Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

A moving tale of love and hardship, Li captures the essence of living in the time of the Cultural Revolution. The story moves seamlessly from his childhood, to the Ballet Academy in Beijing, to his life abroad, and although the back cover contains a full synopsis of the story, it really isn't the plot that makes this book special, it's the way he portrays Mao's China and the little incidents that made up the big picture of his lifetime. Competing with rats for food, witnessing the execution of counterrevolutionaries, and finally defecting from his motherland, this is a captivating autobiography by a truly amazing dancer--a must-read.

Suitable for: Weekends and Holidays

Age Group: Young Children (picture book), Kids (kids' version), Teens, and Adults

Star Rating: 9/10


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Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo, is a emotional story about how hard life is for people living in third world countries and the huge impact of war on communities.

Shadow is about a boy (Aman) and his mother who have been through a lot to escape their country, but have been forced to return. During the war in Afghanistan, they escape their country, however, doing so is not as easy as it sounds. Aman and his mother come from a tribe that is disliked by those who are evading into their country and everywhere they go they could be facing trouble. However, wherever they go there is a dog that is following them that attracts a lot of attention.

The story is quite sad as it reflects many's lives even nowadays. The plot is also quite interesting; it is rather unexpected, so that adds to the excitement. This book is made up of many chapters, each with a different character narrating, which is a new twist on an old idea.

Age group: 11-15 years

Rating 7/10

By Alvie