China Homecoming [Hardcover]

Jean Fritz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 1985 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

"An intriguing fusion of autobiography, history, and travelogue . . . a personal, and finally, moving book. It is also a vivid portrait of a developing nation and a reminder that history is people who live through events and then go on."--Booklist.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (April 5, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399211829
• ISBN-13: 978-0399211829
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"The question I am most often asked," Jean Fritz says, "is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't. Ideas find me. A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as "unconventional," "good-humored," "witty," "irrepressible," and "extraordinary."In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. "Once my character and I have reached an understanding," she explains, "then I begin the detective work--reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on." It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.An original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft. She was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association, presented with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award by the American Library Association for her "substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature," and honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, which was presented by the New York State Library Association for her body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprise find!, November 8, 2005

By 

Just another Stephanie "Stephanie" (Somewhere in Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Homecoming (Hardcover)

I always wondered what happened to Jean.

This is the continuation of Jean's first novel, Homesick: My Own Story. She was born in China. Her American parents were over there working for the YMCA, and Jean lived there, in all its political turmoil and unrest, until she was 12. Both books are extremely fascinating.

China Homecoming is about her return to China as a 68 year-old woman. She's rediscovering the China she'd left behind so many years ago, and also rediscovering parts of herself. They're pretty much Young Adult non-fiction, but I highly, highly recommend these two books. Oh, they're so, so good, I read Homesick over and over again as a child AND as an adult, so I was absolutely THRILLED to find that she'd written another book.

China Homecoming has a lot to do with Chinese history and I really think it's more interesting to adults. I wouldn't have been as interested in this book as a child, simply because I wasn't as into history as I am now. But really, no one should read the first and then NOT read the second. Both of them are a must, Fritz is a wonderful storyteller.