Set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (late 1960s and early 1970s), Sunflower, a young girl and her artist father are banished to do hard labor in the countryside at a cadre school. It’s a difficult life for her and she is lonely. She meets Bronze, the mute son of poor villagers, who is bullied by the other village boys. After Sunflower’s father dies, Bronze’s family takes her in despite facing extreme hardship, and Sunflower finally finds happiness. This engrossing, beautifully written novel, with luminous imagery, will broaden readers’ horizons. Notes in the back of the book provide historical background and information about Cao’s inspiration for the book. mjw |
Title: Bronze and Sunflower
Author: Cao Wenxuan
Illustrator: Meilo So
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. London
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: Chinese
Translator: Helen Wang
Original Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 978-1-4063-4846-0
Paperback pages: 400
Age range: 9 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Damaidi, China
Author’s ethnicity: Chinese
Author’s residence: China
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence: England
Awards: 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Shortlist
Subjects: China, Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Friendship, Poverty, Survival |