Moon Pearl [School & Library Binding]

Ruthanne Lum McCunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

A rich historical novel that draws from the lives of the real young heroines of China's Pearl River Delta who in the nineteenth century won a battle for independence that changed the lives of thousands of others.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In China in the 1830s, three young girls pledge never to be wives or nuns, the conventional paths open to them, but to live independently. McCunn's colorful third novel (after Thousand Pieces of Gold) follows the adventures of Shadow, Rooster and Mei Ju, who meet in a traditional "girls' house," where female adolescents sleep and work together and are trained to become obedient wives. Shadow, the luckiest of the three, comes from a loving family. Under her mother's guidance, she learned to embroider, and her older brother secretly taught her to read, a skill forbidden to women. When Shadow then instructs her friendsAsharp-tongued, rebellious Rooster, whose family is very poor, and Mei Ju, a timid girl with a talent for silk makingAshe changes their way of looking at the world. Together, the three vow to chart their own lives. Setting up house in the village rain shelter, they plait their hair rather than wear wifely buns and learn to bargain with wily peddlers. Though they are ostracized at first, various selfless acts and sacrifices finally win them grudging acceptance. Despite their privations, the example of Yun Yun, the mistreated wife of the most brutal man in the village, reminds them what their fate might have been. Though it's recounted with the artful simplicity of a folktale, the novel is anchored in fact: women in 19th-century China's Pearl River district, dubbed "self-combers" for their work in the silk industry, did struggle to achieve independence, living together in "spinster houses." McCunn does not present the trio's warm sisterhood as utopian; rather, she convincingly details the emotional suffering they experience in challenging custom. A somewhat pat happy ending gives the novel the ring of didactic literature, but McCunn's vivid, intimate portrait of early women's liberation in China is, above all, a good story, lovingly told. 6-city author tour. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-McCunn weaves a fascinating tale of three 19th-century Chinese girls who defy their culture by taking vows of chastity. Rooster, Shadow, and Mei Ju meet as young adolescents in their village's "Girls' House," a communal living center that prepares girls for marriage and subservience. In the Pearl River Delta, matchmakers arrange marriages to strangers, and brides become slaves to their mothers-in-law. Rooster, Shadow, and Mei Ju are not content, however, to accept this way of life. Since they make vows of spinsterhood before two deities, their families cannot force their hands. Nonetheless, all three young women become outcasts and are forced to earn a living and find shelter outside the village. They prove that they are intelligent, talented businesswomen; their devotion, determination, and industry eventually win them acceptance by both community and families. Using oral histories and extensive research about China's silkworm industry, McCunn creates historically accurate backgrounds for this engaging novel. Independent Delta spinsters really existed, and the author's acknowledgments include numerous sources for further reading. What is most impressive about this novel, however, is the touching insight into these gentle, strong young women who peacefully, yet powerfully, created an alternate lifestyle in an otherwise inflexible culture. An excellent piece of historical fiction about a time and culture little known in the West, this story also celebrates the individuality of anyone who reaches beyond the ordinary for the moon pearl in the sky.

Becky Ferrall, Stonewall Jackson High School, Manassas, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: San Val (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613368444
• ISBN-13: 978-0613368445
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,540,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ruthanne Lum McCunn, an Eurasian of Chinese and Scottish descent, was hailed by the Dallas Times in 1985 as "an American-Chinese author of remarkable talent." Her work, which has won many awards, has been translated into eleven languages, published in twenty-two countries, and adapted for the stage and film.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Harsh Yet Poetic World, November 17, 2000

By 

Deborah Hawley (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon Pearl (Hardcover)

From the prologue this novel captured me and drew me into its very different world. The story of three nineteenth century Chinese girls who decide to remain spinsters despite the anger and persecution of their families is engrossing for many reasons. An unfamiliar culture is presented with great detail and sensitivity, the girls' courage and ingenuity is fascinating to follow as it unfolds, and the various characters are so carefully portrayed that they seem like personal acquaintances. Add to this the beautiful scenic descriptions and gentle poetry of the girls. This is a story I will long remember.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story of friendship!, January 29, 2001

By 

Chanda S. Kunz (MAPLE VALLEY, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Moon Pearl (Hardcover)

This was one of the best books I've ever read! It is a moving story of friendship and the emotional struggle young Chinese girls face when they marry. I loved the use of songs to express how these young girls felt. I admired the strength of Rooster, Shadow, and Mei Ju as they fought for independence and daily survival amist familial and social ostracization. I pitied Yun Yun's hardship and abuse. I enjoyed reading Thousand Pieces of Gold and wanted to read other works by this author. I look forward to other books by her.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Engaging, June 17, 2001

By 

"chugar" (minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon Pearl (Hardcover)

Ms. McCunn's book is thoughtful, intelligent, and well written. She shows the difficulties and hardships each young woman faced whether they obediently married as they were expected, or struggled to live alone and maintain their independence within the village. You sympathise with the girls' struggles. I particularly thought the Chinese customs and history in this book were interesting.