Ji-li Jiang turned twelve in 1966, the year The Cultural Revolution began. She was an excellent student and lived with her parents, two siblings, and grandmother in one room in Shanghai. At first, she joyfully embraces the new revolutionary mandates and dreams of becoming a Red Guard. When Chairman Mao instructs the country to sweep out the Fourolds (old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits), she joins in readily. When this is followed by sweeping educational reforms, and she has to denounce her teachers, she becomes uncertain. Then her family is attacked, and she must make even tougher decisions about whether to be loyal to family, tainted by a landowning grandfather who died when her father was seven, or remain an "educable" child.

The author grew up in Shanghai, but moved to the United States when she was thirty. She wrote this book in the hopes of helping Americans understand China a bit more. Because the audience is for middle school or high school students, the book is written simply, but it remains a powerful story. I was surprised at the extent to which elementary aged students were embroiled in the work of the revolution (writing propaganda or da-zi-bao posters, participating in study groups and struggle sessions, and working on rural farms during the summer). It was interesting seeing Ji-li evolve from being a unquestioning follower as she experiences more of life during the Cultural Revolution. It was also interesting to see traces of her family's Muslim faith appear during times of stress. Her afterward provides updates on the fates of several of her schoolfriends, as well as her family, after the book ends in 1968. There is a helpful glossary as well. ( )

Great simple book for an introduction to the Cultural Revolution. It's short and a quick read and not heavy on the history. I'm still amazed and the craziness of the Cultural Revolution every time I read a new account. A middle school student could read this book. ( )

This novel is actually a historical memoir written by Ji-Li about her life during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and was recommended to me by my mentor teacher. It isn’t about the big picture of the revolution, but instead focuses on her and her family during this time of their lives. It is a great read that provides a lot of opportunity to look at another country’s culture through a historic and literary lens. ( )

Definitely recommended. Research is showing that people these days are already forgetting about super important things like World War Two and the Holocaust (some 50% of Europeans don't know that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust) and the Cultural Revolution is also being forgotten, too. If we don't learn about these types of horrors, history is bound to repeat again... ( )

Excellent for middle grades to begin to understand the Mao years in China, and the difficulties faced by the general population. This book does require some inferring and understanding of brainwashing and that characters can change during a story. Recommend for gifted ed book clubs, also. ( )

I wore the “pañoleta roja” as a symbol of socialism/communism as a child in Cuba - definitely a mix bag of good and bad memories!

I remember having to be careful about what information I shared because it could negatively impact my family...reading this book from a child’s perspective (granted, her experience was much worse but still very relatable) as a teenager felt both cathartic and validating! Re-reading it as an adult was still a good experience.

I couldn't help but think of how so many of these experiences could be so similar for individuals with such different cultures in different parts of the world! ( )

This was a really sad book for me, the author who is just a few years older then me, had to go through this while I grew up obliviously on the other side of the world watching Star Trek on TV and going to summer camp. The 13 year old girl was sent to a farm commune and worked close to death.


The best part is the uplifting ending and the author's determination to try to improve things for the country she still loves.

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This biography is by Ji Li Jiang and chronicles her life in China during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s-70s. The forward notes that had Chairman Mao not started the Cultural Revolution, he may have been remembered more favorably in history. An interesting thought since at first Ji Li supports Mao as a great leader. This book shows life during the Cultural Revolution from the perspective of a twelve year old girl. Readers will see themselves in Ji Li as she struggles to balance her personal experiences with what her society teaches is correct. This book was awarded a Notable Children's Trade Book Award.

An absolute must read. A candid account of a child who lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Never say it can't happen here... it can. ( )

Excellent Memoir of a Turbulent Time

"Red Scarf Girl" by Jiang Ji-Li covers the two years of Jiang's life in which the Cultural Revolution most effects her family. It is an intense and emotional book. The target audience is middle-school and junior high students but the book can be read quickly by adult readers.

As the book opens, Jiang is a wide-eyed member of the Red Guard, promising to uphold Mao's ideas of communism. She is a model student in Shanghai with expectations of going to an elite junior high. Quickly, however, the Cultural Revolution turns on her own family and her family falls victim.

The book is not a comprehensive history of the Cultural Revolution. It is a simple, jarring account of one girl's tragic experience. We do not learn about the political struggles in Beijing, cow sheds, or "sent down youth," but there are insights into work units and their factions, house raids, and daily life. ( )

It was amazing, well-written, and touching. I'm really glad to have read it. ( )

This was a difficult book. The author recounts her experiences as a 12–14-year old during the Cultural Revolution in China. She tells the story in a very matter-of-fact way. I'm sure things were different in different places, but my recollections of the time is that things sounded pretty horrible, and, of course, I wasn't even there. But, this helps confirm my recollections.

We did, however, have some sense of the cultural revolution even here in the U.S. We had a group of nitwits running around with Mao's little red book. I know their hearts were in the right place, but they were clearly not very bright. They thought that if they brought down "the system", everyone would suddenly become moral and holy and get along like lions with lambs. Likely those nitwits have turned into libertarians now: same kind of naive stupidity. [But I digress....sorry].

