Red Scarf Girl

• Genre: Nonfiction; memoir; historical
• Originally Published: 1997
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 780L; grades 6-9
• Structure/Length: Divided into 16 chapters with a prologue and epilogue; approx. 288 pages; approx. 6 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook
• Central Concern: This memoir follows the story of 12-year-old Ji-li Jiang, a model student and devoted Communist whose life is transformed into a series of terrifying challenges as the Cultural Revolution begins in China. As the Communist Party implements increasingly strict and arbitrary rules, Ji-li faces a painful choice: denounce her family or refuse to cooperate and jeopardize her future.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Descriptions of political persecution; emotional trauma; death by suicide; societal upheaval during the Cultural Revolution; betrayal

Ji-li Jiang, Author

• Bio: Born 1954 in Shanghai, China; experienced firsthand the impact of the Cultural Revolution on everyday Chinese citizens; immigrated to the United States and became a successful businesswoman; often focuses on her personal experiences and Chinese culture in her work
• Other Works: Magic Monkey King (2002) and various publications

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Fate and Agency
• Coming of Age (as an “Educable Child”)
• Individualism



STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Deepen understanding of Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution to contextualize the text and increase understanding of the novel’s characters, conflicts, and themes.