Bibliography
Young, E. 2011. The House Baba Built: An artists childhood in China. New York: NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316076289
Plot Summary
The story is formed in a way that focuses on Young’s daily life and experiences with his family while gradually implicating the wartime. The book captures Young’s entire life beginning in Shangai wartime era, and ending with a Google map indicator of his house. While the story captures many aspects of his life, it particuarly focuses on his family life, discussing the different activities and roles him and his family took part in within their household. Even though he grew up during wartime, he managed to find true happiness in his family and their home.
Critical Analysis
This biography captures Young’s life with subtle messages that allows the reader to understand the time period and life events on their own. For instance, while this biography does not state the time periods that are occurying throughout his life, Young expresses the time with references prior to the second World War, his dated childhood events, and the images that represent it such as the clothing they used and the customs they practiced. This can be seen at the beginning of the book, as it says that war in Shangai was starting. Given that the war had taken place in the thirties, it sets the theme of the time period for the rest of the book. Another way in which the book presents itself as a biography is through the changing images when referring to Young’s childhood. For example, when he talks about his experiences playing hide-and-seek with his family, the page is colored in dark, black and grey tones. This connection with the images allows the reader to have more of an understanding of what Young is telling to them without blatantly saying it.
Review Excerpt(s)
Connections
Plot Summary
The story is formed in a way that focuses on Young’s daily life and experiences with his family while gradually implicating the wartime. The book captures Young’s entire life beginning in Shangai wartime era, and ending with a Google map indicator of his house. While the story captures many aspects of his life, it particuarly focuses on his family life, discussing the different activities and roles him and his family took part in within their household. Even though he grew up during wartime, he managed to find true happiness in his family and their home.
Critical Analysis
This biography captures Young’s life with subtle messages that allows the reader to understand the time period and life events on their own. For instance, while this biography does not state the time periods that are occurying throughout his life, Young expresses the time with references prior to the second World War, his dated childhood events, and the images that represent it such as the clothing they used and the customs they practiced. This can be seen at the beginning of the book, as it says that war in Shangai was starting. Given that the war had taken place in the thirties, it sets the theme of the time period for the rest of the book. Another way in which the book presents itself as a biography is through the changing images when referring to Young’s childhood. For example, when he talks about his experiences playing hide-and-seek with his family, the page is colored in dark, black and grey tones. This connection with the images allows the reader to have more of an understanding of what Young is telling to them without blatantly saying it.
Review Excerpt(s)
- Starred review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Young set the course of his life by his father’s words. It’s history at its most personal” (August 15, 2011).
- Kirkus review: “Sophisticated, inventive art invites close viewings for patient readers in this unusual family story” (August 17, 2011).
- In the classroom, this would be a great book to read to show that not all books are designed the same, since this book has pages that can be flipped open.
- This book can be used when discussing the battle of Shangai in a social studies unit.
- Students can create their own biography using paper cutouts, drawings, and paintings such as the ones used as illustrations in this book.
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