Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Elizabeth Foreman Lewis |
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| Illustrator | Kurt Wiese (1932) Ed Young (1973) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Published | 1932 (Holt, Rinehart and Winston) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-0-8050-8113-8 |
| OCLC | 71126904 |
| LC Class | PZ7.L5849 Yo 2007 |
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze is a famous book written by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis. It won the Newbery Medal in 1933. This award is given for excellent children's literature in the USA. The story is about a boy named Fu Yuin-fah. He is the son of a widow from the countryside of western China. Young Fu dreams of becoming a coppersmith. He wants to work in the big city of Chungking. This city is now called Chongqing and is located on the Yangtze River. Many people help Young Fu reach his goal. These helpers include an old scholar and a missionary.
Contents
What Is Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze About?
The story begins with Fu Be-be, Young Fu's mother, arriving in Chungking. She is a widow and brings her 13-year-old son, Yuin-fah. They have a letter from a friend. The letter asks Tang Yu-shu, a master coppersmith, to take Young Fu as an apprentice. An apprentice learns a trade by working for a skilled person.
Young Fu is allowed to live with his mother. This is unusual for an apprentice. Most apprentices live at the shop. But because Fu Be-be is alone, Young Fu can stay with her. This allows readers to see more of the city through his eyes.
How Does Young Fu Grow Up?
As the book continues, Young Fu changes a lot. He starts as a somewhat proud 13-year-old boy. By the end, he is an 18-year-old who is much more skilled and humble.
During his journey, Young Fu meets many different people. He encounters soldiers, people from other countries, and even thieves. He also meets political activists and an old scholar. He sees both the poor and the rich people of the city. Government officials are also part of his adventures.
Young Fu faces many challenges. Sometimes he is tricked or attacked by bandits. Other times, he is criticized or praised. All these experiences help him improve his coppersmith skills.
Who Are the Main Characters in Young Fu?
- Young Fu: He is the main character and hero of the story.
- Fu Be-Be: She is Young Fu's mother. She is a widow.
- Tang Yu-shu: He is a master coppersmith. He becomes one of Young Fu's important teachers.
- Wang Scholar: He is an old, educated man. He is poor but wise. He also helps teach Young Fu.
- Lu and Old Tsu: They are the main skilled workers in Tang's coppersmith shop.
- Small Li: He is another apprentice in the shop. He becomes a good friend to Young Fu.
- Small Den: He is also an apprentice. He often causes trouble for Young Fu.
What Is the Book's Structure and Message?
The book is made up of many separate parts. Each part is almost like a short story. This style is common in books for children. The book is a Bildungsroman. This means it's a story about a character's growth. Each episode in the book helps Young Fu develop and learn.
What Is the Author's Perspective?
The story is told from Young Fu's point of view. You see the events through his eyes. However, the overall story is written from a Western perspective. This is because the author, Elizabeth Foreman Lewis, was Western. She lived in China and knew the country well.
The Western characters in the book are usually shown in a positive way. Any negative Western influences are only briefly mentioned. Westerners do not appear often in the book. By the middle of the story, they have left the city. They went to gunboats on the Yangtze River to avoid fighting.
Young Fu, the main character, has a modern way of thinking. He likes progress and new ideas.
Images for kids
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First edition cover
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Waterless Mountain |
Newbery Medal recipient 1933 |
Succeeded by Invincible Louisa |
