Chu Ju's House

by Gloria Whelan

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, China, Middle Grade, School, Asia

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square and its companion, The Impossible Journey; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell to the Island; and Return to the Island. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Reviews

[Ruhama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families in China are only allowed to have two children, and most families want to have at least one son to take care of the family once he grows up. Chu Ju is the eldest daughter, and when a sister is born, her Nai Nai (grandmother) insists the baby has to go to the orphanage, and the parents must try again and hope for a boy. Chu Ju can’t bear to think of her baby sister being sold, so she chooses to be the one to go. Chu Ju runs from place to place, unable to find somewhere to stay longer than a year or so, until she comes to the farm of Han Na. Han Na’s son wants to live in Shanghi, and Chu Ju is his perfect excuse.
Chu Ju proves to be the perfect help for the elderly woman, and in the end everything works out beautifully for Chu Ju—she finds a boy she likes living nearby, gets the farm and visits her family.

This book gives a good view of China as it is in the countryside. Whelan paints a picture of what it’s like to live in Communist China, and how it is difficult for a girl to feel like she is worth something. Chu Ju goes through many things before she finds her true happiness,
though it doesn’t feel like a coming of age story. Time passes quickly and easily—at the beginning of this short novel Chu Ju is 14, and at the end she is 18. She is a likable character, nonetheless, and readers will sympathize with her struggles. This is appropriate for a Juvenile chapter book collection, but I’m going to shelve it with Homeless Bird, which is in my YA area, so Whelan’s books are easily found by readers who enjoy her.

[Jackson Abells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chu Ju's House is book about a girl named Chu Ju who must flee her home to save her baby sister from being sold. The various obstacles that she faces may by difficult, but they just make it all the more satisfying when she perseveres. That is one of the many things that makes Chu Ju such a likeable character; we enjoy seeing her succeed.
Similar to other Gloria Whelan books, every single challenge in this story is derived from a woman vs society conflict. Also similar to Whelan's other books, this novel uses an abundance of similes and symbolism. For example, "He put down more yuan, which the official swept up as quickly as the heron snatched the frog."
Chu Ju is not the only good character in the story. Even the characters who aren't likeable people are still good characters because of their understandable motivations.
I'd recommend this book to anyone wants get a feeling of perseverance. I'm excited to read more books by this author.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXTRA
Chu Ju is a 14 year old born during Chairman Mao’s reign in China. She runs away from home in an effort to change her younger sister’s future. Chu Ju travels all across China, trying to find a family that will take her in. Chu Ju ends up finding a home in a very small village where she helps a woman who is childless as her son is off in Shanghai. Just as Chu Ju has finally found a home, death is at her doorstep, and she will face once again the pains of loss. Will she ever find her place in this world?

[Eran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chu Ju's house is a book that talks about a girl who lives in China.She leaves her house and her family and goes on an unknown dangerous journey. She's doing these things because she wants to save her little sister from getting sold. I think that the book is thrilling, mysterious and it is also a pageturner. My rating for this book is 4 stars out of 5. I recommend this book to elementary and middle school students and other people that are between the ages 10-16.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 5 out of 5]

AR POINTS: 6.0 READING LEVEL: 5.2
(Ages 8-12, grades 5-6)
--------------------
I absolutely loved this historical novel written for young readers and will pass it onto one of my granddaughters. I feel like this is a book that will be hard to find in a few more years because, as I'm sure it is censored in China, it will most likely be censored by the woke cancel culture here in the United States because it highlights communist China's law of the two-child policy, which encouraged abortion and/or abandonment of unwanted or extra children.

Chu Lu is fourteen years old and is the first-born. When her mother is pregnant for the second time and delivers another girl, the parents start discussing their only option of putting the baby girl into an orphanage so they can try for a boy. Boys are more prized in China because they have more opportunities to add to the family fortune where girls are considered more of a drag on the family fortune and just another mouth to feed.

Chu Lu named and cared for her newborn baby sister, Hua. She fell in love with her and couldn't stand to even think about her being sent away. So, Chu Lu decided to leave home so that Hua could stay with the family.

This is the account of Chu Lu's life as she finds and works her way through a fisherman's family working on a fishing boat, the deplorable conditions on a silk worm farm, and finally into an old woman's heart by helping her plant, weed and grow her little rice paddy farm when her son left it all for the big city, Shanghai. Chu Lu would end up inheriting this 5-acre piece of land and fall in love, which, since this was written for young readers, was only insinuated, but ended perfectly.

