Title: The Good Earth
Author: Pearl S. Buck
ISBN: 978-0-743-27293-3
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 10th and Up (Adult Crossover)
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1931
Genre: Fiction
Reader's Annotation: Wang Lung, stripped of his belongings, must give up his home to take care of his family. When good fortune finds him, he returns home with much more than he left with and more problems than he ever anticipated.
Plot Summary: Wang Lung and his wife O-lan live a productive life in China. Caring for a farm and their children, the two are hard working and honest individuals. When a drought forces them off of their land, they flee to the south to find work and food. Although unhappy, the family survives and are able to return to their land after a riot and deal Wang Lung strikes with another man. As a result of the deal, Wang Lung and O-lan return to their home more prosperous than before. While enjoying their new found prosperity, the reader can see the money causing problems for Wang Lung and his family.
Evaluation: (A+) Wang Lung's story will captivate readers. The plot is rich and suspenseful. Greed is an underlying theme and it is interesting to see how money changed honest, hard working Wang Lung. This would be a good addition to a multicultural book list or a book list for adult crossovers.
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