The Girl Mechanic of Wanzhou

Thursday, January 3, 2013

The Girl Mechanic of Wanzhou is a novel written for middle schoolers by author Marjorie Sayer.  This book won First Runner Up for the Scholastic Asia Book Award in 2011.  Asianmommy received a free copy of this book for review.

The story takes place in a village in China in 1902.  Twelve-year-old Zun lives with her mother and father and spends most of her time helping her father work in the foundry.  Her father designs bicycles, and she happily works alongside him.  

One horrible day, Zun's parents are attacked.  Her mother comes home injured, and her father does not return at all.  Soon, her mother is arrested, and Zun must find a way to help bring her home safely.  She starts off on a quest to find help for her mother.  Shifu, Han, and Li, old friends of her parents, come to her aid.

Zun sneaks her way into the Magistrate's compound to gather information about her mother.  She is armed only with a small green silk purse containing small glass bottles filled with potions from Dr. Hei.  Will Zun ever find a way to set her mother free?

What I liked:  This story sets the stage from the very first chapter--the details situate you in long ago China, and then a terrible tragedy strikes.  Following along Zun's journey, you can't help but hope for her and root for her, feeling her joys and her sorrows deeply.  This is a story well told.

What could be improved:  Some of the events which unfold in this story seem utterly inconceivable, but I suppose that is the purpose of fiction, to take you away from common-sense reality.  :)

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Comments

Historical Fiction?

by PragmaticMom on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 07:00

Was this book set during the Cultural Revolution? Such a terrible time in China's history with so many sad stories. Of course, the irony now is that the grandchildren of the peasant revolutionaries are living like Media Pop Stars in China the very bourgeoise lifestyle that their revolutionary ancestors fought against. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Hi PragmaticMom,

by Asianmommy on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 08:27

It was the Qing Dynasty in 1902, a time when bicycles were still a novelty.

Interesting!

by Zi on Mon, 01/07/2013 - 15:31

Thanks for the review! Sounds really interesting! Even though my kids are still a little young for this book, I'll definitely keep it in mind when they get a little older. You got me really curious as to what happens.

Hi Zi,

by Asianmommy on Mon, 01/07/2013 - 16:03

Yes--I love the strong female protagonist. No waiting around for Prince Charming in this story! :)

Do you feel like the story is

by Sandra on Tue, 01/08/2013 - 09:50

Do you feel like the story is easily relatable to children today (aside from the time/cultural difference). Sometimes such fiction can be hard to get into, but if not, I'd definitely recommend it to my DD! Thanks!

Hi Sandra,

by Asianmommy on Tue, 01/08/2013 - 11:56

I think older children would enjoy it--early teens. It deals with violence and corruption in the government, kinda heavy topics for young children.

Thanks!

by Sandra on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 11:34

Thanks!

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