Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party is a coming-of-age story set in Maoist China during the Cultural Revolution. Nine-year-old Ling is a bright and curious girl living in a small Chinese village. When her father is sent away to a labor camp, Ling and her family must struggle to survive in a society that is hostile to intellectuals. Ling's life is further complicated when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. With her father gone, Ling must take on the responsibility of caring for her mother and helping her family survive. As she navigates the harsh realities of life during the Cultural Revolution, Ling discovers the power of resilience and courage. Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party is a powerful story of a young girl's courage and determination in the face of adversity. It is a story of hope and resilience in the face of oppression and injustice.
By Ying Chang Compestine · First published 2007 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Political Fiction · 20 chapters · 42,911 words
First lines
As time went on, I took over all the shopping duties. Mother seemed happier and less tired these days, but she forbade me from trying back-door tricks again.
"It's too dangerous, and we can't afford more trouble," she often told me.
What this Textopian page supports
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ying Chang Compestine, dated 2007 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ying Chang Compestine
- Date: 2007 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Political Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, Cultural Fiction
- Length: 42,911 words
- Structure: 20 chapters, 1,261 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party?
- How does this novel by Ying Chang Compestine fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in China during the Cultural Revolution and follows the story of a young girl, Ling, and her family as they struggle to survive the political and social upheaval of the time.
- Young Adult Fiction — The book is written for a young adult audience and follows the story of a young girl, Ling, as she navigates the tumultuous times of the Cultural Revolution.
- Political Fiction — The book is set during the Cultural Revolution in China and follows the story of a young girl, Ling, and her family as they struggle to survive the political and social upheaval of the time.
- Coming of Age Fiction — The book follows the story of a young girl, Ling, as she navigates the tumultuous times of the Cultural Revolution and comes of age in the process.
Tags
Historical Fiction · apartment · asia · blue · chairman · childrens · china · clothes · comrade · courtyard · cultural · day
Contents
- Angry Tiger
- Revolution is Not a Dinner Party
- Father's Ponytails
- Drawing a Class Line
- Waste is a Great Crime
- Too Proud to Bend
- Dark Clouds
- Waiting for Daddy
- Bartering With Comrade Li
- Homemade Ice Cream and German Chocolate
- Would I Ever See Him Again?
- Howling Wolf
- The Long White Rope
- Pig Fat
- "Bloodsucking Landlord!"
- Shopping With Mother
- Will Butterflies Land on Me?
- Golden Gate Bridge
- The Terrifying Birthday
- Crushed Under the Heel