It's not audio/video, but I highly suggest reading "Life and Death in Shanghai" by Nien Cheng. She details how her life changed and was destroyed under the Cultural Revolution. Married to a businessman who worked for an American corporation, she became a target of the Chinese government. Red Guards (who were all teens and young adults) ransacked her house, stole valuables, and forced her to give up the other floors in her house to those who were less successful. She later was imprisoned and sent to intense interrogations that tried to brainwash her into being a good little commie. (The only reading material allowed in the jail cell was Mao's red book.) She remained strong, and was finally able to escape to America.
I read the book in college, but I don't remember it being that advanced in terms of vocabulary. What I mainly remember is how engaged and passionate the classroom was when we discussed it ... and that was 15 years ago. Her story would be super easy to relate to what's happening today.
You're welcome! Someone probably already referenced this, but "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is another great novel to read. Target audience is 9-14, and it's full of great symbolism and themes that can be related to today. Just the use of black & white and color can be translated to what we call blue and red pills here.
Never watched the movie adaptation, partly because I heard they had aged up the main character to 16, which takes away an interesting aspect of the story. In the book, the main character is 12 years old, and on the cusp of puberty. At that age, it is required for all the Twelves to begin taking a pill that stops the onset of any feelings of sexual desire, thus taking away their choice of a mate. The girls assigned the career of Birthmothers provide the community the babies sent to each family.
It's not audio/video, but I highly suggest reading "Life and Death in Shanghai" by Nien Cheng. She details how her life changed and was destroyed under the Cultural Revolution. Married to a businessman who worked for an American corporation, she became a target of the Chinese government. Red Guards (who were all teens and young adults) ransacked her house, stole valuables, and forced her to give up the other floors in her house to those who were less successful. She later was imprisoned and sent to intense interrogations that tried to brainwash her into being a good little commie. (The only reading material allowed in the jail cell was Mao's red book.) She remained strong, and was finally able to escape to America.
I read the book in college, but I don't remember it being that advanced in terms of vocabulary. What I mainly remember is how engaged and passionate the classroom was when we discussed it ... and that was 15 years ago. Her story would be super easy to relate to what's happening today.
Thank you! Will check this out! Excellent! I am happy to read to them to teach this lesson.
You're welcome! Someone probably already referenced this, but "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is another great novel to read. Target audience is 9-14, and it's full of great symbolism and themes that can be related to today. Just the use of black & white and color can be translated to what we call blue and red pills here.
Thanks! No I hadnt come across it, though I saw the Jeff Bridges movie at one point
Never watched the movie adaptation, partly because I heard they had aged up the main character to 16, which takes away an interesting aspect of the story. In the book, the main character is 12 years old, and on the cusp of puberty. At that age, it is required for all the Twelves to begin taking a pill that stops the onset of any feelings of sexual desire, thus taking away their choice of a mate. The girls assigned the career of Birthmothers provide the community the babies sent to each family.