University

Of Anchee Min's novels, I think this is her best written.  It makes extraordinary use of two competing voices to tell the story of Madame Mao: an omniscient third-person historian and a severely flawed first-person narrator who already knows her own future.  Rarely do books explore the Mao years through the perspective of the women in 'power' and hardly ever in the English canon do we get a glimpse of Mao as a human being with human being flaws.

The prose is clipped and cutting and deep.  The story can be read and analyzed from a multitude of perspectives, as a work of literature, as a starting point for historical research, as a script, as a polemic, and much more.  I would recommend reading it for the pleasure of a good read, for the purpose of infusing it into the classroom, and/or to gain some cursory historical knowledge of the (Madame) Mao Years.

Due to some of the more mature material, this would do best if used in the older levels.

This novel offers a glimpse into the interwoven, highly complex guanxi (relations) among the Chinese, more specifically among the Chinese royals of the Late Qing dynasty.  When making decisions or taking actions, the characters must consider the repercussions across entire networks of relations as well as vast lengths of time: for the Western reader, this is perhaps the most foreign aspect of the book--and therefore richest opportunity for learning about Chinese culture.  

Rich in imagery, sweeping in scope, this could be tough to use in regular high school classes, but for AP levels it would work well as a companion to explorations of the Manchus and the Qing Dynasty.  It is not Anchee Min's best book in terms of originality of craft (I think that honor belongs to Becoming Madame Mao); however, it is worth the read at the very least as engaging background information on the late Qing dynasty and Chinese social relations.

The Book of Five Rings is a primary text from the Japanese duelist Miyamoto Musashi. Written around 1645, this book is his account of his mental and physical strategies for fighting that made him one of the most famous and cunning Japanese warriors. The book is divided into five subsections: the book of earth, the book of water, the book of fire, the book of wind, and the book of emptiness. Although Musashi incorporates poetry, Buddhism, and philosophical thoughts on "the way of strategy," The Book of Five Rings is largely a martial arts treatise. Musashi is famous, in addition to his success as a samurai duelist, for his unconventional style and willingness to break rules and customs to win, which he explains further in this book. Given that The Book of Five Rings is a valuable primary text by a historical figure, it certainly deserves a five star rating. Although The Book of Five Rings is an accessible for a case study on the life and thoughts of an actual samurai warrior, educators using it for instructional purposes may want to be selective and look for specific sections for focus; Musashi goes into substantial detail on martial arts and rival martial arts schools at times. He goes to great length to describe his recommendations for proper sword technique and mental states while dueling. Still, for those interested in Samurai, feudal Japan, and Japanese martial arts, The Book of Five Rings is a must read.