his crimes, raising my fist to lead the chant." (pg. 224-5) Ji-Li refuses his offer, which meant that although she would be frowned upon in society, she would remain faithful to her family. It would have been easy for Ji-Li to change her name or testify against her father to save herself. Heroes, however, have the strength to be selfless.
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang shows how one 12 year old had the strength to be a hero, to be selfless. Ji-Li was not rich, very physically strong, or well-known. She only put others before herself, a truly heroic action. Clearly, Ji-Li Jiang put her best effort into this book. Red Scarf Girl is exceptionally written, and can inspire everyone.

When I first heard about the book, it was because a friend recomended it. She said it was one of the best books she ever read, and after reading it myself I completely agree. It is about a girl growing up in the Chinese Cultural Revolution and facing the challenge of growing up in a family with a bad reputation according to the government. I liked this book because it really made me think about how kids are living. Also, because I like books about people with a realistic life, not a fairytale. I would reccomend it to any of my friends!

Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang was a fascinating memoir about Ji-li's life during the Cultural Revolution. This book exceptionally demonstrates the qualities of a hero, presented by Ji-li's actions. Ji-li was a smart, determined leader and she always stood up for what she believed was right, all of which are qualities of a hero.
A person would not only be drawn to this book because it takes place during the Cultural Revolution, which was a horrible time period for many people living in China then, but because it is about a girl going into junior high school who is strong, inside and out, by standing up for what she believes is right, no matter what criticism and punishment she faces on her quest to make things right. In this book, Ji-li comes from a family of bad class status because her grandfather was a landlord. The Communist Party, which Ji-li belongs to, is run by Mao Ze-dong who is trying to reform China by getting rid of the Four Olds: Old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. The Red Guard, a group of teenagers who live to serve Mao Ze-dong, search the homes of families with bad class status to confiscate any objects and possessions that might have fallen into the category of one of the Four Olds. Since Ji-li was born into a family of bad class status, she is told that she still has a chance to become an educable child. She would have to do whatever it took to prove herself loyal to Mao Ze-dong, even if it meant breaking from her family. One night, Ji-li's father is arrested by the citizens of Shanghai, the city where the story takes place, and Ji-li has to decide between two choices: whether to break off relations with him and her family to become an official supporter of Mao Ze-dong, or to support her father and family, which would cause her to sacrifice any future that she would have in the Communist Party.
An example of when Ji-li demonstrates her heroic nature was when she was able to stand up to her enemies, Du Hai and Yang Fan. Ji-li was being teased by them for saying things that were Four Olds. They were tormenting her so much that finally, she was able to come back with thing that they had done which were Four Olds also. This part of the book is significant to the idea of heroism because part of being a hero is standing up to your enemies and not letting anyone bring you down.
"Not me. I'll never be a quitter." This is a quote from a part in the book where Ji-li is given one more chance to prove her loyalty to Mao Ze-dong by working in a rice field as summer labor. This is a terribly difficult job, working for many days bending over rice plants in the scorching heat. One day as she was working, Ji-li faints from exhaustion. Her friend, Chang Hong who is a member of the Red Guards, says that she should stop working in the fields, but Ji-li doesn't want to give up. She loves her family and she also loves Mao Ze-dong and the Communist Party, so she feels that summer labor is the only way that she can have them both. This scene in the rice fields symbolizes how determined Ji-li is and how she will never give up on a task, no matter what the circumstances are; a true quality of a hero.
This story about Ji-li in the Cultural Revolution brings out the qualities that are put together to convey the theme of an exceptional hero. The heroic actions that Ji-li takes to stand up for what she believes in makes this story very enjoyable and uplifting even when her family is going through emotional struggles. This story is well-written and detailed and anyone who is interested in China and the Cultural Revolution should read it.

