Little Soldiers

An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve

By: Lenora Chu

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

In the spirit of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Bringing up Bébé, and The Smartest Kids in the World, a hard-hitting exploration of China’s widely acclaimed yet insular education system—held up as a model of academic and behavioral excellence—that raises important questions for the future of American parenting and education.

When students in Shanghai rose to the top of international rankings in 2009, Americans feared that they were being ""out-educated"" by the rising super power. An American journalist of Chinese descent raising a young family in Shanghai, Lenora Chu noticed how well-behaved Chinese children were compared to her boisterous toddler. How did the Chinese create their academic super-achievers? Would their little boy benefit from Chinese school?

Chu and her husband decided to enroll three-year-old Rainer in China’s state-run public school system. The results were positive—her son quickly settled down, became fluent in Mandarin, and enjoyed his friends—but she also began to notice troubling new behaviors. Wondering what was happening behind closed classroom doors, she embarked on an exploratory journey, interviewing Chinese parents, teachers and education professors, and following students at all stages of their education.

What she discovered is a military-like education system driven by high-stakes testing, with teachers posting rankings in public, using bribes to reward students who comply, and shaming to isolate those who do not. At the same time, she uncovered a years-long desire by government to alleviate its students’ crushing academic burden and make education friendlier for all. The more she learns, the more she wonders: Are Chinese children—and her son—paying too high a price for their obedience and the promise of future academic prowess? Is there a way to appropriate the excellence of the system but dispense with the bad? What, if anything, could Westerners learn from China’s education journey?

Chu’s eye-opening investigation challenges our assumptions and asks us to consider the true value and purpose of education.

lightweaver

Good book that tells the story of a family struggling to find balance and doing it. A lot to think about and a good listen.

Insight into culture and classroom

As an American math teacher of 20 years, I have always been curious about the foundation of Chinese education. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The narrator’s use of voice is wonderfully done; you don’t lose which character she is invoking.

An American teacher MUST READ

From Chinese authoritarian traits in schools of China to valuable lessons of hard work and goal setting, this book helped reveal in the story of a mother how she maneuvered her way through the teachers, culture, and anxieties of sending her child through the kindergarten education system of China and what she learned from other parents in rural and urban China and America.

Very Informative

Not the type of book I thought I'd be interested in initially but it was incredibly insightful and well written. Had facts and figures but had enough personal stories and a plotline so didn't feel like reading a text book. Fair and unbiased on both ends of the spectrum. As a long time Chinese learner I also appreciated they actually found a narrator that could properly pronounce the Chinese words😅 Most other books I've found on audible that include Chinese words cannot say the same. Highly recommend for an interesting insight on east vs west education.

Amazing!

This is an amazing book with perfect narration. It will expand your horizons while keeping you completely engaged by the personal stories and perspective. Highly recommended!!