Mao's Last Dancer
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Year
2005
ISBN
9780425201336
Pages
480 pages
Genre
autobiography
Format
full length
Item Type
Nonfiction
Annotation
Chosen from millions of children to serve in Mao's cultural revolution by studying at the Beijing Dance Academy, Li knew ballet would be his family's best opportunity to escape the bitter poverty in his rural China home. From one hardship to another, Li persevered, never forgetting the family he left behind.
Grade Level
9-12
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; Poverty; living in poverty; poor; impoverished family
Main Character
boy
Race/Ethnicities
Chinese
Family Formation
mother and father
Awards
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2009
Canberra's Own Outstanding List (COOL) Award, 2008, Short List, Fiction for Years 7-9
Kids Own Australian Literature Awards (KOALA, 2008, Winner, Fiction for Years 7-9
Young Autralians' Best Book Award (YABBA, 2008, Winner, Fiction for Years 7-9
Keywords
ballet dancers; China; United States; defectors; family life; hardships
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Li, Cunxin, "Mao's Last Dancer" (2005). Diverse Families. 980.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/980