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Title: China (Tintin's Travel Diaries) by Maximilien Dauber, Martine Noblet, Barrons Educational Series ISBN: 0-8120-1865-6 Publisher: Barrons Juveniles Pub. Date: September, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3.33 (3 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Tintin answers thirty questions about the land of China
Comment: Okay, my two cents on the controversy: In one of Tintin's adventures in China he was forced to wear a piece of wood around his neck that was chained to his foot. This book, in answering the question "Do Chinese tortures still exist?", talks about what is called the "great imagination" the Chinese showed in the punishment of their prisoners, how this compared to what other nations around the world were doing to prisoners, and the improvement of the legal system in China today. The photograph in question shows three men and a younger boy with their heads held between two giant tubes of bamboo as pillories. The book explains that the idea was that this would prevent prisoners from sleeping or resting and certainly takes the subject of torture seriously.

The key context here for the question being raised is that "China: Tintin's Travel Diaries" is a companion volume to Tintin's adventures in China, "The Blue Lotus," and many of the thirty key questions raised by the book are designed for young readers who have read the Tintin story. Some questions are also basic to the subject of China, such as "How many people live in China?" and "Why did the Chinese build a great wall?" The books in this series were inspired by Herge's character and the conceit is that Tintin would have kept notebooks as he traveled around the world on his adventures. From an educational standpoint the book explores the geography, customs, culture, and heritage of the people living in China. Herge's original cartoons from "The Blue Lotus" are juxtaposed with photographs from today and if young readers are inspired to find out more about other lands after reading about Tintin's adventures that would be a good thing.

Rating: 4
Summary: This book makes research simple for young children.
Comment: This book was not violent. There were many pictures of woman and children and there was nothing disturbing about it. The reviewer from Boston obviously did not read this book. There is one picture referring to chinese torture. It is realistic and tasteful. Children need to understand history and the world around them. This book helps.

Rating: 1
Summary: Very VIOLENT. Not a children's book!
Comment: We found this book to be VERY VIOLENT. There are several disturbing photographs and sketches that are inappropriate for any child. One of the sections is about Chinese tortures and states "The 'lightest' penalty was beating - 4 to 100 blows . . might also be condemed to have his ears cut off or be shut inside a tiny cage. The frame torture consisted of placing a piece of wood weighing over 80 pounds around the convict's neck. He was not able to sleep or rest, and the slightest fall could break is neck and kill him." This is accompanied by a VERY DISTURBING photograph of men and a child being tortured! A children's book?

Also, of the many photos, only one is of a woman or girl. She is working in a silk work factory.

Overall, my opinion of the book was very negative - especially in its depiction of China and it's people.