For far East Box

When he looked up again Tas had gone. Rising to join the others, he caught sight of something small and abandoned on the floor. "Tas you forgot your pipe." He picked it up and then saw words carved into the wood he had not seen before. Find the music, find the magic.
"Did you carve this?"
Tas did not turn. "Yes," he said, reluctantly. "I have to leave it."
"But, Tas, why?"
Tas squared his shoulders as though firming some resolve. But still he did not turn. "Because the shepherd said that it could only be used once. Thats why I can't get the pipe to play that song-or any song. I've used the magic." He took a deep breath and went on. "And he said that once I found the magic I had the pass the pipe on." he paused and then he did turn, a scamp's humor in his long brown eyes. "It's going to be a long winter. I'm going to leave it here for someone else to find." "Snowsong" by Nancy Varian Berberick

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I chose this book from the Far East bookbox, in part because it fits a current release challenge - and I'm glad I gave it a chance. While the writing style of this personal memoir is rather choppy, it presents a compelling and often terrifying look at China's "Cultural Revolution" through the eyes of a young girl who, as she describes, "was an adult since the age of 5". The burdens of responsibility to family and community, already part of her culture, were made much more severe by the often-unfair implementation of the "People's Republic".

While the author was put into horrible positions - as a young child being coerced into testifying against a beloved teacher, and later on finding herself the butt of others' jealousy and resentment - she does her best to survive, often choosing the hard path even after she's learned what it will cost her. And she does find friendship and even love along the way, although under circumstances that tear her away from those she's most drawn to... I was touched by her romance with tough platoon leader Yan, a woman with her own rigid moral code and a willingness to risk all to protect her beloved even if it meant driving her away.

Among the more chilling notes in the book: the author's note up front, which mentions that "I have changed some names in order to protect lives".

I left this book near the "Blue Ship" sculpture on Main Street at around 2; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2016 April Showers/May Flowers release challenge. ***