Translated from Chinese by Helen Wang
During the Cultural Revolution, Sunflower's father is sent to a cadre school in the countryside to do hard labor and to attend political classes at night. Sunflower entertains herself all day, lonely and missing her talented sculptor father. One day he drowns. The other attendees of the cadre school cannot care for Sunflower. Across the river is a farming village. The attendees ask if any family would adopt Sunflower. Although Bronze's family is poor, they volunteer to care for Sunflower and to welcome her as a family member. Bronze, who is mute, his parents, and grandmother love Sunflower as their own. Even when disaster and misfortune come to their home, they persevere and draw closer together.
A sweet story of sacrifice, loyalty, love, unselfishness during difficult circumstances
I loved the imagery and figurative language utilized.
Points to discuss/warnings: Sunflower's dad drowns, sometimes parents beat their children when they have disobeyed, the grandmother dies, natural disasters, poverty, Chinese culture, the "cultural revolution"
-Borrowed from the library.
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