Mo Yan in the Classroom

Mo Yan's "The Crystal Carrot"

When Mo Yan was awarded the Nobel prize in literature this year, middle schools and high schools across China immediately ordered domestic publishers fill requests for his 1985 novella, "The Crystal Carrot."

Similar to Yu Hua and Wang Anyi's writings that received popular attention after major critical accolades, there is also the possibility that Mo's writings may not come alive in the classroom, but rather, students may lose their rush of awe under poor instruction.