Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party

This autobiographical novel chronicles four years in the life of Ling, the daughter of bourgeois parents, during China’s Cultural Revolution in the waning years of Mao Tse-tung’s government. Ling’s father is a Western-educated surgeon, and her mother is a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and a homemaker. Her family’s comfortable life in Wuhan slowly crumbles (her father is jailed) in the face of political unrest, but somehow Ling’s spirit survives, and she finds strength in the face of oppression and hardship. Long is a compelling reader of this riveting account. She uses a slight Chinese accent to portray the adults, but she voices Ling in an American accent, which is probably easier for young listeners to grasp. As the story takes hold, she adds dimension to the characters. The narrative is told in first person, and Long allows Ling’s voice to grow as she matures. Her distaste for Comrade Li, a member of the Communist Party, and for his henchmen and for her nemesis at school are clearly evident as Ling spits out their names and describes their mannerisms and filth with a highly developed distaste. Comrade Li is read in deeper, gruff tones, while Ling’s mother is portrayed in lighter tones and a slight Chinese accent. Long’s sensitive vocal interpretation of this gracefully written story allows listeners to celebrate Ling’s small triumphs and share in her woes. Grades 5-9. (from Amazon.com)