Spilled Water facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Sally Grindley |
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| Cover artist | Hannah Cole |
| Country | canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
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Publication date
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2 August 2004 |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-7475-6416-4 |
| OCLC | 56540448 |
| Preceded by | --NIL-- |
| Followed by | --NIL-- |
Spilled Water is an exciting children's novel written by Sally Grindley. It came out in 2004. This book won the top prize, the Gold Award, at the Nestlé Children's Book Prize. It was also considered for the Carnegie Medal, another big award for books.
The story is about a Chinese girl named Lu Si-yan. She is only eleven years old when she is forced to work as a servant in someone's home. Later, she also works in a factory where conditions are very tough.
Contents
Story Summary
The book tells Lu Si-yan's story in three main parts. We see her early childhood, her time as a house servant, and her experience working in a factory. Everything is seen through her eyes.
Early Life in the Countryside
Lu Si-yan's early childhood is shown as a happy time in the countryside. Her father loves her very much. He grows vegetables on a small piece of land to support the family.
Then, her baby brother is born, and Si-yan loves him dearly. But soon, a terrible accident happens. Her father is killed in a road accident.
Si-yan's mother is very sad and finds it hard to take care of the family. They face many problems. Her Uncle Ba decides to take Lu Si-yan to the market. He plans to sell her to a family who needs a servant. He calls her "Spilled Water," which means she is seen as a waste because she is not a boy.
Life as a House Servant
Lu Si-yan starts working for the Chen family. She is an unpaid house servant. This means she works for free. She gets food and clothes, but she works very hard. Mrs. Chen is always finding fault with her.
There are a few good things. Xiong Fei, a student who works as a cook, is a fun young man. Also, Mrs. Hong, Mr. Chen's mother, is kind to Si-yan. Mrs. Hong uses a wheelchair.
Lu Si-yan is scared of the Chen's son, Yi-mou. She is told she might have to marry him. He acts strangely because he has brain damage. Mrs. Hong learns what the Chens are planning. She gives Lu Si-yan some money and helps her escape.
Working in a Factory
Lu Si-yan tries to catch a boat to go up the river. But she discovers someone has stolen her money. A couple, Mr. and Mrs. Wang, offer to pay for her boat ticket. They also offer her a job in their toy factory.
The factory workers face very hard conditions. They are often not paid what they are owed. They have to work long hours and a lot of overtime. The Wangs find many reasons to take money from their pay. So, the workers only get a small part of their salary later.
Lu Si-yan makes friends with a group of young women. They are hopeful, even though they are stuck in the factory like her. Eventually, Lu Si-yan becomes very sick and weak. This is because of overwork and the bad conditions. She has to go to the hospital.
When she wakes up, Uncle Ba is there. He feels very sorry for what he did. He tells her that her mother has died. He wants to take Lu Si-yan and her brother into his home. He promises to take good care of them and earn their forgiveness. Lu Si-yan realizes she has to go with him. She really wants to see her brother. Her uncle also promises to send her to school.
Li Mei, one of Lu Si-yan's best friends from the factory, manages to get some money for her. This money is enough for Lu Si-yan to go home too. The Wangs pay up because they are afraid. They don't want anyone to find out about their bad working conditions and how they use child workers.
Main Ideas in the Book
The book explores several important ideas. It shows the difference between life in the Chinese countryside and in the city. It also talks about domestic servitude, which is like being a servant without pay. It describes sweatshops, which are factories with very poor working conditions. The book also looks at the role of women in society. The story is written in a simple and beautiful way.
