Bookverdict.com

Gr 3–8—Young brings his exquisite sense of design, expressive brushwork, and mastery of a variety of mediums to the story of his childhood in China. A note explains how Koponen helped shape the stream-of-consciousness text. In the opening spread, birds lift off from the bottom of the brown pages, filling the heavens. Red rice paper forms the delicate outlines of Young's parents and their five children, connecting them as one transparent image. The text reads: "War was spreading to Shanghai, my father said, like the crows tha...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

In 1931—when Japan invaded Manchuria—Ed Young was born. Three years later, his provident father (a U.S.-educated engineer) built a capacious brick house in Shanghai's "safest part…where the embassies were." The house became a wartime refuge to his family of seven, many other relatives, and three Germans. Young maintains a child's-eye view, focusing on life in the house (it had one of only three private swimming pools in Shanghai and a skating rink on the roof) and the children's lively games. He slips in only the most salient historical turning...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

As told to Libby Koponen. In 1934, Ed Young's father built a house in Shanghai's "safest part," and it became a wartime refuge for the fami...Log In or Sign Up to Read More