THE FACTS: China's two-child policy was ended in 1970, but replaced with the one-child policy because of the population explosion through 1976. In 2015, China ended its one-child policy and returned to the two-child policy. Women were forced into contraceptive devices, such as the IUD, after their first child. If they were found to be pregnant again, they were heavily fined and sterilized so they could never have children again. These policies led to sex-selective abortions and also the reason for the huge number of children, mainly girls, being abandoned and ending up in orphanages.

Today, in 2021, they have gone from a two-child to a three-child policy.

[Sharon Bohlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is definitely going to be a part of my classroom library. Taking place in present day, it shares the story of a young girl in rural China who runs away from home to spare her baby sister being sent away. This is an engaging tale which reveals the horror and oppression of communist China. The characters are well developed and believable. The plot is fast paced, sure to keep the attention of young readers. There is so much action that I think it will appeal to both boys and girls, even though the protagonist is a girl.

[Joyce T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The very culture and language of China were portrayed in this book, including how people live in fear of the government. As a native Mandarin speaker, I didn't run into any trouble with the Mandarin words in this book, but I think that maybe non-Chinese speakers might have a bit of trouble with the words. There is a glossary at the end, though, and I have read other books like this except they used German words, which I'm not familiar with. I had no trouble with those books, so people probably won't have too much trouble with this book either.

Content: Clean. I don't have any warnings, except that the culture/political structure of China may shock some, but beyond cultural shock I don't see anything to warn others of.

[Ali Hunsaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my pick for our October book club. It’s a quick easy read about a young girl in 1950s China who runs away from home to save her baby sister, because her family is planning on selling her in secret so they can try for another child and hope for a boy. It beautifully touches on the importance of kindness from strangers, of literacy and education, and how strict gender roles hurt everybody, not just young girls. China is stuck between old traditions and modern changes and Chu Ju bravely sets out to find a place in the world. And in the end? Her mother is devastated after Chu Ju leaves, but they try again for a son. And they get another daughter. Chu Ju vows to send money for their education so they can have even more opportunities than she did.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I really enjoyed that. This is one of my favourite 'childrens' books that I've read. I found it so easy to get stuck into and once I started reading it was difficult to put down. The story was really fast paced and did lack a bit of detail, but it is aimed at a slightly younger audience so I wasn't expecting it to be detailed anyway.
I really enjoyed the story and the character of Chu Ju really grows as the story goes on; shes also such a humble character and she is really admirable.

I also learned alot of modern Chinese culture, customs, and traditions. So not only was I enjoying the book, but I felt like I was learning lots as well.
4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[stells🐊 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, considering I got it as a school book. I would probably read again

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whelan writes stories of girls living through challenging times and growing into strong young women. This one is set in 20th century China. Farmers are allowed two children. Chu Ju's mother has a new baby--another girl. So Chu Ju runs away so that her baby sister isn't sent away.

Through the years we see her live and work in various places until she helps an old woman tend her land. The old woman's son has no desire to work the land and feels free to leave for the big city.

I enjoyed this story of Chu Ju striking out, facing fears, and finding her home (and her independence!).

[Jonalyn Bautista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chu Ju's House is a wonderful book. It reminds me of my first love–the book that got me into reading, which is Katherine by Anchee Min. The settings for both books are the same, although the main character in Katherine is already a young adult. If you like Chu Ju's House, I am sure you'll like that one too.

Going back to Chu Ju's House, I really like reading books that show you the lives of people in different places and times. This book did that awesomely well. Chu Ju was born in China just right after the Communist Party won in the Revolution. Here, we see how the one-child policy and everything else (books being illegal, people getting arrested for telling the "truth") that the Communist Party has decreed affect the lives of the common Chinese. The book was able to show that not only effectively but also creatively.

Also, I really like the main character Chu Ju. She was wise for her age, really persistent and quite brave. All this time I was reading this book, I was rooting for her with all my heart. We also get to see how pure she is when her pencil case was given back. She chose not to harbor anger but instead see that the woman could be kind, too. I also like how Chu Ju's character developed. In the beginning of the book, she got teary eyed over her Grandma's ignorant and insensitive remarks. But in the end, we have a grown up Chu Ju who after being insolently called "selfish," stood her ground and believed in her choices. I'd also like to praise that little detail of how her grandmother never changed. It tells us that some people will never do change and it's okay. We should not be angry with them but instead, show compassion for their deep seated hate towards the world.

