The world is changing for two girls in China in the 1970s. Da Qin-Big Piano-and her younger sister, Xiao Qin-Little Piano-live in the city of Wuhan with their parents. For decades, China's government had kept the country separated from the rest of the world. When their country's leader, Chairman Mao, dies, new opportunities begin to emerge. Da Qin and Xiao Qin soon learn that their childhood will be much different than the upbringing their parents experienced.
"Graphic memoirs are a cornerstone of the graphic-novel format, but rarely are they written with children as the primary audience. In eight short stories, Liu has done just that, giving younger readers a glimpse into her life growing up in China just after the death of Chairman Mao. By linking her stories to a teaching by Confucius that says one learns in three ways-by studying history, by imitati
Booklist Online
"Wife-and-husband team Na Liu and Andrés Vera Martínez use a graphic-novel format to bring Liu's childhood in 1970s Wuhan, China, to life for contemporary children. Much will seem the same-family life with a younger sister, school, a visit with a semi-scary grandmother-but the particulars in the eight vignettes included here make all the difference. Liu recalls her uncontrollable (and uncomprehend
The Horn Book Magazine
"This title travels through the childhood of Na Liu in Wuhan, China in eight delightful stories. The book is illustrated by her husband with colorful pen and ink drawings. The stories take Na and her sister from the death of Chairman Mao to a visit to her grandmother and relatives who live in the countryside. One of the stories explains the various symbols used during Chinese New Year. The China o
