West Meets East: 100 American Secondary School Students’ Tales About China is edited by Gu Licheng from Northwestern University, featuring a diverse collection of essays compiled from students across elementary and middle schools in the United States. Through the authentic perspectives of American teenagers, this book presents vivid stories of their journeys learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture. Designed as a bilingual (Chinese-English) publication enriched with illustrations, it offers readers an engaging cultural read that highlights the profound connections between American students and China.
The 100 essays in this collection are organized into ten thematic sections, including "Journey to China," "Songs of Friendship," "Chinese Language Journey," "Joy of Time Travel," "Bridge of Chinese" " Beauty of Chinese," "East Meets West," "Warmth of Home," "Ode to Heros," and "Unique Perspectives." Under these themes, the young American writers depict their extraordinary experiences in China, the warmth and friendship of Chinese people, the inspiration drawn from Chinese culture, and the cultural differences they observed. These narratives, insights, and viewpoints not only serve as genuine examples of how American teens come to know, understand, and appreciate China but also act as a bridge for internationally-minded readers curious about China and a key for those entirely new to the country.
By telling China’s story through the unique lens of American youth, this book has the potential to attract global attention, deepen understanding, and foster support for China, making it an excellent avenue for advancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.
This book is suitable for K–12 Chinese language learners and adults alike, serving both as reading material and as a reference for writing and speech practice. It is also a valuable resource for international Chinese language teachers guiding students in reading, writing, and speech training. For global readers interested in China, it provides an accessible window to deeper understanding. Additionally, Chinese students learning English can gain fresh insights by revisiting familiar cultural themes through an English-language perspective.