The book Red Scarf Girl, A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution, was before I opened this book I was not sure of what it was about. I did not know much about the Cultural Revolution and I did not know if I was going to like it. From the second I opened the book I was hooked. For some reason it made me very interested in it and I found myself actually looking forward to reading it. I usually don't like to read anything other than car magazines and sports books but I actually enjoyed reading it. It showed me how things were during the Cultural Revolution, and what people went through. Even though this book was written by a Childs point of view the author really got her point across. Since this book was based on the early 1960's I think it gives a good perspective on how people were back then. In this book there is a lot of poverty that is shown. Throughout the book the girl, "Ji-Li Jiang has to over come the "fourold's," a group of vigilantes that are sent from the state to make sure that everyone is in fashionable wear. She explains that she does not even want to go to school because of this. This is one of the things that I learned from this book. I never thought that there would ever be fashion police. As I said before, this is just one of the hardships that Ji-Li Jiang over comes in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the Cultural Revolution. However due to the depressing amounts of events that come in this book, I would not recommend it to someone as a fun read.

I have never read a book quite like this one. Ji-li Jiang, the author and main character brings you into this story with background information about Ji-li's lifestyle, and what is taking place in China at the time. Ji-li and her family are told to have a bad class status and is criticized by her friends and neighbors. Ji-li is stuck in a very hard position of whether to stay loyal to her embarrasing family, or to become part of the communist China, led by their leader Chairman Mao.
Chairman Mao believes in the Fourolds, old culture, customs, ideas, and old habits. It is extremely hard for Ji-li and her friends and family to survive. Poor Ji-li tries making new friends, but has to hope that her peers don't know about her and her family.
This is an excellent book and very inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone between the ages of 11 and 16. While it is based on history, and I for one am not a fan of historical books, I could not put this book down once I reached a certain part of the novel. The author takes you into her story and lets you practically see and experience what is happening right by Ji-li's side. Not only does she detail these experiences, but she backs up her details with wonderful sentences.

This book takes place in China during the Cultural Revolution. The main character is the author Ji-Li Jang. This book tells the inspirational story of taking place in the Cultural Revolution. This book tells about how her family is a landlord's family and a black family. The book tells about how her family was discriminated during the revolution. I would tell every one to read this book. 5 star review.

This manages to accomplish in few short pages, what many textbooks have been unable to do: give the reader a real view into the cultural revolution in an interesting and gripping way. I read this book in one sitting, expecting to immediatley donate it when done and instead, I'm buying copies for family members. It's that good! This is one book that has a permanent place in my bookcase.

What choices this little gal faced and how well she told of it. I was young when all this happened and only have vague recollections of it. I am glad to have an awakening and a strong reminder of how strongly we should cling to what America's founding fathers designed for us.

When Ji-young was a little boy his grandmother had told him about a distant uncle who was living in China during the Cultral Revolution. He promised to send a picture of himself to his relatives in America. He was happy he stood and when sad he would be sitting. When he grew older he went West to China, he learnd more.
The community worked for the benifet of the poor.
I would recomend this story to any Middle School student. I would recomend it to any Middle School student because it is a really good book I liked it because it was easy to read and understand.

This was and excellent book! I reccommend it to 12 or 13 year olds. It is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It frightened me that this was a true story. Ji Li Jiang uses her descriptive,touching talent to write this novel that touches the heart in many different ways! This non-fictionous book will teach others the importance of family, friends,and pride.

It's geared for junior high/high schoolers, but it's great for adults who can't delve into a long study on the C. Rev., but want more than a shallow overview. It's plenty meaty to satisfy intellectuals, but it's a quick read. It gives amazing insight into the C. R., depicting clearly why people followed Mao, but showing the awful flaws. Although it's a story about a girl's life, it uses vocab/dates/hist. facts to make it an extremely useful study.

And I'm a teacher: This book in a two-week unit will give your students more long-term knowledge (regardless of effort) about Chinese hist. than any textbook could! What a book! It should be required reading in Chinese history courses!!!

Now I'm reading "Wild Swans: 3 Daughters of China" (for adults). Ch. History (1909-78)...Such a terrific book for Ch. history study!!!

Red Scarf Girl was a great book summarizing the Cultural Revolution of China. It explained the difficulties that Jiang Ji Li faces when she is young. It also shows the difficulties and struggles of a being a part of a "black" family status. The book includes the critism that she receives from her classmates and neighbors. The book discusses the four olds and the four news of China and the impacts they have on the Chinese people, especially Jiang Ji Li's family. The book does a great job of showing the different feelings each person has in the book. This memoir of the Cultural Revolution has brought back the many feelings of the Chinese people and is a great non-fiction back that I would recommend this book for those who like a compelling book.

