People's
Republic of China (Romanization
according to international Pinyin norms)
16
Cao, Wenxuan
Gen Niao (A boy named Gen Niao)
Shenyang : Chunfeng-Wenyi-Chubanshe, 1999.
- 217 p
(Bu-laohu-congshu)
ISBN 7-5313-2103-3
Boy - Hunting - Adventure - Girl - Coming of age
It is the first time for 14-year-old Gen Niao to go hunting on his own. He
shoots down a white hawk and finds a message tied to its leg. »I am Zi Yan. I
was lost in a deep gorge. Help!« Yet, when Gen Niao asks the villagers about
this gorge, nobody seems to know anything. One night, Gen Niao dreams about Zi
Yan. He sees the gorge, full of lilies and lined by cliffs on both sides.
Determined to find her, Gen Niao sets out on a long and dangerous journey on
which he suffers hunger, illness, and fear and often struggles for survival.
Eventually, his dream comes true. Using the pattern of an adventure story, the
author makes his protagonist undergo several trials and perfom heroic deeds.
By the end of the journey, the boy has turned into a strong young man. (12+)
Special
Mention
17
Qin, Wenjun
Tian-tang-jie-san-hao (3, Tian Tang Street)
Nanjing : Jiangsu-Shaonian-Ertong-Chubanshe, 2001. - 226 p
ISBN 7-5346-2437-1
Cowardice - Friendship - Violence - Self-affirmation - Reconciliation -
Everyday life
This book is the latest novel of Qin Wenjun, a well-known and much-loved
author in China. She began writing for children in 1981 and so far more than 3
million copies of her books have been published in China. »Nan-sheng-Jia-Li«
(»Jia Li in Junior High«), »Shi-liu-sui-shaonu« (»A 16 year old girl«)
and »Gu-nu-julebu« (»The Orphan Girls Club«), among others, have been
awarded prizes for children's literature and in 1996 she won the Italian
International Mondello Special Prize. Moreover, many of her books have been
adapted for films and TV series. Her works always keep the balance between
quality and popularity. Like many of her other novels, the poignant narrative
of this book does not look for the spectacular but focuses on the joys and
sorrows of everyday life. Family, school, friendship, and emotional problems
of Lang Lang and his friends are in the centre of these vividly told stories.
The subtle description of their feelings, told with a deep understanding makes
the book a remarkable read. (10+)
18
Zhang, Zhilu
(text)
Ai, Di
(illus.)
Fei-fa-zhihui (Unlawful wisdom)
Beijing : Beijing-Shaonian-Ertong-Chubanshe, 2001. - 266 p
ISBN 7-5301-0885-9
Death - Mystery – Computer
There are strange things happening in a middle school: Lu Yu changes his
name and behaves as if he was a completely different boy. His father, a famous
specialist in brain surgery, suddenly dies at a gas explosion in their kitchen
and mysterious pictures of ladybirds turn up in the collars of Lu Yu's
classmates. Sang Wei, the main protagonist of the book, is fascinated by the
events and sets out to solve the mystery. As an established screenwriter, the
author knows quite well how to catch and hold the attention of young readers.
Concentrating on speed, excitement, and imagination, the author has written a
well-paced, edgy science fiction story about high-tech computer crimes in a
simple and clear style. (10+)
19
Zheng, Chunhua (text)
Shen, Fan / Kong, Binglei (illus.)
Youeryuan-de-nan-laoshi (The male kindergarten teacher)
Beijing : Beijing-Shaonian-Ertong-Chubanshe, 2001. - 95 p
(Guan-guan-tushu) (»Da-tou-erzi«-mama-jiang-gushi)
ISBN 7-5301-0870-0
Kindergarten - Teacher - Everyday life
Brother Ou Yang is a male kindergarten teacher. Every child loves him,
because he is so different from the female teachers. He is extremely tall and
strong and can easily lift the children with his huge hands. He tells them
funny stories, teaches them how to have a sand-bath, and how to fight against
bad guys. Yet, when a frog suddenly jumps out of a box, he is as scared as a
little child. Now it is the children who surround him and calm him down. In
this charming picture book, which is part of a new series called »Stories of
Big Head Son's Mama« and written especially for kindergarten children, text
and illustration form a perfect unity. The author's most famous book »Da-tou-erzi-he-xiao-tou-baba«
(»Big Head Son and Little Head Dad«) has been adapted for a TV series. (4+) ¤
20
Yang, Hongying
Nu-sheng-riji (A girl's diary)
Beijing : Zuojia-Chubanshe, 2000. - 367 p
(Zhonghua-ertong-wenxue-jin-jiang-shuku)
ISBN 7-5063-1702-8
Girl - Diary - Family - School - Everyday life - Coming of age
The author of this book has a daughter in grade 6 of elementary school. In
this vividly written diary she narrates events of her daughter's busy and
colourful daily life. Readers dive into the girl's world, they meet her
classmates, experience her feelings, and share her secrets and troubles. They
witness the girl's surprise when she feels the changes of her body for the
first time and see her grow into a young woman. The girl's graduation from
elementary school eventually marks the end of her childhood. Full of love and
understanding, the author carefully records even minor details and includes
witty remarks and real-life dialogue. Thus she allows the reader to share the
pains and pleasures of growing up. (8+)