Customer Reviews

Chu Ju's House

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4 star:		(6)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The story of a young girl growing up in rural Communist China. When Chu Ju's mother gives birth to another girl instead of the hoped-for boy, her grandmother declares that they will give the baby away to an orphanage, as the family can't afford the exhorbitant fines they'd need to pay in order to have a third child, trying again for a son. Attempting to keep her mother from becoming attached to baby Hua, Chu Ju's grandmother appoints her the baby's caregiver. Chu Ju can't bear the thought of giving up Hua to an orphanage, and decides that if there can only be one girl in the family, then she should leave. She runs away from home, and sets her hand to various things, including a stint with a fishing family, tending silk worms, and ends up staying with an elderly farm woman.

Not as nearly depressing as it sounds--Gloria Whelan's got a deft touch. It's more about Chu Ju's own growth and the juxtaposition of tradition and innovation in rural China than an adventure novel, but is a fairly quick read for all that. Engaging, but not quite as good as Homeless Bird (also by Whelan), about a young girl entering into an arranged marriage in India.

Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju and her family live in modern rural China, where a strict policy of two children per family is enforced. When Chu Ju's mother becomes pregnant again, the family hopes for a boy, because sons are strongly preferred. But when the baby is born, it is another girl, who is named Hua. When Chu Ju learns that her grandmother plans to sell baby Hua to an orphanage so that there will be room in the family for another child, hopefully a son, Chu Ju decides to run away from home to spare her sister this terrible fate. Chu Ju's journey brings her to a fishing boat, a silkworm factory, a rice paddy, and the bustling and modern city of Shanghai.

Fans of Gloria Whelan's previous novels won't want to miss this one. It's a wonderfully written and fascinating look at the hardships faced by a young girl in a society that strongly prefers males, and her journey to prove her worth and find a place for herself in the world.

14-year-old Chu Ju lives in a rural Chinese village where according to culture boys are far more valued than girls. Her mother is pregnant again and the whole family prays for a son, because they know the strict rules of 2 children per family would not permit them to have another child if the baby turned out to be a girl. Unfortunately, Chu Ju's new sibling turns out to be another girl. Chu Ju's grandmother is very bitter at the result and convinces the family to put the girl up for adoption and hopefully have another child that will be a boy. Chu Ju is devastated when she hears of her family's plan and she decides to run away so her baby sister will not have to suffer. Little does Chu Ju know how important this journey will be to her life and self-realization. Told over several years, Chu Ju's journey brings her many hardships, but joy as well. She goes from village to village finding an assortment of jobs, such as working on a silkfarm, a fishing boat, and working in the rice paddies. In the end, Chu Ju realizes she made the right decision and you know she will be happy since she has found her true love and a family that accepts her for who she is and not her gender.

Being a 2nd-generation Asian-American this book hit very close to home. Unfortunately this type of gender discrimination is very common in many of China's rural villages which still go by old customs and have not been educated in the new modern ways. This topic was probably very tough to write on, but I think Gloria Whelan did a great job touching on both sides of the issue. Like Homeless Bird, she has created another great story of a girl who had courage to face the odds.

In her previous novels, including ANGEL ON THE SQUARE and HOMELESS BIRD (winner of the 2000 National Book Award), Gloria Whelan brought to life specific times and places --- such as modern India and revolutionary Russia --- through the stories of individual young women. With CHU JU'S HOUSE, Whelan applies her same eye for detail to modern China, in the story of a young woman who must travel far away to find the self-respect she'll never gain at home.(...)

As Chu Ju travels throughout rural China, readers will learn about many traditional Chinese occupations: fishing, silk making and rice farming. Because of its focus on rural life and traditional work, the novel sometimes seems to be set in the distant past. But occasional references to city life (including a harrowing journey to Shanghai) and recent events such as the Tiananmen Square tragedy remind readers that this novel is indeed set in modern times.

