Balzac&theLittleChineseSeamstress

I am 60 pages into this book and so far the story has been of two teenage (17 and 16) Chinese boys who are sent into the mountain villages of China to be "re-educated." The idea of "re-education" comes from Mao who dispises intellectuals, and sends them from the cities into remote villages to be essentially dumbed down. The effects of such a relocation are rather tramatic as the boys discover the poor, dismal state of their village on top of Phonix Mountain. Here they are ordered to do various tasks, learning the essential parts of a mountain village life. Like all other villagers, they take part in essential duties to keep the village working and fed. I like this book so far because it provide the perspective of two teenage boys in China who struggle to survive an ordered relocation. Its a very interesting topic and I think the rest of the book is going to be interesting and excting as well.