
Elizabeth Foreman Lewis's Newbery Medal-winning novel, Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze, transports readers to 1920s Chungking, China. It follows 13-year-old Young Fu, a country boy, as he moves to the bustling city with his widowed mother to begin an apprenticeship with a master coppersmith. The episodic narrative chronicles Fu's journey from an arrogant youth to a capable young man, encountering a diverse cast of characters including scholars, soldiers, thieves, and foreigners. While offering a rich historical and cultural backdrop of a turbulent China, it's important for parents to note that the book, written by a Western author, reflects a Western point of view, which some modern readers may perceive as having colonial overtones. It's an excellent choice for children aged 10-14 interested in historical fiction, cultural exploration, and coming-of-age stories.
In the 1920's a Chinese youth from the country comes to Chungking with his mother where the bustling city offers adventure and his apprenticeship to a coppersmith brings good fortune.