The Long-Haired Girl: A Chinese Legend

Ah-mei challenges the God of Thunder so her parched village will have water for planting crops

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Exhausted by her constant search for water during an extended drought, Ah-mei barely manages to climb a nearby mountain to find green herbs. There she invokes the wrath of the Thunder God by accidentally discovering his sweet spring. Because the angry god threatens to kill her if she reveals its location, Ah-mei agonizes for a month while she watches her mother and the other villagers suffer, knowing she could save them. The desperate straits of an old man finally convince her to sacrifice her life for the good of others. Her decision does not bring the disasterous consequences she expects, for the old man helps her fool the Thunder God. The creators of The Journey of Meng (Dial, 1991) have served up another well-told, handsomely illustrated traditional tale. In an arresting departure from the softer watercolors of his earlier book, Yang illustrates the text with colored woodblock prints on rice paper, a traditional medium for early and modern Asian art. His carefully composed pictures have an earthy vigor appropriate to this tale rooted in peasant life, yet are capable of great delicacy as they depict the loving relationship of mother to daughter. Ah-mei's flowing hair, the flight of birds, the passage of clouds, all depicted in rich, subtle colors, contribute life and movement to an engaging and satisfying picture book, marred only by its lack of a source note.?Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this fine retelling of a Chinese legend, a terrible drought has come to the land near the Lei-Gong Mountains. When Ah-Mei discovers a secret spring of water as "sweet as pear juice," Lei-Gong, the God of Thunder, threatens her with death if she breathes a word of her discovery to anyone. Ah-Mei withers under the burden of this knowledge, longing to tell the villagers of the water source that could save their lives. Her raven hair fades and worry ravages her beauty. Finally, the sight of a suffering old man proves more than she can bear. In dramatic detail, Rappaport (previously teamed with Yang for The Journey of Meng) describes how the girl saves the village despite the risk of death, and then receives help from the once-suffering old man to thwart the vengeful Thunder God. Vivid writing captures Ah-Mei's courage, presenting her dilemma as tangible and relevant. Woodcuts complement the prose. With bold lines set against delicate backdrops in pastel colors, the art, while pleasingly simple, conveys considerable emotion and movement. Especially noteworthy is Yang's attention to costume. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4-8. Like Rappaport and Ming-Yi's Journey of Meng (1991), this is a story of a brave young woman who is prepared to sacrifice herself for her people. Handsome woodcuts combine with soft-toned watercolors to illustrate a Chinese legend set in a remote village. At a time of devastating drought, Ah-mei discovers a hidden stream of cold, sweet water high in the mountains, but the fearsome God of Thunder threatens to kill her if she tells anyone about it. The drought drags on; Ah-mei dreams of saving her village, even though she would have to die to bring her people water. Her long, shiny black hair turns white. Finally, she can bear it no longer; she brings the people to the secret spring, and they release the waterfall to pour down the mountainside and restore the fields. Then the villagers trick the evil god and save Ah-mei's life. The pictures show that the waves of her long, flowing hair are like the gushing waterfall: the courageous, unselfish hero is part of the flow of nature. Hazel Rochman