Born Naughty

My Childhood in China

By: Jin Wang, Tony Johnston

Narrated by: Jin Wang

Share in the joyful, adventure-filled shenanigans of a child growing up in a small mud hut in Inner Mongolia in this charming memoir for young middle grade listeners.

Growing up in Inner Mongolia, Jin Wang was rambunctious and boisterous and did not always listen to her Ma. Jin and her family were poor, but like kids everywhere, she still found a way to have fun and get into lots of mischief climbing trees, digging for mushrooms, and even looking for wolves.

This early middle grade memoir invites listeners to join Jin and her family in the outskirts of Inner Mongolia to remind us that though we all have different customs and traditions, we are more alike than not, and that mischief lives within all of us.

Critic reviews

★ "Rich with affection, wit, and joy, a captivating peek into Chinese village life." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Bursting with delightful shenanigans, merry adventures, and family love....a unique story of wonder and joy." —Booklist, starred review

"With Johnston (Ten Owies), debut author Wang recounts cheerful memories from her childhood in this captivating chapter book memoir." —Publishers Weekly

"Part Ramona Quimby, part Little House on the Prairie, this is a charming snapshot of one child’s lived experience in Inner Mongolia." —School Library Journal

"This concisely written and heartwarming memoir resonates with childlike wonder and optimism." —The Horn Book