We Read the Classics
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Summary
The students chose a diverse reading list: Camel Xiangzi, My Memories of Old Beijing, Flowers in the Mirror, The Old Man and the Sea, The Life of Su Dongpo, Little Women, The Wolf King's Dream, Ordinary World, The Secret Garden… The list spans biographies and novels from China and abroad, and every title is worth savoring. Through the eyes of thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds, this book shares the classics with their peers—intimate and easy to understand.
This is more than a book. It is a journey of growth for the students, a wondrous voyage in which they build a spiritual world of their own with young, unpolished language. These words deserve to be treasured; the process deserves to be savored.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Middle school readers in their early teens who are just beginning to encounter the classics
- Young people who want to learn how peers read and find ideas for what to read next
- Language arts teachers leading whole-book reading or book clubs
- Parents who want to read classics with their children and understand a young person's perspective
Not a good fit for
- Students preparing for exams who need systematic analysis of the classics and review of test points
- Adult readers seeking academic depth or professional literary criticism
- Readers looking for mature prose and fully developed argumentation
Reading tips
- Start with a chapter on a book you already know, then compare the young author's interpretation with your own to see where you differ.
- After each piece, jot down two or three sentences of your own response to create a dialogue with the text.
- Make a list of the books mentioned, then pick one you haven't read as your next shared reading.
- Teachers or parents can choose one piece as discussion material and invite children to share their own reading experience.
About the publisher
Sino-Culture Press is known for publishing in history, social sciences and traditional Chinese culture, with a further reach into literary appreciation, classic works and foreign literature. Its library of 489 titles includes such works as The Road to Dongpo: The Evolution of Su Shi's Poetic Style, The Poetry and Life of Du Fu, The History of Qin and Han, and Six Hundred Years of the Forbidden City (collector's edition), while A Preliminary Survey of Ancient Architecture in Shanxi and Fen: Hand-drawn Records of Architectural Remains reflects an interest in documenting architectural heritage. Van Loon's Collected Classics and guided-reading editions of works such as Call to Arms and Notre-Dame de Paris serve general readers and classroom use. Its authors include scholars and popular writers such as Fu Junmai, Chen Linlin, Van Loon, Wang Longlin and Guan Ranrong, and biography is another direction. As public information is limited, this note focuses on the publishing profile shown by the titles in the library.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序言一 书籍滋养精神
- 序言二 做一粒读书的种子
- 张潇潼读《苏东坡传》
- 李天意读《老人与海》
- 张颖昕读《骆驼祥子》
- 李嘉良读《小妇人》
- 张可馨读《镜花缘》
- 李生逸读《城南旧事》
- 金琳昕读《狼王梦》
- 张雨馨读《平凡的世界》
- 刘航辰读《秘密花园》
- 张致格读《海底两万里》
- 后记
FAQ
Is this book a guide to the classics or students' reading reflections?
Which books does it cover, and what age group is it for?
My child doesn't like reading classics. Will this book help?
Comments
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About the author
Chen Xinjie: publicly available information about this author is currently limited, and a complete picture of her identity and life has yet to emerge. Only one work by her is included in the collection, We Read the Classics. Judged by its common classification, the book falls under education and centers on the reading of classics, addressing readers who wish to guide others into classical texts or approach them themselves. In the book, the author attends to methods of reading and paths toward understanding classic works. Her writing style is plain and practical, focusing on turning reading experience into workable guidance rather than piling up obscure terminology. Given the limited material, it is difficult to judge her fuller writing trajectory or academic background, but on the strength of this single work, Chen Xinjie shows a sustained interest in the question of classic reading in educational settings, and her writing is suitable for teachers, parents, and self-learners. If more information becomes available later, her experience and the full range of her work can be further supplemented.
Li Jianjun is a cross-disciplinary author about whom limited public information is available. The library holds nine of his works, spanning medicine, agriculture and forestry, folk literature, literary appreciation, examination materials and art. His representative titles include practical medical and veterinary books such as the Clinical Guide to Rehabilitation Quality Control and Illustrated canine and feline surgery, as well as studies of classical and folk literature, including Yuan Dynasty Drama (two volumes) and The Coexistence of Song Dynasty Huaben and Classical Chinese Fiction. He has also written literary criticism, such as Beyond Passive Writing. His work combines professional practicality with scholarly inquiry and addresses readers in clinical, teaching and humanities contexts, reflecting a strong ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines.
