Spring Pearl: The Last Flower

My mother reads everything I read. As a children's librarian, I have access to wonderful Newbery winners for ages 9-12, at least that is how they are labeled. My mother initially poohed-poohed the notion of reading children's literature until she discovered first the Royal Diaries, and now American Girl's series, Girls of Many Lands. These are her favorites and she has read all of them. After reading my first one, "Spring Pearl: The Last Flower," I totally agree. Laurence Yep, Chinese by ancestry, but totally American by birth, is the author and a celebrated one. The American Girl franchise is responsible for an incredible array of books, games, coloring books, theatrical sets, dolls, and more for girls. The stories of the first five girls are about European descendants. Next came the other racial groups important in establishing the new country: Addy, a slave who is freed, Josefina, who represents the Spanish settlements of the West, and Kaya, the native American already here. Now the latest series is about girls of other countries in pivotal time periods. Spring Pearl is a young Chinese girl, living in the 1850's in Canton, a harbor town. The historical framework is the second Opium War staged by Britain against China to force sales of opium and open China's markets to foreign imports. China's outdated military and weaponry are a poor defense against the great aggressors of the West. Amidst rumors of war Spring Pearl must pack her few possessions to make the short trip to Master Sung's estate, where he will provide a home for his deceased friend's daughter. Both of Pearl's parents, now dead, were gifted: her father a painter and translator--a scholar, and her mother a very fine seamstress and embroiderer. Pearl herself is gifted with languages, writing, gardening, and most of all as a skilled marketer. Pearl is also one of those people who make friends everywhere except with Mistress Sung and her daughters and female servants. With them it takes time and circumstances. The Sung's gardener had been gone awhile when Pearl arrives. Pearl is distressed at its condition, knowing the calming effects a garden can have on one's soul. Planting the camelia (her namesake) from her mother's garden and reviving the Sung garden are but two of the many feats Pearl accomplishes for this family. The key to her success is the fact that her parents raised her with no restrictions. Pearl was free to learn and explore. All the things she does are yours to read. A little Chinese history and culture are yours to read. If an 86-year-old avid reader of Bibles and theology, thrillers, and historical fiction says, "I love these little books," then you know this is a winner. In fact, get a copy and read it to your children. It's that kind of book! Explore a little Chinese history together!

The year is 1857. While other children are preparing themselves for the upcoming Moon Festival, twelve-year-old Spring Pearl is mourning the death of her scholarly parents, and packing her belongings to make the trek to Master Sung's home, where she will live with his family until she can find better accommodations for herself. However, while Spring Pearl is mesmerized by the lavish living of Master Sung, and his family, she can't help but miss her family's tiny cottage by the river, where she spent hours watching her handiwork in the garden flourish into a floral haven. Here at Master Sung's home, the garden has gone to pot, and all that remains are long, sharp weeds that sprout up every which way. Spring Pearl is supposed to be a guest in the Sung household, but Mistress Sung views her as nothing more than an orphan - one who would be better suited as a male, instead of a female, given the fact that she can read and write, but can't stitch to save her soul. She instantly begins treating Spring Pearl as one of the help, and allows her daughters - Miss Emerald, Miss Willow, and Miss Orion - to refer to her as such. Luckily, Spring Pearl finds solace in the form of Doggy, one of the Sung's hired help. Doggy is her age, and respects her, along with her tomboyish ways. However, when the Second Opium War begins building within the walls of Canton, China, and Master Sung is taken away for being a traitor, the only person there to help hold the family together is Spring Pearl. Together, she and Mistress Sung attempt to hold the family together, and keep it from going bankrupt. But as the French and British military begin to invade, the family begins contemplating whether an escape from within the walls would be safer for them all. It is only with Spring Pearl's "swamp-rat" ways that the family may be able to survive, and rescue Master Sung once and for all. But for that to happen, they must unite as one, and put their differences aside, in an attempt to come out on top and defeat their enemies. I have read very little historical fiction revolving around China and the mid-1800's. However, from page one of SPRING PEARL: THE LAST FLOWER, I was drawn into the world of Pearl, and the somber cloud hanging over her as she attempts to ingratiate into the Sung household, and find her place among semi-royals. Laurence Yep has given Spring Pearl a strong voice, combined with vivid descriptions, as well as a brave heart and soul. Her intelligence during a time when female's were held down, and encouraged to obey their elders, as well as their male counterparts, is a wonderful thing to witness. Not only does Spring Pearl have the knack for reading and writing, but she has a talent when it comes to tongues, and the quick wits to bargain with just about anyone she comes in contact with. While it is sometimes tragic to witness the interactions Spring Pearl must hold with Miss Willow, Miss Orion, Miss Emerald, and even Mistress Sung, it is always entertaining to see t

Chou Spring Pearl is a twelve year old girl growing up in Canton, China in the year 1857. She has just found herself an orphan. Spring Pearl goes to live with her father's friend, Master Sung, a rich scholar. Master Sung lives in a huge house in the very nice part of town. Spring Pearl has lived all of her life in the Rat's Nest of China (the run down part of town). Now that she has come to live with them they want to change her apperance which includes everything from her hair, which is done in a out of date style, to her feet, which seem to be a couple sizes to big. With all of this going on, Spring Pearl can only say that she has one good friend, Doggy. Doggy is a servant in the Sung household. Probably one of the strangest things of the time was that Spring Pearl was smarter than alot of the boys her age, even though she did not attend school and she doesn't care what other people think of the way she acts. Will Chou Spring Pearl be able to adjust to the new life changes or will she keep her differences? Find out for yourself. I really enjoyed the book it really gave me an incite into the life of a girl in China during the "Opium War". I just could not put the book down. The author uesd exquisite details. Another really good book in the series, that you should also consider reading, which is not a book about a chinese girl but it is about a girl growing up in England in 1592. This book has alot of the same views. The name of the book is Isabel: Taking Wing by Anne Dalton

Spring Pearl is a 12 year old girl who likes gardening. But now that her parents have died she must move in with her dad's rich friend Master Sung. But this way of life is much different then her life in the rats nests, (where she used to live was called the rats nest). Will the Sungs ever except Spring pearl in there life, that is one thing that you will learn in this book after all the tragic events that the book will tell you about! I think Spring Pearls story is great for all ages. But even if there is a girl on the cover, i think this book is good for boys to, because it is a story of adventure!!! By Elayna B

Spring Pearl, by Laurence Yep, as part of the Girls of Many Lands series from American girl, is a book about a girl living in 1850's China . Her mother and father are dead and she has to go and live with a friend of her father's . The friend's family is very rich and is not used to doing things for themselves, unlike Spring Pearl. Many times in the book her strong education gets her out of trouble. This book will make you feel like you are right there in the 1850's in China during the Opium wars. Spring Pearl is an outstanding story for girls who like books about brave young women. This story made me have a fondness for historical fiction.