I think this book was good, an had a lot of good details to help the story go on.My faverit persn was Jang Ji Li she was brave though out the story. The funniest part in the story was when Ji-Li put the letter in the litter box,an the cat peed on it. I would recomend this book to someone who thinks they have a bad life

This is a great book. I gave it to my two chinese immigrant students and I'm excited to see yjeir take on this since they study the cultural revolution in their school. I got to meet the author in a seminar and she's amazing.

My 14 yr old read it and loved it. Great eye opener for what people went through during the Cultural Revolution. It only proves just how devisive Communism really is. There was not an overload of them, but still would have preferred less cussing.

I think this book was great.It was so cool how I could feel Ji Li's fears and pain when I read about them.I even felt her fear when the Red Guards came and searched her house.I would reccommened this book to kids 12-14 years old.I'm so glad that my teacher gave me this book to read.

it was a good book. it tought a good lesson. I liked learning about ji-li-jiang life. They were fighting for a cause that i dont agree with. I dont think she knew what the meaning of what she was fighting for. But she was born into it with her parents teaching her these things. I admire her fight and i would recamend this book to others.

I am in fith grade and am 11 years old. I read this book and i seriously could NOT put it down. It is FULL of sespense and is the ULTIMITE book for you if you like suspense and social stuff. Definitely DO NOT judge this book by it's cover. Read this book, my friend!!!!!

This book shows you a part of history most people never even heard of. Through this book you see through a young girl's point of view what it was like for your whole world to be turned upside down and have all the table turn on you. I reccommend this book to everybody.

My 14 yr old read it and loved it. Great eye opener for what people went through during the Cultural Revolution. It only proves just how devisive Communism really is. There was not an overload of them, but still would have preferred less cussing.

I think this book was great.It was so cool how I could feel Ji Li's fears and pain when I read about them.I even felt her fear when the Red Guards came and searched her house.I would reccommened this book to kids 12-14 years old.I'm so glad that my teacher gave me this book to read.

it was a good book. it tought a good lesson. I liked learning about ji-li-jiang life. They were fighting for a cause that i dont agree with. I dont think she knew what the meaning of what she was fighting for. But she was born into it with her parents teaching her these things. I admire her fight and i would recamend this book to others.

I am in fith grade and am 11 years old. I read this book and i seriously could NOT put it down. It is FULL of sespense and is the ULTIMITE book for you if you like suspense and social stuff. Definitely DO NOT judge this book by it's cover. Read this book, my friend!!!!!

This book shows you a part of history most people never even heard of. Through this book you see through a young girl's point of view what it was like for your whole world to be turned upside down and have all the table turn on you. I reccommend this book to everybody.

I love reading books written for children. Having tried it myself, I know it is not an easy thing to explain things in the simple way that a child will understand. I was specially rewarded by reading Red Scarf Girl. I have read many books and articles about the cultural revolution, but none so compelling as the first-hand account by Jiang Ji Li. Imagine our society and what it would be like if the government suddenly supported and encouraged children to inform on their parents and teachers, even allowing them to insult and persecute those who have sacrificed so much for their well-being. Congratulations, Jiang xiao jie -- you have scored a winner first time out!

I happened on this book in the children's section of a bookstore while on vacation and decided to read it. All I can is that everyone young and old should read it. Ji-Li tells a story that is both heartbreaking and tense with drama, but also one of courage and determination. If you take your present polictical freedoms for granted you need to read this. If you think that similiar situations could not take place in the USA, you need to read this book and think again. Great reading is not just for esacpe, this book will make you think.

Ji-Li Jiang presents the story of her early teen years in this memoir. It covers a subject not often discussed in history classes - China's Cultural Revolution. Although there are a few gaps between chapters and a bit of jumpiness within a few chapters, the story is passionately told. Jiang's presentation of the Chinese views of Americans at the time are particularly important for young Americans to realize. This is NOT a whiney, whoa is me, telling of a terrible time in her history. That is what makes it so good.

This book shows the problems faced by a young, bright, pre-teen during the cultural revolution in China. It really shows the problems she faces as she tries to grapple with a world that is constantly changing. The history is sound and the viewpoint of this young girl is particularly riveting. I'm using it as summer reading.