I also like that this book has shown us the wonderful culture the Chinese have–the traditions and superstitious beliefs they continue to practice and the values they hold close to their hearts. Although, the book also amazingly depicted the value of changing. That while tradition keeps us closely knitted with our families and showcase our unique identities, we must also be open to changes as more often than not, they increase the value of our lives.

I also like this book because it champions the value of education that so many of us in the current times are taking for granted. Education teaches you how to critically think. Without it, one may easily be a puppet to where his loyalties lie. Chu Ju's "simple" education had been helpful to her lots of times and knowing this, she was willing to break her back to make sure her sisters will be able to go to school by the end of the book.

I think my only negative comment is that when I finished reading it, I am greatly reminded that this is fiction. This is fairytale. Chu Ju was very, very lucky to have ended up in the hands of good people. But many kids do not and a lot of them are killed or turned into slaves. I was happy for Chu Ju but was sad too, knowing that some kids still face the same struggles and unlike our dear main character, no happy ending is waiting for them. My point is, the happy ending might distract us that this is still a current issue and that something needs to be done.

All in all, Chu Ju's House is a really good book. Greatly recommended!

[tuhseen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In our desire for a son, we lost a daughter."

I was sorting my bookshelf a few days ago, and I found this in a little section I put my favourite books from middle school in. I found the book both enjoyable and relatable, and I still do. I never had to run away from my family, and my family certainly never lived in a country with strict laws around the amount of children you could have... But despite the differences in time and geography, I found it relatable because for all the children my parents had, most were girls. Only one was a boy, and as I grew older I realized exactly how much preference and favoritism he was given in every matter. I was glad to see Chu Ju's parents understand what they had lost, and love her regardless of her sex.

The story flows easily, keeps readers interested, and has a bittersweet ending. Definitely would recommend for those in middle-school today.

[Challice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Gloria Whelan by her classic work, Homeless Bird. I was pretty confident that I would love anything by this author and over the year I have collected many of her works. Chu Ju's House was the second one I have read and I loved it just as much as Homeless Bird. How Whelan manages to tell a heart-wrenching story but still maintain hope is beyond me. For Chu Ju, being a girl is no honor in China. Two children are the rule and when Chu Ju's sister is born, Chu Ju makes the decision to run away so that her sister will not be sold. The story tells of her trials in making her way in the world and keeping this secret. It tells of her independence and grit to make a life for herself in whatever circumstance she finds herself. Really loved it. A book that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. I hope that the subtle message of complacency involved in living under the kind of government oppression is received by many.

[Shelley R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very heart touching book, I HIGHLY recommend it. It highlights the fact that families in china could only have a certain amount of children, and to deserve honour they needed at least one boy. It teaches you the hard conditions that children with no place in their family went through - from being sold to a orphanage like a bag of rice.
These parents don't understand how much blame they attach the child for being a certain gender. It makes the child feel unwanted - as if they are one too many - and this feeling will make the child do unimaginable events, (in this case) just to open room for a new baby boy to be born. Now this fourteen year old girl did something spectacular, that sparked water in my own eyes and sure left me with a new realisation of the outside world.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a new year and a parade is going on. A girl named Chu Ju live with her family in China. That time in China, the law said that every family are only allowed to have two children. And one of them have to be a boy. Chu Ju's mom have a baby and she thought he will be a boy. After the baby is born, Chu ju's parent is not so happy because the baby is a girl. In order to make room for a boy, they must give away the baby girl. Chu Ju's parent decide to gave away the baby next morning. Chu Ju heard about her parents plan. She doesn't her parents to give away her sister. She pack her stuff and go away in the middle of the night so that her parents would not know.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a Westerner (who has adopted two children from China), Whelan spins an almost believable tale of life in rural China. Almost. I question the basic premise--that a young girl (14) could survive, let alone succeed in her escape from the two child policy. However, Whelan tells a fine story of various aspects of contemporary China--life of a fishing-based family, life of girls abandoned/orphaned, in the silk worm factories, and life in rural China. Her portrayal of Shanghai is as eloquent and magical as it is gruesome and oppressive. ChuJu is an engaging protagonist and one the reader is eager to see succeed and glad when she does.

[Areen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that it was a little boring, because I don't like stories about China's policies or things like that. At first, the book was a little boring for me but then it started to get better and more exciting because when she escaped she didn't know where to go and I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happens to her. The book was also a little bit confusing because it was difficult to know who is who because of the names but then I figured it out. I would rather read a book other than Chu Ju's house that talks about other things.

