Mao's last dancer is a true story about Chinese-Australian dancer Li Cunxin's life. It highlights the ups and downs of his life and it teaches us to never give up no matter who you are and were you live.
This story is based in China, Qingdao were everyone is poor and has barely enough money to survive. Li Cunxin is a young boy who has 7 siblings. His Niang (mum) and Dia (dad) spend most of their times in the fields harvesting Yams. But barely anyone can afford such fresh products, so they wait until the Yams dry out and eat the dried Yams that get stuck in your throats and need to be washed down by lots of water. Living conditions are some of the worst you can ever see, every family gets a bit of coal, oil, eggs and basic needs a month, and has to survive on these during all of winter. Cunxin's Niang does all of the washing,sewing,cooking and working and has 7 sons to top it all off. This family can barely afford anything and cannot put enough food on the table for their children.
But all of Cunxin's siblings share a bed and find speciality in all of the little things such as water fights or even just wearing clothes. There is absolutely no hope for anyone at this rate and everyone wants to move out of the poor life and be rich but unfortunately this is not available for everyone.
LIKES
I really like how this book puts the main character in a situation that seems impossible to get out of but makes the main character push through the hard times and do something beautiful.
DISLIKES
I dislike that in some parts of the book it gives the reader false hope of Cunxin getting out of his horrible life and makes the reader just give up.
This story is based in China, Qingdao were everyone is poor and has barely enough money to survive. Li Cunxin is a young boy who has 7 siblings. His Niang (mum) and Dia (dad) spend most of their times in the fields harvesting Yams. But barely anyone can afford such fresh products, so they wait until the Yams dry out and eat the dried Yams that get stuck in your throats and need to be washed down by lots of water. Living conditions are some of the worst you can ever see, every family gets a bit of coal, oil, eggs and basic needs a month, and has to survive on these during all of winter. Cunxin's Niang does all of the washing,sewing,cooking and working and has 7 sons to top it all off. This family can barely afford anything and cannot put enough food on the table for their children.
But all of Cunxin's siblings share a bed and find speciality in all of the little things such as water fights or even just wearing clothes. There is absolutely no hope for anyone at this rate and everyone wants to move out of the poor life and be rich but unfortunately this is not available for everyone.
LIKES
I really like how this book puts the main character in a situation that seems impossible to get out of but makes the main character push through the hard times and do something beautiful.
DISLIKES
I dislike that in some parts of the book it gives the reader false hope of Cunxin getting out of his horrible life and makes the reader just give up.
I really like this post Mikayla. I think this sounds like a good book
ReplyDeleteHey Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteWith your amazing description I now really want to read Mao's last dancer! Keep writing great blogs because I enjoy reading them!!!
~Isla