Chu Ju's House

One girl too many . . .

When a girl is born to Chu Ju's family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go.

Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing not to return.

With luminescent detail, National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to China, where law conspires with tradition, tearing a young woman from her family, sending her on a remarkable journey to find a home of her own.

Customer Reviews:

Chu Ju's House

By Elisabeth Hegerat - October 18, 2004

The story of a young girl growing up in rural Communist China. When Chu Ju's mother gives birth to another girl instead of the hoped-for boy, her grandmother declares that they will give the baby away to an orphanage, as the family can't afford the exhorbitant fines they'd need to pay in order to have a third child, trying again for a son. Attempting to keep her mother from becoming attached to baby Hua, Chu Ju's grandmother appoints her the baby's caregiver. Chu Ju can't bear the thought of giving up Hua to an orphanage, and decides that if there can only be one girl in the family, then she should leave. She runs away from home, and sets her hand to various things, including a stint with a fishing family, tending silk worms, and ends up staying with an elderly farm woman. Not as nearly depressing as it sounds--Gloria Whelan's got a deft touch. It's more about Chu Ju's own growth and the juxtaposition of tradition and innovation in rural China than an adventure novel, but is a... read more

Wonderful new novel from Gloria Whelan.

By Rebecca Herman - April 13, 2004

Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju and her family live in modern rural China, where a strict policy of two children per family is enforced. When Chu Ju's mother becomes pregnant again, the family hopes for a boy, because sons are strongly preferred. But when the baby is born, it is another girl, who is named Hua. When Chu Ju learns that her grandmother plans to sell baby Hua to an orphanage so that there will be room in the family for another child, hopefully a son, Chu Ju decides to run away from home to spare her sister this terrible fate. Chu Ju's journey brings her to a fishing boat, a silkworm factory, a rice paddy, and the bustling and modern city of Shanghai.

Fans of Gloria Whelan's previous novels won't want to miss this one. It's a wonderfully written and fascinating look at the hardships faced by a young girl in a society that strongly prefers males, and her journey to prove her worth and find a place for herself in the world.

Another classic Gloria Whelan book

By hiphopgirl_1000 - April 13, 2004

14-year-old Chu Ju lives in a rural Chinese village where according to culture boys are far more valued than girls. Her mother is pregnant again and the whole family prays for a son, because they know the strict rules of 2 children per family would not permit them to have another child if the baby turned out to be a girl. Unfortunately, Chu Ju's new sibling turns out to be another girl. Chu Ju's grandmother is very bitter at the result and convinces the family to put the girl up for adoption and hopefully have another child that will be a boy. Chu Ju is devastated when she hears of her family's plan and she decides to run away so her baby sister will not have to suffer. Little does Chu Ju know how important this journey will be to her life and self-realization. Told over several years, Chu Ju's journey brings her many hardships, but joy as well. She goes from village to village finding an assortment of jobs, such as working on a silkfarm, a fishing boat, and working in the rice... read more