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roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet story, but it is difficult to read: the effects of war on the children are not hidden here, though they are made palatable. But this book has adventure, courage, and so much love.
sarahbowling6608's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Violence, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
I did really enjoy reading this story to my sons. It was really educational for them to learn how a child might try to survive if separated from his family and doing his best to not starve to death. I think it taught really valuable lessons.
This story is about a young boy and his pig during wartime between China and Japan. The Americans are also in this book. Tien Pao is the main character and the story starts out where he is trying to find safety with his family in a sampan boat.
My big issue with this story is that in the first half, the author uses sentences that get switched around with nearly the same exact wording a sentence or two later. They do this multiple times. I felt that was too repetitive!! Later on in the last few pages, the same thing happens. Everything else was really great.
This story is about a young boy and his pig during wartime between China and Japan. The Americans are also in this book. Tien Pao is the main character and the story starts out where he is trying to find safety with his family in a sampan boat.
My big issue with this story is that in the first half, the author uses sentences that get switched around with nearly the same exact wording a sentence or two later. They do this multiple times. I felt that was too repetitive!! Later on in the last few pages, the same thing happens. Everything else was really great.
humanignorance's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. A charming short story, but there was little besides charm. It was slow and ultimately predictable.
grllopez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Based on true events during the Sino-Japanese War, a young Chinese boy, Tien Pao, and his piglet were separated from his parents and baby sister. The Japanese had burned and occupied their village, and they were forced to flee. One day the family sampan -- carrying Tien Pao and his pig -- accidentally floated back into enemy territory. After making his way to shore, he sought to find his way back to his family through treacherous mountainous trails. Starving and exhausted, he and his pig slept in caves by day, and travelled by night.
One of those days he witnessed the Japanese shoot down an American military plane. Tien Pao rescued the injured pilot, and with the aid of a group of Chinese guerrillas, they carried him back to his unit. And when Tien Pao arrived at the village where his parents were last seen, the people were already fleeing because of the Japanese. Tien Pao searched relentlessly until he was picked up by a couple of American pilots and taken back to their barracks where they looked after him. All sixty pilots did. Hence the name House of Sixty Fathers.
Meanwhile, the injured pilot Tien Pao met in the mountains was part of this unit, and he took the young boy to search for his parents. Of course, he recognized his mother while she was working at a nearby airfield, where they were reunited.
This juvenile story has won many awards: Newberry Honor, Han Christian Andersen, and ALA Notable Children's Book. The author wrote this story based on his experiences as a pilot in China during WWII.
I read this to my kids for school because we are studying China during the 1900s to current times. It was somewhat juvenile for them, but it gave them a sense of China before communism, and when the U.S. and China were allies. Now not so much. I also gave the book 3.5 stars because it was "agreeable" and we liked it.
book_clover's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
crabbygirl's review against another edition
3.0
set in china when the japanese were expanding past manchuria - the book doesn't get too specific with the violence of war. a large portion of the plot involves an american airman and i could have done with less of him.
but overall, i could see why it got the newberry honor: any book that exposes children of the western world to asian culture is worthwhile.
but overall, i could see why it got the newberry honor: any book that exposes children of the western world to asian culture is worthwhile.
k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
4.0
A Newbery Honor book based on the author's experiences in China as an American soldier during WWII. This story is completely fiction born out of DeJong's imagination after experiences with a Chinese war orphan.
The book was not what I expected. And while everything was a bit to coincidental and tied up with a pretty bow, I loved it.
The book was not what I expected. And while everything was a bit to coincidental and tied up with a pretty bow, I loved it.
danyell919's review against another edition
4.0
Oh I just loved this book. Such great storytelling and also full of history. I wish I’d read it sooner!