Set in China's Jiangnan area in the early 1960s, The Straw House centers around ordinary village life and follows a young boy named Sang Sang. Within the seemingly simplistic life of everyday China emerge several interwoven, deeply moving stories that bid farewell to the innocence of childhood, and embrace--albeit reluctantly--the responsibilities of adolesence. First published in 1997, The Straw House has been called a landmark work in the history of Chinese children's literature. Recommended for ages 12 and up.