I read this, in part, because the parents of my soon-to-be, son-in-law, Victor, were swept up in the Cultural Revolution. They had been teachers who were sent into the country side to be agricultural workers for ten years (nope! they were teachers in the countryside). This process was to reeducate them in some way. I'm not sure how, and Victor wasn't much interested in telling me more. Unlike Jiang Ji-li, the author, who still espouses a strong affection for the country of her birth, our Victor's parents aren't much interested in going back, and Victor himself has zero interest in ever visiting the country of his parents' birth. [According to Victor's father, the greatest horror was in having no sense that a decent future was possible, no idea what might happen next. Fortunately, they did have a future: after 10 or so years, they came here and prospered.]

I dunno, there's a lesson in all this. When a charismatic leader, who is also a supreme narcissist with little interest in effective governance, takes control of things, bad things are bound to ensue. And so they did; and so they always have, and so, I fear, they will again.
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The gender difference is an important issue of investigation in Chinese Cultural Revolution research, and it arises from the different accounts of personal encounters during the Cultural Revolution period. The Red Scarf Girl is an engaging memoir of a bright girl whose life was hugely impacted by the Cultural Revolution, with her father imprisoned and once close neighbors becoming enemies. She had to choose, absurdly, between to save her father and herself, and to follow the instructions of Chairman Mao. ( )

It was so sad, I hated when she had to work in the rice fields. ( )

I almost gave this four stars. I think it's an important book. It exposes you to events in history you might not otherwise be exposed to. Conversation points: Propaganda; cult leadership; oppressive government; education; the power of fear; family; loyalty; media; fanaticism. ( )

Ji-li Jiang was twelve in Communist China when Chairman Mao launched the Cultural Revolution. Because Ji-li's grandfather was once a landlord, seen as taking money from the workers, her once-friendly neighbors and her parents' co-workers, even former friends, subject her and her family to scorn and humiliation, and her family feared for its life. She describes neighbors being beaten to death, the suicide of her friend's grandmother, and her father's arrest and detention. This is a well-written and engaging story of life under a dictatorship, and how she eventually escaped at the age of 30. She travels and visits schools to tell her story in person; I was able to hear her speak at Spanaway Junior High (now Middle School) about ten years ago. ( )

This memoir is part of the 7th grade Language Arts curriculum at my son's middle school. He found it very interesting (his description was "it's kind of like [b:Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood|9516|Persepolis The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1-2)|Marjane Satrapi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425871473s/9516.jpg|3303888]", and he's right).

Ji-li Jiang was 12 years old when the Cultural Revolution began. She went from being a tar pupil and happy kid to being rejected due to her "black status"--relating to her 30-years-deceased grandfather's long ago status as a landlord. A family history she knew nothing about. Her experiences during the cultural revolution taught her a lot about family, love, greed, kindness, strength, and integrity. She and her family now live in the United States. ( )

This memoir is part of the 7th grade Language Arts curriculum at my son's middle school. He found it very interesting (his description was "it's kind of like [book:Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood|9516]", and he's right).

Ji-li Jiang was 12 years old when the Cultural Revolution began. She went from being a tar pupil and happy kid to being rejected due to her "black status"--relating to her 30-years-deceased grandfather's long ago status as a landlord. A family history she knew nothing about. Her experiences during the cultural revolution taught her a lot about family, love, greed, kindness, strength, and integrity. She and her family now live in the United States. ( )

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

The Cultural Revolution in China brought vague images of giant posters of Mao and city people shipped to farms to labor. Jiang Ji-li puts a real face and heart to events that Americans can hardly imagine. This story of her life and the daily suffering of her family branded as black landlords (due to actions of a grandfather 30 years dead), is a shocking reminder of what happens when political beliefs, power and ideology rule over basic kindness and common sense. Important work that should be read by anyone wanting to understand China and the dangers of setting class against class. ( )

Jiang Ji-li was born on Chinese New Year. Her name Ji-li means lucky and beautiful. She was twelve when the Cultural Revolution started. A promising student and quite a fan of Mao at first joins her classmates in denouncing the Four Olds (“old ideas, old culture, old customs, old habits”), but soon discovers that her family’s class status (her grandfather was a landlord) places her under the scrutiny of her relatives, neighbors and classmates. Their house is subject to searches, they burn old photos, hide or disguise ‘bourgeois’ belongings, her father is taken in for questioning, and Ji-Li watches as her bright future dims.

For me, the most appalling moment was when her father’s work unit comrades question Ji-Li at school, telling the teenager to choose between two paths:

“You can break with your family and follow Chairman Mao, or you can follow your father and become an enemy of the people.”

I can’t imagine having to live a life like this, full of worries – and not just your usual teenaged worries, but worrying about your parents and grandmother and siblings, about all kinds of things:

“I not only needed to manage our limited incomes and take care of Mom’s bad healthy, I had to bear the stares and the gossiping of our neighbours and attend the study sessions at school. But these were not my biggest worries. The worry of tomorrow haunted me constantly. I worried that Grandma would be sent to the countryside, as other landlords had been, and would be punished by the farmers there. I worried that Mom would be detained for attempting to help Dad. I worried that Dad would be beaten to death for his stubbornness. I worried that Ji-yong’s temper would get him in trouble, and that Ji-yun would be so frightened that she would never laugh again. Worst of all, I worried that by not hiding the letter well enough, I had ruined our lives forever.”

