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In Their Own Words

Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China

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Mulberry Child is the true story of a childhood in Communist China. Jian Ping is the daughter of a high-ranking government official, growing up at a time of famine and political upheaval in the 1960s. Her innocent childhood comes to an abrupt end when the Cultural Revolution--a power struggle within the ruling party--engulfs the country.

Jian Ping's father is falsely accused of treason and is detained, beaten, and publicly shamed. Her mother, a top administrator of a middle school, is paraded in public and imprisoned by the Revolution Committee and the Red Guards--both driving forces of the Cultural Revolution. The family is pushed to a breaking point when they are forced to live in a mud house without heating, water, or a toilet. Facing abuse and deprivation, Jian Ping's family stands steadfastly together, from her aging grandmother, a frail woman with bound feet, to her parents and siblings. The traumatic impact of their experiences shape the course of their lives forever.

Mulberry Child is a tale of resilience and determination. It provides an insider's look into a closed-off world.

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This page contains a single entry by Erik Kraft published on November 14, 2008 9:40 AM.

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