What This Book Is About
In a small village on the Chinese plains during the 1960s and 1970s, a mute boy named Bronze and a city girl named Sunflower form an unbreakable bond. Sunflower's father, an artist, has brought her to the countryside during a turbulent era in China's history. When tragedy strikes and her father drowns, the poorest family in the village takes Sunflower in. Bronze, who lost his ability to speak after witnessing a terrible fire as a child, becomes her fierce protector and closest companion.
Together, Bronze and Sunflower face grinding poverty, harsh winters, swarms of locusts, and the cruelties of village life. Yet their story is not one of despair but of extraordinary beauty. Bronze crafts a necklace from icicles so Sunflower can perform in the school play. He catches fireflies to make her a lamp for studying. Every act of love is quiet, inventive, and deeply moving. Originally published in Chinese as a modern classic, this Hans Christian Andersen Award-winning novel by Cao Wenxuan is translated with grace and sensitivity by Helen Wang.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
Bronze and Sunflower opens a window into rural China that most students in Singapore's international schools have never encountered. UWC values literature that broadens perspectives beyond a Western canon, and this novel does exactly that. It introduces young readers to a different time and place while exploring universal themes of family, sacrifice, and resilience that transcend any single culture.
The book is also a masterclass in showing rather than telling. Bronze cannot speak, so his love for Sunflower is expressed entirely through actions, teaching students to read between the lines and interpret character through behavior rather than dialogue. For students with Chinese-speaking backgrounds, it builds a powerful bridge between their heritage language and English reading, while for all students it fosters the cross-cultural empathy that sits at the heart of UWC's educational mission.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A1. The book is 400 pages with literary language. Build foundations with shorter chapter books first.
Right in the sweet spot. The prose is lyrical but clear, and the emotional story keeps readers turning pages.
A comfortable and moving read at B2. Try The Good Thieves or Out of My Mind for more challenge.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.