What a sad story this Red Scarf Girl is. What a terrifying experience for such a young girl to go through

Originally posted on my blog Olduvai Reads ( )

Ji-Li Jiang's memoir of her young girl year during the Cultural Revolution is riveting, horrifying, deeply moving account. At the end of her elementary school days, Ji-Li was the girl most likely to succeed, star student, martial art performer, and student body leader. Before the school year is out Mao's Cultural Revolution takes hold upturning her world and home. Her star status as a student is held against her by young revolutionaries. Her family background as former landlords leads to the family's descent into a political hell.

Written in a spare style, Jiang captures her emotional struggle to be loyal to her family while still trying to prove herself do be an "educable child" despite her family's "black" status in a way that will touch young readers. As a tender hearted child Ji-Li also struggles to balance her own revolutionary zeal with her horror of the persecution of her neighbors. A few years ago I had a 12 year old student who never read anything but Manga, rarely did her work, and had a litany of discipline issues. She was just too cool for school. I suppose I should add she happened to be one of my favorites despite all that. I spent half a year trying to keep out of trouble and the other half cheering her on as she began to pull herself up to star student status herself. That year Ji-Li came to our school to speak to the 7th graders. My student was so excited; she had a list of questions. At the end of Jiang's presentations she stood up, tears in her eyes, and called out, "I love you Ji-Li Jiang! Peace!" My girl seems to have read at least book before, and Jiang's book was that one. Little Miss Cool was so touched by the book she had actually read it several times. Now that I have read it myself I understand my student's response entirely. I too love Ji-Li. Still love that kid too even though she was a major pain for most of the year. ( )

Ji-Li Jiang's memoir of her young girl year during the Cultural Revolution is riveting, horrifying, deeply moving account. At the end of her elementary school days, Ji-Li was the girl most likely to succeed, star student, martial art performer, and student body leader. Before the school year is out Mao's Cultural Revolution takes hold upturning her world and home. Her star status as a student is held against her by young revolutionaries. Her family background as former landlords leads to the family's descent into a political hell.

Written in a spare style, Jiang captures her emotional struggle to be loyal to her family while still trying to prove herself do be an "educable child" despite her family's "black" status in a way that will touch young readers. As a tender hearted child Ji-Li also struggles to balance her own revolutionary zeal with her horror of the persecution of her neighbors. A few years ago I had a 12 year old student who never read anything but Manga, rarely did her work, and had a litany of discipline issues. She was just too cool for school. I suppose I should add she happened to be one of my favorites despite all that. I spent half a year trying to keep out of trouble and the other half cheering her on as she began to pull herself up to star student status herself. That year Ji-Li came to our school to speak to the 7th graders. My student was so excited; she had a list of questions. At the end of Jiang's presentations she stood up, tears in her eyes, and called out, "I love you Ji-Li Jiang! Peace!" My girl seems to have read at least book before, and Jiang's book was that one. Little Miss Cool was so touched by the book she had actually read it several times. Now that I have read it myself I understand my student's response entirely. I too love Ji-Li. Still love that kid too even though she was a major pain for most of the year. ( )

Ji-Li Jiang's memoir of her young girl year during the Cultural Revolution is riveting, horrifying, deeply moving account. At the end of her elementary school days, Ji-Li was the girl most likely to succeed, star student, martial art performer, and student body leader. Before the school year is out Mao's Cultural Revolution takes hold upturning her world and home. Her star status as a student is held against her by young revolutionaries. Her family background as former landlords leads to the family's descent into a political hell.

Written in a spare style, Jiang captures her emotional struggle to be loyal to her family while still trying to prove herself do be an "educable child" despite her family's "black" status in a way that will touch young readers. As a tender hearted child Ji-Li also struggles to balance her own revolutionary zeal with her horror of the persecution of her neighbors. A few years ago I had a 12 year old student who never read anything but Manga, rarely did her work, and had a litany of discipline issues. She was just too cool for school. I suppose I should add she happened to be one of my favorites despite all that. I spent half a year trying to keep out of trouble and the other half cheering her on as she began to pull herself up to star student status herself. That year Ji-Li came to our school to speak to the 7th graders. My student was so excited; she had a list of questions. At the end of Jiang's presentations she stood up, tears in her eyes, and called out, "I love you Ji-Li Jiang! Peace!" My girl seems to have read at least book before, and Jiang's book was that one. Little Miss Cool was so touched by the book she had actually read it several times. Now that I have read it myself I understand my student's response entirely. I too love Ji-Li. Still love that kid too even though she was a major pain for most of the year. ( )

Both moving and chilling. A valuable perspective to complement Jung Chang's equally excellent Wild Swans. ( )

Special Features:
Foreword by David Henry Hwang - playwright, screenwriter and professor.
Several lesson plans and guides can be found on the Internet. A good site is https://www.facinghistory.org/for-educators/educator-resources/resources/teachin....