By: Jiang Rong
My group recently published the first book in a children's book series that takes kids to other lands. Our first book took Katie, Jake and Cooper to Holland. In the next book they visit Mongolia. As part of my research I read Wolf Totem, which tells the tale of a young man who visits Inner Mongolia and lives among the nomads. You leave the book with a better understanding of the culture and customs of those living in their wilderness. And you learn how the Chinese encroachment on the territory is wiping out customs that have lasted for 1,000s of year. In his story, Rong draws wonderful "word" pictures of the life of nomads . . . marriage, families, hunting and the traditions of the wolf. Check it out. Review by Terrie. (Fiction) 07/03/09
