The Journey of Meng [Hardcover]

Doreen Rappaport (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

A Chinese tale in which a woman goes in search of her husband who has been forced to be a slave for a cruel king.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Meng joins the ranks of strong female heroines that people the growing number of multicultural folktales finding their way into print. This classic Chinese legend chronicles the young bride's perilous journey to find her husband, a scholar who, like thousands of others, has been press-ganged into labor on the Great Wall. Her search ends sadly: like so many other conscripts, Wan is dead, his bones buried in a section of the wall. There's a touch of magic in the tale, and Meng's confrontation with the evil Emperor and her final, tragic act speak of her courage and loyalty. Splendidly capturing the story's poignancy and exotic locale, Rappaport's polished retelling is amplified and highlighted by Ming-Yi's subtly shaded watercolors--artwork as delicate as fine porcelain. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-10-- This Chinese legend concerns a faithful wife who journeys north with warm clothing for her husband, who has been conscripted to help build the Great Wall. There Meng learns that her husband was interred in the great edifice upon his death, but no one knows where. Consequently, she searches the length of it, wailing. Whole sections shatter and burst, revealing the remains of many. Meng pricks her finger and dribbles blood over them, shouting for it to penetrate the "bones of my beloved," until just that occurs. Meanwhile the cruel Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi orders her arrest, but upon seeing her beauty offers her a position in his harem. Meng bargains this into a decent burial for her husband, upon the conclusion of which she hurls herself into the sea. Rappaport's retelling is very good, if a bit on the formal side, especially in dialogue. Yang's illustrations are nothing short of superb: ink and watercolors utilized in a pictorial yet dreamy way; ink washes are particularly evocative and effective. Like Hodges's The Voice of the Great Bell (Little, Brown, 1989), a classic of filial piety, this one of conjugal fidelity is intrinsic to traditional Chinese civilization; therefore, like Voice , it may not be well received in some quarters. Feminists will take a dim view of the self-immolating heroine; white-washers will want a less grisly bowdlerization. Yet this legend possesses a strength and beauty that is spellbinding. --John Philbrook, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1 edition (September 2, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803708955
• ISBN-13: 978-0803708952
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 10.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Doreen Rappaport is known for her ground-breaking approach to multicultural history and stories for young readers. In her many award-winning books, she brings attention to not-yet-celebrated Americans, along with well-known figures.

A former teacher of music and reading, Doreen knows how to capture children's attention. Her dynamic formats engage even the most reluctant readers.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an Orbis Pictus Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Caldecott Honor Book for Illustration, ALA Notable Book, and is on the Blue Ribbon list of the Bulletin Center for Children's Books.

We Are The Many: A Picture Book of American Indians, introduces the accomplishments of sixteen distinguished American Indians.

Her classic Escape From Slavery presents the history of the Underground Railroad through adventure stories.

The Boston Coffee Party introduces children to a neglected event in history books and shows the active roles played by women during the Revolutionary War.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful artwork, among a Legend of a strong woman!, August 19, 2004

By 

KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Journey of Meng (Hardcover)

As history states, many countrymen lost their lives and where buried inside the wall. Meng's husband Wan is a scholar and should not be made to leave home to work on the Great Wall on the orders from Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, but he is told he must go . Meng patiently waits for her husband to return home. One evening she has a vision that her husband is cold and freezing to death. So, the next morning she begins her journey to find and bring him warm clothes. When she finally makes it to the Wall she is told her husband died while working and was buried in the wall by the sea. Meng walks the wall to the sea . Somehow from the depths of her soul, she harnesses the heavens and with the rain shatters part of the wall. She then pricks her finger and shouts for her blood to find the bones of her husband. Once she finds her husbands bones she gathers them up and turns to go home to give her a proper burial. She is then taken by guards to the Emperor. He wants to know why she destroyed his wall. So in telling her story the Emperor wants to have her as his own. So he gives her a choice.. either give yourself to me, or I will have you beheaded. Meng replies back she will become his if he will do 3 things for her husband. The Emperor agrees and once all 3 are done Meng thanks her family and renounces her vow and throws herself off into the sea.

I really like the artwork and how strong Meng is in the face of the Emperor. I especially like the last line in the book that says that her Chinese people remember her courage and takes courage themselves