My opinion of this book is it was great.I mean it told exactly what was going on and what jili was feeling.I believe that her sticking with her family instead of changing her name was the right decision.

Red Scarf Girl
Ji-Li Jiang
$8.09 ISBN 0-06-027585-5 0-06-446208-0
Copyright 1997 by Ji-Li Jiang

The main character of the book Red Scarf Girl is named Ji-Li Jiang. Ji-Li is a twelve-year old girl who has everything she needs. She has the brains and the admiration of her classmates. During the next few years, her family gets humiliated by their former friends and neighbors. Ji-Li has to go through with having her dad being detained. This book is about what Ji-Li Jiang went through during the Cultural Revolution. The genre of this book is a memoir.

The way I read this book was by pacing myself by starting on a certain page, and ending my reading for the day. During the tragic scenes, it made me want to cry. But when something happy was happening to the Ji-Li or to her family, I was really happy. I would recommend this book to an 8th grader or high-school kids, unless you are the kind of person that likes learning about partially the bad part of the Chinese history.

I think that Ji-Li Jiang doesn’t write anything like authors like J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling writes really good and popular books, but I don’t think that J.K. Rowling makes big scenes seem bigger than they are. But on the other hand, David Henry Hwang wrote this book and it lets the reader’s feel how the main character which in this case Ji-Li feels about when her dad gets detained.

Jessica Ng
7th grade
Lawson Middle School
Cupertino California

After reading this book, I have a better understanding of China's Cultural Revolution than I ever gained from a history class. Jiang tells the story through the eyes of a twelve year-old, and even American adolescents will be able to see themselves in her struggles, even if they can't quite relate to the political situations causing them.

The Bronze Bow serves up engaging historical fiction, though the story could have been told with about 30% fewer words.

I've been reading this book aloud to my homeschooled kids, 10 and 8, and it appeals to both boys and girls.

In the Kindle edition, there are a few dozen typographical errors.

This book is about the cultural revolution. Through her own difficult hard times, the author tells the story of her and her family from the age of 12-14. This book is great for children and adults. It really tells what happened to family's during the cultural revolution

Read this book for a work assignment (editor) and will make it required reading for my 12 and 14-year-olds. I was spellbound and horrified by what this brave young girl faced by those (school, community) who should have protected her.

Red scarf girl is a really good book. It has funny parts, sad parts and happy parts, all mixed together.It also explains a large part of a foreign country's history, which you might not know about. That's why I think it deserves 5 stars. (Also,my uncle helped translate it, but I still feel the same way about it.)

This book does show the horrors and problems with Chairman Mao's cultural revolution adequately. However the author really fails to put any emotion into her writing. I think that if she would have told more about her feelings of apprehension, grief, and fear throughout the book, her message of how horrible life really was would come through more clearly. The plot was definetly full of facts but lacked excitement. Maybe Ji Li should have hired a real author to write her story.

The main girl in this book was named as Ji- Li Jiang. This girl got teased in school a lot, but her best friend An Yi is always there for her. Her brother is a trouble maker and she tries to look out for him, but he doesn't listen half the time. I do not really agree with her argument, but other people might. This book was okay. It had its good parts and boring parts.

Risking that I will make it sound 'cliche' I would like to say that this madness is part of many a fanatic power-hungry oppressive regime. Honestly to a point I could swear I hear my grandma telling us about the communist takeover after the WW2 in the Czech republic then Czechoslovakia. My husband an Iraqi Kurd told me similar stories of enforced worship of Saddam, only his was actually more brutal story with the government sending poisoned exotic fruit like oranges, to eliminate part of the population, not to mention the horrific stories his friends told of Halabja the city attacked by chemical weapons... So I can relate to this one and I must say the writing and the settings described are very realistic. A worthy read for anyone who wants to understand just how bad things can get when monsters are allowed to run unchecked...

The main girl in this book was named as Ji- Li Jiang. This girl got teased in school a lot, but her best friend An Yi is always there for her. Her brother is a trouble maker and she tries to look out for him, but he doesn't listen half the time. I do not really agree with her argument, but other people might. This book was okay. It had its good parts and boring parts.

