Bronze and Sunflower (Chinese: 青铜葵花) is a Chinese children's novel written by Cao Wenxuan and was first published in 2005.[1] The novel is set in the Cultural Revolution. It is a story of friendship between Bronze, a mute peasant boy, and Sunflower, the young daughter of an artist sent to a May Seventh Cadre School.
It has won numerous awards and commendations in China, and has been translated into several languages.
Plot
Bronze is a young mute boy, the only son of the poorest family in the village. Sunflower is a young girl, taken in by Bronze's family when she is orphaned. The story follows their lives in the village of Damaidi, highlighting family values against the hardships of rural life. It is one of a series of books set in the same region at the same time.
Translations
Bronze and Sunflower has been translated into several languages since its publication in 2006. Following is a list containing information about the translated works. Bronze and Sunflower is Cao's first novel to be translated into English. The translation was conducted by the British translator Helen Wang, and was published in 2015 in the UK and 2016 in the US. An account of this book's publishing history was published in Publishing Perspectives in 2018.[2]
The Horn Book (04/06/2017): "The author does not shy away from heartbreaking events such as famine, storm devastation, and the loss of loved ones, resulting in a moving and at times shockingly honest account...Translator Wang manages successfully the difficult tasks of maintaining the stylistic integrity of the original text and achieving a high level of readability in her translation."
School Library Journal (01/26/2017): "The landscape, captured in lyrical, evocative prose, takes the leading role in this episodic novel set during China’s Cultural Revolution...This beautifully written depiction of a time and place not often seen in children’s literature makes for a strong purchase."
Buffalo News (04/06/2017): "Two lonely children, scarred by tragedy, form an inseparable bond in this lovely novel from a beloved Chinese author set in the Chinese countryside during the Cultural Revolution."
Publishers Weekly (starred review) (12/19/2016): "Hans Christian Andersen Award–winner Wenxuan’s moving story of a friendship between two lonely Chinese children, orphaned Sunflower and mute Bronze, bears all the elements of a classic: an inviting and solidly constructed setting, a close-knit family, and a kindhearted community (there’s even a pet buffalo)."
Booklist (starred review) (01/05/2017): "Virtuous and kind, Bronze and Sunflower’s family reflects important cultural values including filial piety, respect for elders, the value of hard work and education, and the importance of saving face. This not-to-be-missed story reminds us to be thankful for family and love, no matter our station in life. Helpful back matter provides additional insight into this specific time in China's history."
Bookpage (03/08/2017): "Told in spare yet glimmering prose, this story is a testament to all that love and loyalty are able to overcome... In a time when our divisions seem to be drawn more forcefully than ever, Bronze and Sunflower’s unlikely bond serves as a beacon of hope."
Plain Dealer (04/12/2017): "The constant hardships of rural poverty are balanced by selflessness, love and the beauty of nature. The story's ending is both heartbreaking and transcendent, reminiscent of the best fairy tales."
Kirkus Reviews (starred review): "In Wang's translation of his leisurely, languid prose, Hans Christian Andersen winner Cao captures both the infinite joys and harsh realities of rural farming life...While seemingly idealized, the story and its protagonists reflect the Confucian values of filial piety and society above self—the very foundation of Chinese culture. Readers of all ages should be prepared to laugh, cry, and sigh with satisfaction."
The Wall Street Journal (03/15/2017): "Capturing a distinct time and place as well as moments of bittersweet universality, this vivid and accessible novel for 9- to 12-year-olds would make for a superb family read-aloud."
The New York Times Book Review (05/17/2017): "To read [Bronze and Sunflower’s] adventures is to be embedded in the Chinese countryside — for good and bad. The daily circumstances of their lives may be different from those of American children, but the emotions and relationships are universal."
Shelf Awareness Pro (03/09/2017): "The details about rural Chinese life are a revelation...Cao shows English-speaking readers a foreign world where time is measured in the seasonal comings and goings of the swallows, but also a familiar one where the fabric of family is woven from shared hopes and unexpected acts of kindness."
A Fuse #8 Production (blog) (03/30/2017): "Ideal for bookclubs, this is one of the finest translations I’ve ever encountered and undeniably the best Chinese middle grade novel I’ve ever read."
School Library Connection (01/11/2017): "These beautiful moments of love abounding in the midst of hardship and poverty are timeless and will appeal to all readers."
The Washington Post (21/11/2019): The best children's books of 2019, selected by Erin Entrada Kelly: "The novel centers on two children - Bronze, a mute peasant boy, and Sunflower, the daughter of an artist - who are growing up in the wetlands of the northern Jiangsu province during China's Cultural Revolution. It's not enough to say this is a story of friendship and family, because it's much more than that. It's a story of loyalty, sacrifice and community, and what it means when you love the people in your life more than you love yourself."[22]
Awards
Year
Award
2018
Global Literature in Libraries Translated YA Book Prize, shortlisted[23]
2017
Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation, awarded to Helen Wang for her English translation
