Mao’s Last Dancer
Mao’s Last Dancer by Cunxin Li, published by Puffin in 2006, is a compelling biography that recounts the true story of a poor Chinese peasant boy who is unexpectedly selected at the age of ten to train as a ballet dancer. This edition, tailored for younger readers, presents Li’s journey with charm and compassion, highlighting the stark contrasts between his affectionate childhood and the rigorous training he endured at the Peking Dance Academy. With 333 pages, this English-language book offers a glimpse into the world of ballet and the personal struggles faced by Li.
Readers will discover the dramatic events that unfold as Li transitions from a life of hardship to becoming one of the world’s renowned ballet stars. The narrative captures the essence of his experiences, including the challenges of his training and his eventual performance at the Houston Ballet school, which leads to his dramatic defection. This edition also includes an Afterword specifically designed for children, enriching the reading experience while addressing themes of perseverance and cultural identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
The true story of a poor Chinese peasant boy who, plucked unsuspectingly at the age of ten from millions of others across the land to be trained as a ballet dancer, turned the situation to his advantage to become one of the world’s greatest ballet stars.
Simply told, with charm, humour and compassion and at times, great drama. His childhood, despite the terrible hardships, is drawn with love and affection and contrasts starkly with the seven lonely years of gruelling training at the Peking Dance Academy. At the age of l8, Li performs at the Houston Ballet school in the US, which leads to his dramatic defection.
This is a condensed edition, specially for younger readers, and has an Afterword especially for children.
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