Red Scarf Girl

By Jili Jang

Have you read a book that isn't interesting? Well Red Scarf Girl by Jili Jang isn't what you want to read. I don't want to read this book because it isn't interesting. Sometimes it is hard to follow the book for example first she is reading a book then she is out on the street in a crowd trying to break a sign. See I don't think you get it.

Anyways Jili is a girl who has a bad back round and is getting teased because of it. Also the whole town is trying to get rid of fourolds and Jili's family has tons of them and gets her house searched.

This book does not catch your attention and you kind of can't see what is happening in the story, but if you are a person who likes reading autobiographies on people who is loyal and has love for her family then you should read this book. If you are not sure if you want to read the book read the back of the book. Red Scarf Girl by Jili Jang.

There's a 12 year old girl named Ji-Li. Her father is an actor and her mother is a performer. Red Scarf Girl isn't my type of book, but the author, Ji-Li Jiang is a very talented person. It tells you about all the sadness and excitement that happens to Ji-Li, Ji-Li's family and friends. She has a best friend named Ai-Yi, Which you will hear about a lot in the book. You should go for it if you like autobiographies.

Ji-Li is a very happy 12 year old girl before she got called down to the gym. My favorite is when she did a back bend and touched her ankles in the gym. Ever since she couldn't go for a test she had a lot of problems. 2 students named Du-Hai and Yan-Lan Lan loved to pick on Ji-Li because of her problems on her family background. Some how she figured how to solve her problems.

If people like autobiography books than this is the book for you. I didn't really like the book because I don't like autobiography books. I recommend this book to people who love to read autobiographies and historical books. Some good things and bad things go in the book. Students tease Ji-Li just because the things they heard about her. The book Red Scarf Girl has sadness and excitement. If you want to know what happens than read this book and find out!

How would you feel if you would rather have a country than a family? Bad of

Course. I think that this book isn't my kind of book .I really think that this book is really

Boring and girly every time we have a lit circle book it's always a girl book why cant we

Ever have any boy books.

I really don't like this book because I think it is boring bad and just plain stupid. I

Am definitely against this book I hate this book so much I would rather sit down for a

nap instead of read this book and I hate this book. Most types of books I like are usually autobiography.

I may think that this book is stupid and boring but you should still read it actually wasn't all that bad you might like it I know that you will definitely like a lot more than I probably ever will I hate it but you might like it. This book is called Red Scarf Girl the author is Ji-Li Jiang

It took me forever to read this book because it is sooo boring! Normaly it takes me about 3 days to read a book that thick but it took me 2 weeks instead. I would not recomend this book unless you are into the Chinese culture. All my friends but one hates this book as much as I do.

Do you ever feel like your life isn't how you want it to be? If you don't feel like that then do not read Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang it is boring and makes no sense.

Ji-Li is the main character she also has written this book. This book makes no sense even though it is called Red Scarf Girl it doesn't even talk about the red scarf. This book jumps from one thing to another. This is the most annoying book I have ever read. This chapter book made me get confused and it made no sense to me, the other people in my group didn't like this book either. Ji-Li, her friends and her family have to many problems.

You would like this book if you like boring biographies. The story happens during the depression and stuff happens to her family. To find out what happens to Ji-Li's family read this book and find out other wise do not read this book. Red Scarf Girl is boring, doesn't make any sense. The book doesn't have enough detail and in my point of view is really long because of how confusing it is.

This book was the worst book I've ever read. It was scary, confusing and just plain beadly written. Some of my friends loved this book, some of them thought it was a peice of trash. I'm with the people that say it's a peice of trash. I felt like I was forced to read this book. I wanted to trough it away forever. The book was badly written because she decided to jump through different time periods and the story just didnt fit together. I would recomend to NOT read this book. if i would have to rate this book with 10 being the best and 1 being the worst, I would rate this a 1 and a half. I tell you, don't pick this book up!

This book is very unintristing. The subject its self is a good subject but the way she tells it is not very exciting. I had to read this book for english class so I payed very close attention to i but it was alo very confusing! It takes place in COMMUNIST China which was Buddhist but the main character is a muslim. The book did not explane this which made it very confusing.