Mao's Last Dancer cover art

Mao's Last Dancer

Young Readers' Edition

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Mao's Last Dancer

By: Li Cunxin
Narrated by: Paul English
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About this listen

One day, not so very many years ago, a small peasant boy was chosen to study ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy. His mother urged him to take this chance of a lifetime. But Li was only eleven years old and he was scared and lonely, pushed away from all that he had ever known and loved. He hated the strict training routines and the strange place he had been brought to. All he wanted to do was go home - to his mother, father, and six brothers, to his own small village. But soon Li realised that his mother was right. He had the chance to do something special with his life - and he never turned back.

©2003 Li Cunxin (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Biographies Growing Up Young Adult Nonfiction

Critic Reviews

"Plucked from poverty, Li Cunxin was brought to Beijing to learn ballet. Later, after defecting, he became a principal dancer in both the Houston and the Australian Ballets, ultimately becoming world renowned. Paul English's crisp accents march precisely through Chinese pronunciations and the difficult stories of Li's early life in Quingdao. Occasionally, English pauses on emotional peaks, portraying, for example, Li's fear when his mother faints from hunger and his loneliness while adjusting to life at the dance school. Mostly, English's level narration allows listeners to imagine the contrasts of Li's life - his incomprehension of the wealth and freedom he sees while visiting the U.S. And, soon after, his struggle to attain them." ( AudioFile Magazine)

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Brilliant

Best story ever. Loved every minute. Taught me to be so grateful to live free in Australia and that I’m actually very lucky and rich indeed.

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Up there on the must read list!

Li’s account of his life, will not disappoint anyone who is interested in historical, cultural and political non fiction. It was enlightening, emotional and I absolutely can’t believe that I have not read Li’s story before now.

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