I've now read 5 of Min's books, and loved them all. However, I wish that I had read this one first, even before reading her memoir "Red Azalea." This is the book that will help you understand her other writings. ( )

An American teacher travels to China. She teaches at a school there and ends up forming close relations with her students. I fell in love with the wild character of Lion Head and sympathized with Zebra's toils of life. Frustrations of Communist China through American eyes. ( )

I listened to this one on tape must admit that I found Red Azalea better. This book is about an American teaching English in Shanghai in the early eighties and her interaction with her students. The main characters include Zebra, who becomes Katherine's friend and has her own tragic Cultural Revolution history and another male student named Lion Head. There is a love triangle or two, Katherine and her students breaking the rules and even Katherine's attempt at adopting a Chinese orphan (not realistic for todays time frame but that was before International adoption was as we know it). Worth a library check-out. If you listen to this one on CD/tape, there are parts that are not for kids. ( )

gelezen ca. 2000. Stond me bij, wist titel en auteur niet meer. nu in boekhandel weer herkend ( )