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""Chu's narrative is told with the honesty of a journalist, allowing readers to understand the conclusions she draws from her journey but also to form their own view of Chinese education. For anyone who wishes to expand their understanding about Chinese society and its impact on education.""--Library Journal, starred review

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9780062367860

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No reporter has gone as deep as she has into what makes Chinese and American schools different today, or given more reasons we should not copy the Chinese. Yet her rollicking account has hope for both cultures, because they share a deep interest in what children learn. -- Washington Post Chu's narrative is told with the honesty of a journalist, allowing readers to understand the conclusions she draws from her journey but also to form their own view of Chinese education. For anyone who wishes to expand their understanding about Chinese society and its impact on education. -- Library Journal, starred review This book had me at page one! Whip smart, hilariously funny, and shocking. A must-read. -- Amy Chua, author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package Anyone will understand [China] better after reading this book.... Chu vividly sketches these differences [between Chinese and American school systems] in terms that will make readers ponder what they actually think about rote memorization and parents question their preferences for their own children. -- New York Times This engaging narrative is personalized by Chu's often humorous recollections of attending American schools as the daughter of immigrants. Little Soldiers offers fascinating peeks inside the world's largest educational system and at the future intellectual soldiers American kids will be facing. -- Booklist Undoubtedly revealing, fascinating, and filled with 'aha' moments. -- Christian Science Monitor This is a rare look inside the gates of Chinese schools that helps demystify many traits and behaviors of the Chinese people. -- Deborah Fallows, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Dreaming in Chinese Lenora Chu, a gifted journalist, has written a fascinating comparison of the US and Shanghai education systems. Little Soldiers offers important insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each. There is much to be learned here about the elements of a better education system for the 21st century. -- Tony Wagner, Expert in Residence, Harvard University Innovation Lab and author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators An investigative look at the Chinese educational system and how it produces such a large number of high-performing students. -- Book Riot This provocative investigation examines cultural differences between the East and West, and the benefits and shortcomings of how both approach education. -- Real Simple, The Best New Books to Read This Month The American and Chinese ways of educating children are approaching a head-on collision begging the question 'which system best prepares kids for success?' In Little Soldiers, Lenora Chu deploys her journalistic inquiry and her motherly heart to investigate the attributes that underlie this urgent question. Chu's fascinating storytelling urges the reader to ask questions like, 'Do the ends justify the means?' 'Is a child's life for a parent or government to dictate, or is it their own?' . . . Necessary reading for educators, parents, and anyone interested in shaping the character and capabilities of the next generation of Americans. -- Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult

