Review:
Revolution is not a dinner party by Ying Chang Compestine
Puffin,
2008.
ISBN 9780143303855, 244 pp
(Age 11+) This story of living through Mao's Cultural Revolution,
relates one family's experiences, as they yearn for freedom and
privacy. Ling lives with her family in Wuhan, comfortably off with her
father a doctor at the local hospital and mother, a nurse. But when one
part of their flat is given to Comrade Li, things change. Initially the
changes occur to other people, but when the Red Guard seize their
neighbours, taking them off for re-education, the reader knows that
Ling's family will soon suffer as well.
Bullied at school, where she is not allowed to wear the red scarf of
the workers, Ling manages to remain high spirited and defends herself
against all accusations and intimidation, but when her mother becomes
the victim, she learns to toe the line. The harsh treatment dolled out
to the people of China who are not true believers in the eyes of a few
radicals, becomes overwhelming, and just as the reader wants to cry
'enough', Mao dies, and the radicals are imprisoned.
A fascinating insight into the methods used by the Red Guard and their
supporters, the story is involving as the reader gets to know just what
happened during the Cultural Revolution through one family. Yang's easy
style is effortless to read, and gives a great deal of background
information which readers will absorb painlessly. Students of China
will eagerly read this book.
Fran Knight
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Consulting, 2007