The Chinese Cultural Revolution

May 1, 2010
Gr 7-10-Spanning from 1966 until Mao's death a decade later, China's cultural revolution remains "one of history's most horrific political and social upheavals." Starting with a brief history of 20th-century China, the book discusses the political paranoia and machinations that set it into motion. Slavicek clearly explains this complex and confusing time for readers with little to no background in modern Chinese history, covering the social, economic, and political aspects of the era. The book is at its best when explaining Mao's political maneuvering. Numerous pull-out boxes provide context about and excerpts from primary sources. The final chapter offers a short overview of post-Mao China, explaining the country's economic growth and continued political oppression. In addition to the cited academic sources, the further-reading list gives many books and Web sites appropriate for students. With the number of memoirs coming out for middle grade and teen readers, such as Moying Li's "Snow Falling in Spring" (Farrar, 2008), Da Chen's "China's Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution" (Delacorte, 2001), and Ji-li Jiang's "Red Scarf Girl" (HarperCollins, 1997), this welcome title provides much-needed context."Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD"

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