This book had me at page one! Whip smart, hilariously funny, and shocking. A must-read. --Amy Chua, author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package Chu's narrative is told with the honesty of a journalist, allowing readers to understand the conclusions she draws from her journey but also to form their own view of Chinese education. For anyone who wishes to expand their understanding about Chinese society and its impact on education. --Library Journal, starred review No reporter has gone as deep as she has into what makes Chinese and American schools different today, or given more reasons we should not copy the Chinese. Yet her rollicking account has hope for both cultures, because they share a deep interest in what children learn. --Washington Post This provocative investigation examines cultural differences between the East and West, and the benefits and shortcomings of how both approach education. --Real Simple, The Best New Books to Read This Month An investigative look at the Chinese educational system and how it produces such a large number of high-performing students. --Book Riot Mixing personal anecdotes, observations of Chinese classrooms, interviews with parents and students and thought-provoking facts about Chinese education, the author reveals how yingshi jiaoyu--high-stakes testing--has created a culture of stress and conformity.... Chu lets readers consider what skills a 21st century student needs and offers insight on the future of global education. --BookPage Lenora Chu, a gifted journalist, has written a fascinating comparison of the US and Shanghai education systems. Little Soldiers offers important insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each. There is much to be learned here about the elements of a better education system for the 21st century. --Tony Wagner, Expert in Residence, Harvard University Innovation Lab and author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators This is a rare look inside the gates of Chinese schools that helps demystify many traits and behaviors of the Chinese people. --Deborah Fallows, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Dreaming in Chinese Gripping, perceptive, honest, revealing, but, above all, deeply thoughtful. When a Chinese-American woman raised in a thoroughly Chinese home in the United States, rebelling against her parents every step of the way, settles in Shanghai and puts her son in a Chinese school, everything she thought she knew about her values and her views on education is up for review. The reader gets a priceless view of both education systems through this prism. --Marc Tucker, National Center On Education and the Economy What if you had a child in one of those Shanghai super-schools? Would the child love it? Hate it? Become a math whiz? A robot? Both? As Lenora Chu takes us along on her own adventure in parenting, she affords us, not only an insider's view of China, but an exploration of people- and society-making at its most foundational. Riveting, provocative and unflinchingly candid, Little Soldiers is a must-read for parents, educators, and global citizens alike. --Gish Jen, author of The Girl at the Baggage Claim Little Soldiers is a book that will endure. With honesty and a terrific sense of humor, Lenora Chu has produced not only an intimate portrait of raising a family far from home but also the most lucid and grounded account of modern Chinese education that I've ever seen. She brilliantly tests our notions of success and creativity, grit and talent, and never shrinks from her conclusions. --Evan Osnos, New Yorker staff writer, National Book Award-winning author of Age of Ambition Little Soldiers is the best book I've read about education in China. Lenora Chu's perspective is unique: as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, she was educated in the American system, and then she returned to China and enrolled her own son in a Shanghai public school. She tells this personal story with great insight and humor, and it's combined with first-rate research into the current state of education in China. --Peter Hessler, New Yorker staff writer and author of River Town, Oracle Bones and Country Driving The American and Chinese ways of educating children are approaching a head-on collision begging the question 'which system best prepares kids for success?' In Little Soldiers, Lenora Chu deploys her journalistic inquiry and her motherly heart to investigate the attributes that underlie this urgent question. Chu's fascinating storytelling urges the reader to ask questions like, 'Do the ends justify the means?' 'Is a child's life for a parent or government to dictate, or is it their own?' These questions and more lie at the heart of Chu's important book, which is necessary reading for educators, parents, and anyone interested in shaping the character and capabilities of the next generation of Americans. --Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Stanford dean of freshmen, and New York Times-bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult Little Soldiers asks us to think deeply about what we value and what we want for our children - academic success, workplace success, group achievement, individual achievement, creativity, love of learning. I couldn't put this book down. It's a game changer that challenges our tendency to see education practices in black and white. --Madeline Levine, Ph.D., Author of New York Times bestsellers, The Prince of Privilege and Teach Your Children Well Undoubtedly revealing, fascinating, and filled with 'aha' moments. --Christian Science Monitor This engaging narrative is personalized by Chu's often humorous recollections of attending American schools as the daughter of immigrants. Little Soldiers offers fascinating peeks inside the world's largest educational system and at the future intellectual soldiers American kids will be facing. --Booklist The lively anecdotes, scenes, and conversations that Chu relates while describing her encounters with the Chinese education system will amuse or appall Western readers.... By the end, the successes of Chu's son... persuade her that, going forward, the global ideal is a blend of Chinese rigor and Western individuality, whatever that might look like. --Publishers Weekly Through [the] combination of personal stories and investigative reporting, Chu opens a window on to the complex world of communist China and its competitive methodology, which helps raise highly efficient, obedient, intelligent children but also squelches individualism and spontaneous creativity from the beginning. It's a sometimes-chilling portrait of how hundreds of millions of children are being taught to obey as well as an interesting glimpse into the mindset of one couple who let their child stay in the system despite their misgivings. An informative, personal view of the Chinese and their educational system that will have many American readers cringing at the techniques used by the Chinese to create perfect students. --Kirkus Reviews Anyone will understand [China] better after reading this book.... Chu vividly sketches these differences [between Chinese and American school systems] in terms that will make readers ponder what they actually think about rote memorization and parents question their preferences for their own children. --New York Times

