Script Thief

Gr 3-7–Set in rural central China during the Japanese invasion of 1937, this novel follows a young boy, Lian Shui, who had been enjoying a life of education and relative happiness for most of his life. His father used every penny to send him to the prestigious primary school at Dongshan Temple. Dongshan is a mountain range, and the school is high above the town, allowing for respite from the persistent invasion of the Japanese. But when the Japanese bomb the temple, Lian Shui is forced to leave beloved teacher Mr. Feng and his lovely daughter Wan Wan and return home. Ever mischievous and sometimes foolish, Lian Shui is kidnapped for ransom on his way home. His father barely puts together a ransom, and the ordeal ultimately results in his father’s death. Lian Shui is forced to become a cowherd for his uncle. One day he is overtaken by a band of Japanese soldiers as he makes his way home; he is beaten and his cow is stolen. A group of performers from the Huang Mei Opera Troupe take him in as an apprentice and so his new life begins as a stagehand and performer. His life in the troupe affords him opportunities to join the resistance against the Japanese and he finds himself rescuing an American pilot and plotting to steal a famous script for an opera from a competing troupe in order to save his new master. Translated from Chinese, this novel affords readers a glimpse into the Japanese invasion of central China and the subsequent assistance by the United States during World War II. Particularly poignant is the discussion of how a tiny island nation the size of Japan is able to control the large central portion of China and succeed in the control of the region until the eventual establishment of the People’s Republic of China. It is also a portrait of the strong cultural influence of the province, especially the popularity of Chinese theater. The novel does move about a bit, which may result in confusion as it relies on backstory to frequently keep readers informed about key plot lines. The multiple proper names of characters and places can get quite complicated as well, resulting in some rereading to establish clarity. Simple black-and-white illustrations depict the costumes, architecture, and landscape of mid-20th-century China.