Ji-li nursed her childhood memories of the Cultural Revolution for over two decades, finally bringing them to life in her first book Red Scarf Girl . Published in October 1997, this memoir has received many prestigious awards :

	1998 Notable Children's Books (American Library Association)
	1998 Best Books for Young Adults (American Library Association)
	Best Books of 1997 (Publishers Weekly)
	1997 The Year's Most Wonderful Children's Books (Parenting magazine)
	1997 Books for Youth Editors' Choice (American Library Association Booklist)
	1997 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies (National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council)
	Lasting Connections of 1997 Book (American Library Association Book Links)
	Junior Library Guild selection 1998
	1998 Award for Children's Literature (Bay Area Book Reviewers Association)
	1998 Parents' Choice Gold Award
	1998 Story Book Award (The Parents' Choice)
	1998 The Judy Lopez Memorial Award
	1998 Books of Distinction (The River Bank Review)
	1998 Nonfiction Honor List (VOYA's-Voice of Youth Advocates)
	Outstanding Titles of 1997 (VOYA's "Books in the Middle Grade Readers")
	1999-2000 Pennsylvania’s Young Readers’ Choice Award