The Majestic Crane (English Only): An African-American Girl's Unique Journey to Asian Culture

"The Majestic Crane" is the story of a young African American girl coming of age. The story starts with a description of Shelly’s home life during the 60s. Far away from Oklahoma City, Shelly is introduced to a love for reading by an English Librarian in Schenectady New York. After returning to Oklahoma, Shelly’s is bused from her community to a school across town, which led her to seek haven in the school’s library, where she made a new discovery. She read the Japanese folktale of “The Crane Maiden.” Reading this tale sets the stage for encounters with Asian culture that spanning four decades. The Majestic Crane shares the author's discovery of Chinese and Japanese culture as well as describing her own childhood.