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Read Chu Ju's House (2005)

Chu Ju's House (2005)

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Genre
Rating
3.93 of 5 Votes: 5
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ISBN
0060507268 (ISBN13: 9780060507268)
Language
English
Publisher
harpercollins

Chu Ju's House (2005) - Plot & Excerpts

I think this is a good book. It is very discriptive and interesting. Chu's life is kind of similar to mines though, which makes it have many connections. I would like to know why do most chinese parents think girls are not as good and useful as boys.Chu's grandpa passed away and everyone was sad. Grandpa spends the most time with Chu than anyone of the family members. Her dad and grandma both hope that the baby in her mother's tommy is a boy. The family is not that rich so they can only have two child. They also want a boy so that they can pass on the generation.Now the baby in Chu's mother's tommy is born, but it turns out to be a girl instead of a boy(they wish of). Her dad and grandma was really disappointed and was thinking of where to sell the baby girl. Chu also went and ask her grandma to name the girl, but she said "no." Therefore, Chu named her Hua and took care for her since mom is still in bed. One day, women came in and see how much Hua worth and will come back the next day to take her. Chu thought of leaving the house so that Hua does not have to leave. Therefore, that night when everyone was fast asleep, she sneaked away and and gotten into a fisherman's boat. Now, Chu got caught buy the fishing man and told him the reason why she ran away from home. Chu lied and told the truth when she was talking to them in order to stay safe. Lastly, they let her work with them since she know how to beat the fish and be helpful. Yi Yi is the wife of the fishing man with two other sons. Yi Yi showed Chu how to beat, clean, and dry the fish. She also told her how much she would like a daughter. Chu was surprised with that conversation because she never heard that a parent will want a daughter.

This book is mostly memorable to me because of the setting. I haven’t read many books that were set in China, and it was interesting to experience another culture. I am not exactly sure when this book is set, though. It seems to be fairly modern, with mentions of blue jeans and television, but no dates are given. I am guessing it's during the 1980s or 1990s. I also like how this story shows how horrible the Chinese law is that limits the number of children a family can have. This isn't a terribly complex book, but it does introduce some interesting cultural themes, and Chu Ju is a very courageous heroine in her self-sacrifice for her sister. It is also nice how her way is lighted by the unexpected kindness of strangers (there are also some truly nasty characters, like her grandmother, but goodness does seem to triumph in the end). One thing I didn't like is that Chu Ju lies a lot. There are also a few crude references, but they were very minor.

What do You think about Chu Ju's House (2005)?

This novel is definitely going to be a part of my classroom library. Taking place in present day, it shares the story of a young girl in rural China who runs away from home to spare her baby sister being sent away. This is an engaging tale which reveals the horror and oppression of communist China. The characters are well developed and believable. The plot is fast paced, sure to keep the attention of young readers. There is so much action that I think it will appeal to both boys and girls, even though the protagonist is a girl.
—Sharon Bohlen

This book was about a girl living in China. Her family is disappointed that they only have a girl in the family, so when they have a second child and it's a girl they decide to put it up for adoption (only two children are allowed per family, and they want to try again for a boy). Chu Ju (the protagonist) decides to run away so that her new sister won't be adopted -- the family won't have to give their third child away. So then most of the book is following Chu Ju's travels after she ran away.The story was really good, and it had me hooked until the last page. :) I HATE the grandmother in it, though... she hates Chu Ju and she's the one who convinces the family to try and give away the baby girl.
—Anne-Marie

Families in China are only allowed to have two children, and most families want to have at least one son to take care of the family once he grows up. Chu Ju is the eldest daughter, and when a sister is born, her Nai Nai (grandmother) insists the baby has to go to the orphanage, and the parents must try again and hope for a boy. Chu Ju can’t bear to think of her baby sister being sold, so she chooses to be the one to go. Chu Ju runs from place to place, unable to find somewhere to stay longer than a year or so, until she comes to the farm of Han Na. Han Na’s son wants to live in Shanghi, and Chu Ju is his perfect excuse.Chu Ju proves to be the perfect help for the elderly woman, and in the end everything works out beautifully for Chu Ju—she finds a boy she likes living nearby, gets the farm and visits her family.This book gives a good view of China as it is in the countryside. Whelan paints a picture of what it’s like to live in Communist China, and how it is difficult for a girl to feel like she is worth something. Chu Ju goes through many things before she finds her true happiness,though it doesn’t feel like a coming of age story. Time passes quickly and easily—at the beginning of this short novel Chu Ju is 14, and at the end she is 18. She is a likable character, nonetheless, and readers will sympathize with her struggles. This is appropriate for a Juvenile chapter book collection, but I’m going to shelve it with Homeless Bird, which is in my YA area, so Whelan’s books are easily found by readers who enjoy her.
—Ruhama

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