[Elizabeth Anne Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Due to the law, that family's can only have two children and the tradition that says only a boy can bring honor, the new baby girl will be sent to an orphanage. But her older sister, Chu Ju, only wants the best for her and runs away to save her. Chu Ju's House is the story of Chu Ju's journey to find a new home and a new family.

What I Loved:
At first, I was skeptical about the plot, because I've read quite a few books about children running away from home. However, this one surprised me. Chu Ju is just a young girl who would do anything to protect her sister. She loves her family and even considers returning in some parts of the book.

Chu Ju's house was filled with cultural details, symbolic language, and beautiful descriptions of life in rural China. Also, the characters were all relatable and unique.

What I Didn't Love:
The ending felt incomplete and abrupt. I wanted to know more about Chu Ju's relationship with Ling and more on what happened to her family.

Recommended for:
Middle-grade readers or anyone who is interested in / enjoys books about Asian cultures

My Rating:
5/5 stars

Quotes:
“I hope the day will come when everyone can have books that tell the truth.”
― Gloria Whelan, Chu Ju's House

“In our search for a son, we lost a daughter.”
― Gloria Whelan, Chu Ju's House

Links:
View Chu Ju's House on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
View the author's page on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Visit the author's website here: http://gloriawhelan.com/index.html
Buy Chu Ju's House on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Chu-Jus-House-...

[Brooke Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tale of adventure, and selfless bravery, in a situation that should never have to be. The one child rule applied in the cities of Communist China and also in the country, where there was a two child rule (with exceptions for those who could afford to pay.) Boys are seen to be lucky and have a duty to claim more land for the family name. This brings us to Chu Ju, oldest girl in her family, her mother has another girl. It is questioned from the very beginning whether they will keep her.
"There the woman said. "You are trying to sell me an ill natured girl who will give everyone trouble."
I held my breath, hoping that the woman would not take her.
Nai Nai (paternal grandmother) scowled at Hua. "She cries because she is insulted that you hold her so cheaply."
All the while Ma ma sat in the corner of the room, pale and silent. As the two women argued, Ma ma began to cry. I had wondered why Nai Nai had not sent her into another room. Now I understood, for Nai Nai said, "We will not sell her after all. See, her Ma Ma is not willing to let her go."And Indeed Ma Ma was sobbing harder than ever; the sobs were not just for show for the woman, but from Ma Ma's heart."(pp. 32-33)
This book tells the truth. There are grains of wisdom in historical fiction. I find myself asking what would it be like to be that obedient daughter-in-law, heart-breaking inch by inch while your mother-in-law tries to sell your child, knowing all the while that you may be beaten or kicked out if you try to say anything. What would it be like to trade your own future for your sister's? This is a heroic tale of a girl who proved her world wrong.

[Kiera Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

. Chu Ju’s House
Gloria Whelan
Kiera Garrett
3.5 stars

Would you sacrifice anything for your family even though it might hurt you in the long run? I would, I even was more sure after reading Chu
Ju’s house By Gloria Whelan

In China there is a law that says you can only have two children, people hope for a boy so he can take over the family once he's’ an adult. When the mother of a fourteen-year-old girl named Chu ju has a baby everyone is hoping she has a boy.. Well she doesn't and Ju chu has made a decision to run away and embark on a journey so her new little sister isn't sold to an orphanage. On this journey, Chu Ju faces many obstacles which helps her to grow up and learn the importance of family.
These obstacles Chu Ju faces is the main part of the story it also shows how people can be pompous and quarrelsome. But this book shows also the generosity and love from people.The description makes you feel like your there watching from a distance like you would be a movie theater. The adventure makes you want to keep reading in curiosity.It's a pretty short book if you ask me.
Overall it's a pretty good book to think about family and pass the time. It really shows the effect of China laws has on families and how women are valued less. Chu Ju’s characteristics of adventurous, calculating and generosity really puts a cherry on top for me. Thank you for reading my review.

