LitPick Review
Li Cunxin grew up in a poor village in China. He shared a room with his five other brothers, and rarely ate meat. His parents were hard-working peasants who only made pennies per day. But when he was chosen from millions of children to study at the Beijing Dance Academy, his whole life changed. He quickly became the envy of his village and at age 11, Cunxin left his hometown for the first time and traveled to Beijing. At Beijing, he studied ballet at the academy for six years. For Chinese New Year, Cunxin returned to his rural family home to celebrate the holiday with his family. His success eventually led him to be chosen as one of the first two people to leave China and travel to the United States to dance. Cunxin left behind his family and home and entered life in an entirely different culture. In the US, the cost of Cunxin's dancewear is the equivalent of two years of his dad's salary. Ultimately, he spent sixteen years dancing with the Houston Ballet, gaining national and international attention. This is a memoir that follows the story of a poor Chinese boy who became an international star.
Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book because Li Cunxin accurately portrayed the differences between life in rural China and life in the United States. I was born in China, but I was born in the cities. The difference between city life and rural life in China differs greatly. By reading this book, I really saw that difference. When Cunxin was leaving home for the first time, his brother gave him two Yuan that he had been saving for two months. When I read that, a wide range of emotions surged through me. I also enjoyed reading about Cunxin's life in America and how it greatly differed from his life in China. I was amazed by his change from being a poor farm boy to an international star. That took years of hard work and determination. After reading about his childhood, I feel really lucky to have the life I have now. I also learned that no matter what your family background is, it is always possible to leave this path and seek a better life. Overall, this book is well written and I recommend it to people of all ages. Even though the novel does not reflect the lives of all people in China, it gives readers a personal perspective to rural life in China.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, IL USA
