CompleteMartialArts.com - Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior
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List Price: $6.99
Our Price: $6.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Hyperion Book CH
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 398.209502
EAN: 9780786814213
ISBN: 043925969X
Label: Hyperion Book CH
Manufacturer: Hyperion Book CH
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 2000-03-01
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Studio: Hyperion Book CH
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Editorial Reviews:
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"A good swordsman should appear as calm as a fine lady, but he must be capable of quick action like a surprised tiger," says a seasoned warrior to Fa Mulan, unaware that the young soldier is in fact a woman. Award-winning author Robert D. San Souci and Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng have created an elegant, visually stunning retelling of the popular Chinese legend. When Fa Mulan learns that her father has been drafted into Khan's army to fight the Tartars, she is shocked--her father is far too old and weak to go to war.She forms a brave plan, which her family reluctantly accepts, and, "At dawn she cut her hair short, put on her father's armor, and fastened his weapons to the horse's saddle." Fa Mulan is excited and afraid, and soon finds herself engaged in fierce combat with the Tartars. She studies the art of war, and becomes skilled with the sword. As her accomplishments gain fame, she is called to appear before the Khan in the royal city of Loyang. Fearing the discovery of her true gender, Mulan is anxious about the consequences for her family. But she needn't have worried; "'General,' the Khan began, 'you have served me well and have brought honor to your family. Your deeds are enough to fill twelve books. I give you a thousand strings of copper coins as a reward. What else do you wish?'" Relieved, the woman warrior simply asks to go home. The noble story of this legendary Chinese heroine has inspired poets, writers, artists, dramatists, and readers worldwide for centuries. This particular retelling dates back to the earliest versions of The Song of Mulan, probably composed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (A.D. 420 to A.D. 589). San Souci's carefully researched interpretation of the ancient story is gentle, dramatic, and inspiring, and the Tsengs' beautiful, expressive watercolor paintings, bordered top and bottom like a Chinese scroll, are lovely. (Ages 7 and older) --Karin Snelson
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: A lot of work for a 2nd grader to read
Comment: This is great story, well written and well illustrated.
If you are looking for a story to read TO your youngster, I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a story your yonugster will read to you, keep looking.
My son and I both enjoy this story very much.
But with 8-9 sentences per page,
sentences that average 10+ words,
and 12-point type throughout,
it takes the fun out of reading for any reader 2nd grade or below.
I bought this because I thought my son
(2nd grade reading level) could read it to me.
He can, but sentences with like
"Her mount suddenly lurched sideways, forcing the enemy's horse to buck and rear, unsettling the rider.
Taking this advantage, Mulan delivered a fatal thrust, and the man tumbled into the dust."
it is work for him.
Contrast that with (from an ACTUAL K-2 reading-level book)
"Inside the Mecha-Misquito Mr. Misquito was getting very angry. he knocked on the bathroom door."
- Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot Adventures
And contrast it with (from and actual Gr 2-3 reading-level book)
"Although there are thousands of private detectives in the United States, the town of Idaville had but one."
-Encyclopedia Brown Brown Solves Them All
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this book, and so does my son.
But it is advertised as "Reading level: Ages 4-8"
and it is not.
Get it to read to your child.
Don't get it for your child to read to you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disney's inspiration
Comment: What many people don't realize is Robert San Souci was one of the writers for Disney's Mulan. It was even his idea to write in the character Mushu. I once met this author and I realized how much work and research went into this wonderful story about a young girl doing something extrodinary. I recommend it for all ages.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a great story
Comment: This is a very nice book and it tells the real story of Mulan, even though the Disney version was okay, but in my opinion, they mixed Chinese and Japanese (Mulan was a Chinese hero)... I have read a better version of Mulan, so thats why I gave it a 4 star
Customer Rating:
Summary: Forget Disney's version of Mulan!
Comment: Forget Disney's version of Mulan! Robert San Souci's adaptation fleshes the simple storyline, symbolism and imagery of the original Chinese poem, with imaginative use of details such as the use of The Art of War by Mulan as a commander. In addition, Mulan's filial piety is portrayed fittingly as she sought her parent's approval to join the army instead of running away from home. Mulan's feelings of romance for her comrades and fear of punishment by her ruler serve to endear us, just as her courage and wits impress us, making this a tale suitable for the young and old.
Customer Rating:
Summary: stunningly beautiful
Comment: The illustrations in San Souci's retelling of the popular traditional Chinese story of Fa Mulan are stunningly beautiful. The artist creates each page to look like an ancient scroll. The story itself is simply and powerfully told. I highly recommend this book especially for young girls and young women.
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