Chinese / People's Republic of China
You ge zi de xia tian
(The summer of pigeons)
Liu, Haiqi
(text)
Wang, Zumin
(illus.)
Wang, Ying
(illus.)
Jinan: Shan dong jiao yu chu ban she (Shandong Education Press), 2019. – 295 p.
ISBN 978-7-5701-0460-4
China | History 1960s | Summer | Pigeon | Friendship | Growing up | Autobiography
Reading age: 8+
White Ravens issue: 2019
This autobiographical novel portrays childhood life in a small town in Northern China in the 1960s. Haizi, the protagonist, has been longing to have his own pigeons, and one summer finds himself with a pair of them. In saving them from the butcher, who is a bully, Haizi regains his belief in life and the world. Colloquial-style narration gives this novel a charming flavour and has received high praise from critics. Liu Haiqi, renowned writer, publisher, and former Deputy Chairman on the Chinese Board on Books for Young People (CBBY), is the author of over thirty children’s books including “Wu wei xiao shu li xian ji” (Adventures of a tailless mouse), “Ba ba shu” (Father tree), “Lü tou fa xian sheng xing yi ji” (The medical practice of Mr. Green-Hair) and “Dou zi di li de tong hua” (Fairy tales from the field of beans). His fairy-tales are known for their distinctive style. Liu, who in recent years has focused on writing children’s novels, is the winner of the National Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature and other awards.