CHU JU'S HOUSE touches on political issues in modern China, and it would be an excellent jumping-off point for discussions about politics, culture and gender roles. It's also an entertaining adventure story. Although the book is short, it covers several years in Chu Ju's life. Readers will enjoy watching this headstrong, idealistic girl grow into a strong-willed, responsible young woman.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

it has a good start and it bulids up to keep readers well.... reading.

Reading this book was a journey with my class. I had assigned a reading group this book and needed another copy for myself...how simple to click and find it on kindle! Challenging to keep up the assignment with the pages they were reading but sure handy when I needed the book instantly!
Chu Ju was a remarkable story of a young girl who gave up the life she knew to save the sister she didn't know. Her journey through various life styles was mind boggling and so mesmerizing. The students who read this book found it to be one of their favorites!None of us wanted the story to end. This was a reading assignment for advanced fifth graders.

Gloria Whalen writes about a young Chinese girl in "Chu Ju's House." There is a lovely flow to the story and many lyrical descriptions of the natural surroundings, and customs. Ironically, work in the rice paddies must have left the farmers aching in every joint, with no time or energy to see poetry in their occupation.

Chu Ju is about fourteen when a sister is born, ending the family hopes of having a boy. Chu Ju courageously leaves in the night (to protect her baby sister's future) and has good fortune finding work, first with a fishing family, later in a silkworm factory and then with a widow rice grower.

The elements of different occupations add to our knowledge and interest in the plot's development. Chu Ju's character is skillfully written by the author who gives readers a variety of glimpses into life in rural China as it once was. Reviewer mcHaiku recommends this story for an appreciation of the available hours American families have to read together about differing values of family life around the globe IF we use our time intelligently!

Chu Ju's House is an insightful book with characters that seem to come to life, they're so well descripted. I would recommend this book to people who like to learn about other people's culture. I would not, however, recommend this book to people who are easily bored by elaboratre storylines; even though this is a wonderfully written book it sometimes can be hard to understand. Chu Ju's House is a great read and sure to please. I know that I definetly loved it!

Chu Ju is a fourteen year old girl who lives in southern China.Her mother is pregnant with her second child, and desperatly wants a girl. Chu Ju's mom ends up having a girl,they name her Hua, Her mom decides to give the baby to an orphanage. To save her sister Chu Ju runs away. She hides on a boat hoping that it will take her far from home. Chu Ju gets found and is taken care of by a woman. Chu Ju decides to tell her her story, but she is horrified and to return her immediatly. Chu Ju leaves and finds another home on a silkworm farm but has to leave shortly after. She finally finds another home with a woman named Han Na. She makes a friend named Ling. Then she finds out that Han Na's son has gone to jail in the city so Chu Ju must go and help him but without Han Na finding out because she is very weak and she doesn't want to worry her. She goes on an adventure to help save her son while thinking if she will make up the courage to go back home. Will Chu Ju make it to the city,will she ever go back home,or will she be able to cope with a terrible death, read the story to find out what happens in the story Chu Ju's House.

Chu Ju is a fourteen year old girl who lives in southern China.Her mother is pregnant with her second child, and desperatly wants a girl. Chu Ju's mom ends up having a girl,they name her Hua, Her mom decides to give the baby to an orphanage. To save her sister Chu Ju runs away. She hides on a boat hoping that it will take her far from home. Chu Ju gets found and is taken care of by a woman. Chu Ju decides to tell her her story, but she is horrified and to return her immediatly. Chu Ju leaves and finds another home on a silkworm farm but has to leave shortly after. She finally finds another home with a woman named Han Na. She makes a friend named Ling. Then she finds out that Han Na's son has gone to jail in the city so Chu Ju must go and help him but without Han Na finding out because she is very weak and she doesn't want to worry her. She goes on an adventure to help save her son while thinking if she will make up the courage to go back home. Will Chu Ju make it to the city,will she ever go back home,or will she be able to cope with a terrible death, read the story to find out what happens in the story Chu Ju's House.