Sailing Ship Island

Author: Zhou Zhifa
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: The Sailing Island is a campus youth novel written by doctoral student Zhou Zhifa, primarily depicting the study and life of first-year high school students.
The story takes place in a key high school in Jinhua, Zhejiang. The work centers on Zhou Hanshan, a student who comes from the countryside and attends a county-level key high school. It portrays a group of high school students with distinct personalities, brimming with youth and vitality. The English prince, Shangguan Ye; the Chinese genius, Fan Tao; the stingy; the show-off who loves to flaunt his wealth, Huang Tong; the curious boy with a fondness for girls, Luo Jigong; the talented artist skilled in singing and dancing, Dai Yuye; the self-confident Liu Yanhong; the bold and spirited Jiang Li; the enchanting Tangmei with captivating big eyes; the ice-like Li Loshuang; the gentle Shao Wenjing; the burly and straightforward sports team leader Zhao Dabing; and the noisy Duan Shenggui, each with their own stories and highlights.
Zhou Hanshan, who loves asking questions in class and is deemed a "problem child" by physics teacher Li Xingchen, tends to get lost in thought and often goes down the wrong path. He possesses the simplicity of a rural upbringing, the genes of a genius, and the mind of a thinker. Moreover, he always has a beautiful girl in his thoughts, and his constant daydreaming is quite endearing. However, after entering high school, Zhou Hanshan soon gets overwhelmed by the aura of excellence from students from all walks of life, especially the English prince, Shangguan Ye, and the Chinese genius, Fan Tao, who make him feel as if a thick cloud is covering his head. Shangguan Ye can express his thoughts fluently in English, and Fan Tao can stand at the podium and analyze texts, discuss life, and talk about writing with great composure. Faced with these high-achieving students, Zhou Hanshan feels somewhat confused. But he has a unique skill that transcends "genius"—through "conscious dreaming," he pours out his frustrations, releases his repressed emotions, and expresses his thoughts and feelings in the "dream world," thereby achieving his ideals and goals. This way of transcending others and transcending oneself opens a gateway to wisdom and spirituality for countless middle school students.
The book also successfully portrays the images and psychological descriptions of school leaders and teachers, leaving readers deeply reflective after reading.