Factory Girl by Josanne La Valley - student book review by Isabella

Factory Girl chronicles the story of Roshen, a sixteen-year- old Uyghur girl from northern China. Roshen dreams of becoming a teacher and continuing to pass on her culture to the next generation, like those before her. However, all of this is interrupted when she is chosen to be sent to a Chinese factory in the south of China. The Chinese government does not approve of the Uyghur culture and wishes to force assimilation, particularly by sending their children to work in factories where they face deplorable conditions. Yet, Roshen is determined to not lose her identity and forms a close camaraderie with the other girls sent to the factory. However, whether they will be able to return to their homeland and families is something only time will tell. 

This novel was well-written and a pleasure to read. I found the character growth intriguing, particularly Roshen’s: she goes from being focused primarily on her own well-being to becoming a strong leader figure for the other Uyghurs. I found this to be a rather inspiring message because it implied that it is possible to find strength even in seemingly hopeless situations. Furthermore, I very much enjoyed learning about Uyghur culture because I had never been exposed to this culture before reading Factory Girls. Thus, I was shocked to learn of their plight and hope that this book may serve to educate others about the plight of Uyghurs, like it did for me. However, a weaker aspect of this novel was Roshen’s self-righteousness that at times translated into an unjustified prejudiced view towards girls, who did not observe the same exact cultural traditions as her. For example, she mistrusts the girls from the city immediately and does not try to get to know them before passing judgement. Furthermore, although probably accurate of the culture the author intended to represent, I was immensely frustrated by the patriarchal society that resulted in Roshen consistently feeling inferior to the male figures in her life. 

Overall, this book would be a good introduction to the culture of the Ugyhurs, a vulnerable minority group in China. Making students aware of the existence this group is incredibly important to assuring that their autonomy is protected. This book could be used in either a literature, history, or cultural studies class, as a case study of a minority culture.

Author Photos that inspired her story - http://www.josannelavalley.com/photo_essay.html
Authors Website: http://www.josannelavalley.com/index.html
Thoughts about the author from her friend.  Josanne La Valley passed away shortly after her book was published. http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/2017/03/josanne-la-valley.html

Factory Girl book trailer