‘Just remember,’ [my father] once said to me, as he made a red boiled sweet appear as if by magic out of the red silk velvet of his violin case, ‘with music and your imagination, you can travel anywhere; you will always be free.’

In the summer of 1966, Little Leap Forward and his best friend Little-Little have a lot to think about.  For one thing, there are kites to make and kite competitions to hold.  Kite flying is a very important challenge for the little boys in Beijing, China.  Then there’s the stream to lie by and watch the fish in; plans to make; games to play.  Little Leap Forward also has his new pet, a little yellow bird he and Little-Little captured one day.  Leap Forward wants to listen to it sing and copy the notes on his recorder.  He soon grows frustrated because this tiny bird won’t sing for him; after all, he takes good care of him and gives him what he needs.  When the Red Guards arrive one day, the boys start to think of other things -- like freedom and the future of their family and community -- and suddenly Leap Forward sees his caged bird in a new light. 

Although this book is not very long it has a very powerful message about the importance of freedom and hope.  You’ll undoubtedly find a lot to think about, too, after reading this beautiful story.

Other Books You May Enjoy:

• Crispin: the Cross of Lead by Avi
• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
• The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
• Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
• A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park