Born Naughty by Jin Wang

Born Naughty introduces us to Jin Wang, a lively little girl growing up in Inner Mongolia.

Born Naughty: My Childhood in China by Jin Wang and Tony Johnson, illustrated by Anisi Baigude. Ann Schwartz (Random House), 2024, 99 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 6-8 as a read-aloud, 7-10 for independent readers

Jin isn’t really naughty; she’s just lively and a bit mischievous. In this memoir she recalls growing up in a country few children (and only a few more grownups) have even heard of: Inner Mongolia. This is the northern region of China, birthplace of Genghis Khan, land of endless grassland and desert. Readers won’t learn about the history or geopolitics of the region; to our narrator, it’s just home. Winters are harsh, water is precious, and the wind blows constantly—strong enough at times to lift a child off her feet and spin her almost senseless. Her family is dirt-poor, almost literally: their house is made of packed dirt and during rainy seasons the floor turns to mud.  

But Jin is a normal kid. That is, she pesters her two little brothers, rips her clothes while climbing trees, sometimes drives her mother to distraction, and finds fun in unlikely places. As well as beauty: “My village was beautiful. The clouds so pretty. The sky so blue.” Accompanying her father to the nearest town to buy water is a great adventure. Dragging her little brother along to hunt a wolf is real danger. Surrounded by love is the way every child should grow up, no matter where they live or how much they have.

Jin eventually found her way to America, where she taught herself English with the help of YouTube and became a Yoga instructor. That’s where she met Tony Johnson, who persuaded her to collaborate on this memoir. The result is a beguiling snapshot of life in one of earth’s tucked-away corners, incredibly remote and yet relatable.

Bottom Line: A sweet and funny look at childhood in a foreign culture.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: Mongolia is part of, yet separate from, what we think of as “China,” yet its history is linked from way back. China through Time is an interesting look at the mainland through changes along the Grand Canal. And for a tasty look at the culture, don’t miss Chinese Menu.
• Resource: Find further interesting autobiographical treatises at our “We Love Memoirs” post.

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