Ji-li Jiang

Presents the story of Ji-li Jiang, a twelve-year-old girl growing up in China in 1966, the year that Chairman Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, and describes the changes that the Revolution brought to her and to her family.

A lonely girl finds a friend when she and her grandfather rescue a wounded crane.

"As long as he can remember, Xian has wanted to be a great calligrapher, like his father. When he turns six, he's finally old enough to start studying. Calligraphy is more than writing--it's painting--and Xian learns how much work and creativity go into what look like effortless strokes. Based on stories still told about Xian and his father, famous calligraphers of the 4th century, Eighteen Vats of Water is about determination, creativity, and learning...