palomasstefani's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
beesirius's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
efsimpkin's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a perfectly fine children’s book. I first read this probably 20 years ago and while I had remembered main themes like the auction and the factory, I had forgotten a lot of the rest. There’s a decent amount of messaging here about resilience and persevering and finding good people in bad places. It’s wonderfully short and a very quick read too. I can’t comment on whether or not it accurately represents 90s China or Chinese culture, as a disclaimer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Grief
hanihoney's review against another edition
this is soo sad and emotional! what she has to go through just because she is a girl! i love
Lu Si-Yan for being so strong at so young. :,)
Lu Si-Yan for being so strong at so young. :,)
quenchy_cactus's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It was a sad story (I never cried tho). Very impactful and really showed a dark side that people try to hide; child labor, selling humans and even a bit sexism. I hated the uncle and how he is just forgiven now (even though she didn’t forgive him, she is still following him). I hated that the mom died as well, my hope was that the girl would escape and on her own way get back home and meet her mother and brother. But well well 🤷♀️
a_very_dyslexic_reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking and Slavery
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying and Sexual harassment
magpi3's review against another edition
4.0
I remember reading this one when I was younger, along with Chinese Cinderella but it's coming back to it as an adult that the full scale of it hits you.
This book, while it may appear like a light hearted children's book, is anything but.
It explores some horrific practices such as selling young girls as brides, to the potentially horrific working practices.
And yet this book is still a really interesting and thought provoking read.
This book, while it may appear like a light hearted children's book, is anything but.
It explores some horrific practices such as selling young girls as brides, to the potentially horrific working practices.
And yet this book is still a really interesting and thought provoking read.
sammy_nor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5