Plot: A brief collection of Chinese fairy tales. While many stories do not have Western counterparts, many of the overall themes, such as unexpected heroes and terrifying monsters, are familiar. The collection reflects a high concern for honor, duty, and place, but also make room for heroic fools, ironic situations, and general silliness.
Genre: Fairy Tales
Reading Level: Aimed at young adults, but the inclusion of issues like capital punishment, suicide, and concubines may be reason for caution with younger readers.
Similar Titles: Folktales from India, The Ch'i-lin Purse: A Collection of Ancient Chinese Stories
Personal Thoughts: Much like the "un-Disneyed" versions of Grimm's fairy tales, some of the stories may not be suited for younger readers. This fact does not prevent the book from entertaining older readers. Some reviewers complain about the stiff translations in the collection, but this is likely due to the culture of the translators during the late 70's.
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