Deep in the Mountains: An Encounter with Zhu Qizhan (Art Encounters)

A haunting story about growing up and accepting life's challenges—and its joys


The great Chinese artist Zhu Qizhan was born in 1892 and lived to be 105 years old. During his life, he witnessed the Boxer Rebellion, the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Sino-Japanese War, Japan's occupation of China during World War II, the Cultural Revolution...a full lifetime indeed, packed with struggle, love, conflict, and always, art. In 1992, when Deep in the Mountains begins, Zhu, the teller of tales, is 100 years old, still pushing himself to create, still experimenting with form and color. A lonely boy from the other side of the earth enters Zhu's world. Through the artist's stories of the past, the present, and the future, the boy learns who he is and what he can become in this beautiful, haunting story of growing up and accepting life's challenges—and its joys.



• Multicultural appeal, features renowned Chinese artist Zhu Qizhan


• Moving story of connection across the generations by critically acclaimed author


• Blends China's history in the 20th century with a compelling modern-day tale