[Lilly Minasyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book takes place in China 🇨🇳 It is about a girl, named Chu Ju and her adventure.
In China, it is allowed to have one kid if you live in the city and two kids if you live in the countryside. So most people want a son to carry the family name. Chu Ju is the eldest daughter, even though her parents pray to the ancestors for a boy, they have another girl, which Chu Ju names Hua 花 (as in Blossom or splendid in English). Chu Ju starts to take care of her little 妹妹 (mei mei, little sister), one day her 奶奶 (grandmother) forces her parents to send Hua to orphanage. Chu Ju doesn’t want her little sister to leave, since she is so small, so she runs away.
She finds good and bad people throughout her journey, she even goes to Shanghai! It reminded me a lot of my trip to there and I could just imagine the hassle of the city, how overwhelming she might have felt coming from a small village.
I am not going to spoil anything further, but if you are into such stories, I would recommend this book. It was so good that I read it within one day!
I truly liked this story 🇨🇳

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my 13 and 11 year olds. I don't suggest reading it to younger kids, as there is talk about the policies in China during, what seems to be, the 1980s. Chu Ju is a young pre-teen girl who's mother is about to have a baby. If it is a girl, she will be sent away. If it is a boy, the family can keep him. Through certain situations that happen in her family, she runs away in order to help them. She is a hard working girl, and that is shown throughout the book. She is such a great kid. You might have to explain certain things about the culture of China while reading this. We have done past studies so I didn't have to really explain much. Things like what a silk worm is, about sampan fishing boats, maybe advice about why running away is not a healthy choice anywhere, things like that.
Our family fully adored this book. It was well written and kept our attention the whole time.

[LaeQueens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but fulfilling story. This is a story of a girl's selfless love for her family and others as well as a story of luck. Chu Ju, although was seen as " worthless " in the eyes of her grandmother and China's view of women before, was full of luck, love and knowledge. The world is a vast place and surely the river will take her to where she belongs and that is exactly what happens in the story. I felt very optimistic reading the entire thing and although some parts of it were sad, like the part where a woman believes her son would never be free no matter how much they pay ever since he was sent to a reeducation center for speaking the " truth ", the story still gives out hope. Mostly, it shows the beauty of agriculture and caring for one's own land rather than the materialistic beauty of the city. All in all, such a good read. I hoped it was longer but the way it ended was perfect as well.

[G. Rench HS Student · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chu Ju’s House (book summary)
Chu Ju’s House, by Gloria Whelan, is set in China. The government has limited families to having two children. Only a son can bring honor to the family, and Chu Ju’s family has already had one girl. When her mother has another girl baby, Chu Ju runs away so that her parents will keep the baby.
Chu Ju travels mostly in small villages, so it talks a lot about nature. The book describes the rice paddies, the river, the fruit trees, the fish, and the birds with detail. I like that because I love nature.
The main themes of Chu Ju’s House are courage, and the importance of family. Chu Ju shows courage running away, and she shows that she loves her sister, sacrificing her future to save Hua.
Overall, Chu Ju’s house was a really good book, and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

[M.K. Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by no means the most outstanding story. However, I give it a 5 because it is the REASON I love reading to this day. It was the first and only chapter book I started and finished as a kid. I have dyslexia and struggled finding reading material for years. I came across this in 6th grade and it changed my world. It is though-provoking, timeless, and full of sentimental moments of growth for the character. If you are someone who has ever felt disconnected from yoru family, or like your needed to make a large sacrifice in order to protect someone else, or, if you just enjoy a good adventure story, this might be a nice fit for you.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple book that brings some Asian cultures to life. A young girl is born in a family that can, by law, have only two children. In China it was important to have a male heir. When a second daughter is born, steps are taken to sell her. Chu Ju makes an important decision to 'save' her sister which brings her into contact with four other subcultures in her society. Good for grades 3-4, with many interesting points for discussion. I've read it twice and found it interesting both times.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it! It wasn't my 'perfect book' sure but I really enjoyed it! I loved the characters, and how they kept what had happened to add to the future in the book. There were some scares sure, but I felt the book. I really felt like I fell into the loop when I read it. Like I was ACTUALLY there! I really REALLY liked it and I feel like I understood what she felt, what Chu Ju was going through even if I had never actually HAD any of the experiences...

[Or · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book is good and a page-turner. The story is interesting and exciting. The author had a nice idea for the story. However, words were a little bit confusing because the characters call each other by their Chinese names, for example, Nai Nai is a grandma in Chinese, so you need to remember the names to keep on track. But, overall, it was fun and easy to read.

[Jayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m normally not into the shorter books that are wayyy below my level, but this one was amazing. I originally was just in the library and made a few jokes about it, so I checked it it to be funny and it turned out to be the best book ever. I 100% recommend Chu Ju’s House.