本书选取近代重要的历史文化故事，如"震惊中外的虎门销烟"、"制造罪恶的租界"、"名园一炬化劫灰"、"平原起义和廊坊大捷"、"新文化运动的兴起"等，展现近代时期中华民族所遭受的种种磨难的考验，以及广大中华儿女在这些考验面前自强不息、奋勇抗争、追求进步的可贵品质，激发青少年的爱国热情，培养青少年坚韧不拔、报效祖国的品格。This book is a selection of some important stories of Chinese history and culture during modern times, such as "Destruction of Opium at Humen Shocking the Whole World", "Concessions That Made Evils ", "A Famous Garden Burned into Ash by a Torch", "Pingyuan Uprising and Great Victory in Langfang" "The Rise of New Culture Movement" and others. It presents the hardships the Chinese nation suffered in modern period and how the Chinese people showed their valuable quality of self-reliance, fighting courageously, and pursuit of progress, inspires the patriotism of the youth, and cultivates the perseverance of the youth and their character of serving the motherland.