When Lu Chi Fa's parents died in 1944, he was only three years old. The timing of the tragedy could not have been worse-- it was a time of political turmoil and severe hardship in China. Few people willingly took in orphans, and Chi Fa's extended family was no exception. The young boy was shuffled from one house to another as his relatives turned him away, one by one. Even his loving sister was forbidden by her husband to take him under her roof.
Chi fa was always hungry, often cold, and frequently beaten. But through all his struggles, he held onto his sister's hopeful words: "You are lucky, Chi Fa. Good fortune will find you."
This stirring memoir of a painful childhood tells a story of resilience and courage, and attests to the power of even small acts of kindness.
"readers . . . will be impressed by Chi Fa's perseverance, intelligence, and goodness of heart."—Publishers Weekly
"This is a true rags-to-riches adventure, complete with swift action and harrowing events"—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The descriptive, first-person text includes details of Chinese life, traditional culture, and early Communism as it conveys both the physical and emotional toll exacted by poverty and the importance of determination, hope, and compassion."—Booklist
"The strength of this book is in the clarity of Chi Fa's personal story, his optimism and determination in the face of incredible adversity."—School Library Journal
Lu Chi Fa was born in the Jiangsu Province in China. He grew up there and in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 1969, he immigrated to the United States. He now owns a successful restaurant and lives in Morro Bay, California.
Becky White taught elementary school for five years before creating more than three hundred educational books. She lives with her husband in a windmill home in California, where she enjoys gardening and making books and movies for her grandchildren.
When Lu Chi Fa's parents died in 1944, he was only three years old. The timing of the tragedy could not have been worse-- it was a time of political turmoil and severe hardship in China. Few people willingly took in orphans, and Chi Fa's extended family was no exception. The young boy was shuffled from one house to another as his relatives turned him away, one by one. Even his loving sister was forbidden by her husband to take him under her roof.
Chi fa was always hungry, often cold, and frequently beaten. But through all his struggles, he held onto his sister's hopeful words: "You are lucky, Chi Fa. Good fortune will find you."
This stirring memoir of a painful childhood tells a story of resilience and courage, and attests to the power of even small acts of kindness.
Reviews
"readers . . . will be impressed by Chi Fa's perseverance, intelligence, and goodness of heart."—Publishers Weekly
"This is a true rags-to-riches adventure, complete with swift action and harrowing events"—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The descriptive, first-person text includes details of Chinese life, traditional culture, and early Communism as it conveys both the physical and emotional toll exacted by poverty and the importance of determination, hope, and compassion."—Booklist
"The strength of this book is in the clarity of Chi Fa's personal story, his optimism and determination in the face of incredible adversity."—School Library Journal
Author
Lu Chi Fa was born in the Jiangsu Province in China. He grew up there and in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 1969, he immigrated to the United States. He now owns a successful restaurant and lives in Morro Bay, California.
Becky White taught elementary school for five years before creating more than three hundred educational books. She lives with her husband in a windmill home in California, where she enjoys gardening and making books and movies for her grandchildren.