This book had me at page one! Whip smart, hilariously funny, and shocking. A must-read. --Amy Chua, author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package Chu's narrative is told with the honesty of a journalist, allowing readers to understand the conclusions she draws from her journey but also to form their own view of Chinese education. For anyone who wishes to expand their understanding about Chinese society and its impact on education. --Library Journal, starred review No reporter has gone as deep as she has into what makes Chinese and American schools different today, or given more reasons we should not copy the Chinese. Yet her rollicking account has hope for both cultures, because they share a deep interest in what children learn. --Washington Post This provocative investigation examines cultural differences between the East and West, and the benefits and shortcomings of how both approach education. --Real Simple, The Best New Books to Read This Month Lenora Chu, a gifted journalist, has written a fascinating comparison of the US and Shanghai education systems. Little Soldiers offers important insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each. There is much to be learned here about the elements of a better education system for the 21st century. --Tony Wagner, Expert in Residence, Harvard University Innovation Lab and author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators An investigative look at the Chinese educational system and how it produces such a large number of high-performing students. --Book Riot This is a rare look inside the gates of Chinese schools that helps demystify many traits and behaviors of the Chinese people. --Deborah Fallows, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Dreaming in Chinese Undoubtedly revealing, fascinating, and filled with 'aha' moments. --Christian Science Monitor This engaging narrative is personalized by Chu's often humorous recollections of attending American schools as the daughter of immigrants. Little Soldiers offers fascinating peeks inside the world's largest educational system and at the future intellectual soldiers American kids will be facing. --Booklist Anyone will understand [China] better after reading this book.... Chu vividly sketches these differences [between Chinese and American school systems] in terms that will make readers ponder what they actually think about rote memorization and parents question their preferences for their own children. --New York Times

This book had me at page one! Whip smart, hilariously funny, and shocking. A must-read. --Amy Chua, author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package Chu's narrative is told with the honesty of a journalist, allowing readers to understand the conclusions she draws from her journey but also to form their own view of Chinese education. For anyone who wishes to expand their understanding about Chinese society and its impact on education. --Library Journal, starred review No reporter has gone as deep as she has into what makes Chinese and American schools different today, or given more reasons we should not copy the Chinese. Yet her rollicking account has hope for both cultures, because they share a deep interest in what children learn. --Washington Post This provocative investigation examines cultural differences between the East and West, and the benefits and shortcomings of how both approach education. --Real Simple, The Best New Books to Read This Month An investigative look at the Chinese educational system and how it produces such a large number of high-performing students. --Book Riot Lenora Chu, a gifted journalist, has written a fascinating comparison of the US and Shanghai education systems. Little Soldiers offers important insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each. There is much to be learned here about the elements of a better education system for the 21st century. --Tony Wagner, Expert in Residence, Harvard University Innovation Lab and author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators This is a rare look inside the gates of Chinese schools that helps demystify many traits and behaviors of the Chinese people. --Deborah Fallows, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Dreaming in Chinese Undoubtedly revealing, fascinating, and filled with 'aha' moments. --Christian Science Monitor This engaging narrative is personalized by Chu's often humorous recollections of attending American schools as the daughter of immigrants. Little Soldiers offers fascinating peeks inside the world's largest educational system and at the future intellectual soldiers American kids will be facing. --Booklist Anyone will understand [China] better after reading this book.... Chu vividly sketches these differences [between Chinese and American school systems] in terms that will make readers ponder what they actually think about rote memorization and parents question their preferences for their own children. --New York Times

Author Information

Lenora Chu is a Chinese American writer whose work explores the intersection of culture, policy, and behavior. Her stories and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Christian Science Monitor, and on various NPR shows. Raised in Texas, Chu holds degrees from Stanford and Columbia Universities.

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