A Knee-Jerk Book Review of Revolution is not a Dinner Party

This being the fourth children’s book I have read in about as many weeks I am completely adjusted to the style. I have learned to see through the eyes of these young characters and understand their horrors through the lens of innocence. In Revolution is not a Dinner Party the main character Ling has to live through the brutal tyrannical reign of Chairman Mao. The shocking change in the way of life for her village is astounding even to the eyes of a child.

            The first thing to stand out to me was the descriptions of food. Some of my earliest memories are of food I love and it doesn’t surprise me that Ling also dotes over her meals. When Mao comes to power and begins to ration food Ling’s commentary on the lack of food is heartbreaking. Halfway through the book she even talks about loving tofu which she despises in the opening scene. Giving food to children is something that crosses every cultural understanding as a complete necessity. When Ling describes her desire to not be coddled and to receive the same portions as her father who gives her extra food, it demonstrates clearly how difficult it was for these families.

            The father in this story is like a god. The reader lives in constant fear of his death since it is so evident that Ling worships his existence and would not endure were she to learn of his death. Father figures are another universal image that the author uses to help the books universality. I cant help but be in anguish when Ling realizes her father is powerless against the evil in her life. I think every child has a sickening dilemma in realizing the mortality of their parents.

            A major theme in the book is the sickeningly fickle nature of the Chinese people. The book portrayed all but a select few as maddeningly gullible. Mob mentality plays a large role in the brutal things Ling must witness and endure throughout the book. Its easy to excuse a starving mob for their crimes, but still shocking to watch how quickly the people shift ideology and loyalty. Even in the eyes of a child it is clear that the people thirsted for blood and blame wherever they could and the Maoist propaganda encouraged such behavior so that the country was ruled by mob fear.

            Though many scenes in the book terrified me and kept me glued to the page, the scenes of the school bullies got to me the most. As an educator and a former recipient of unchecked abuse at the hands of a bully, I struggle to read accounts of such brutality. By the end of the book Ling is bald and fierce. She has been forced to lash out in violence again and again to protect herself and the symbol of her innocence and beauty (her hair) is gone from her.  The book ends on a light note of reunion and love, but the overwhelming statement about the loss of innocence does not make this a happy ending in my mind.