Tag: Chinese setting

Lisa See’s — The tea girl of Hummingbird Lane *****

With a through line about pu’er—a variety of tea plucked from ancient tea trees, Li-yan is the first Akha girl from her Chinese hill tribe to be educated. Instead of furthering her studies, she drops everything for her childhood sweetheart whom her parents disapprove of. Together they unsuccessfully seek the child Li-yan was forced to abandoned in an orphanage during his absence before they leave for Thailand. While she is away, her poor village prospers from the sudden popularity of pu’er while Li-yan becomes destitute from her opium addicted husband. She has not forgotten the daughter she was forced to abandoned, but soon her life begins to change.

I’ve read all Lisa See’s books and there isn’t one I wouldn’t give a five out of five.

Anchee Min’s — Pearl of China *****

Pearl’s father is a missionary in China. When Pearl befriends a Chinese girl her own age, Pearl and Willow become inseparable. But under Mao’s repressive regime, Pearl’s family is forced to flee China. For years, the friends have no contact with each other because Pearl fears this could endanger Willow’s family, but will they ever meet again?

This story is based on Pearl S. Buck’s early life in China where she developed a deep love of the country.

Janie Chang’s — The Library of Legends *****

With the invasion of the Japanese into China in 1937, students at Minghua University leave their campus and escape on foot inland. Each student carries an original volume of the Library of Legends — a 500 year old collection of Chinese myths. Among them is Lian who learns from a letter that her mother is headed to Shanghai, but it is safer for her to stay with her professors and students. They walk mostly at night to avoid being spotted by enemy aircraft and while she walks, Shao and Sparrow befriend her. When they start out, it seems like a adventure, but soon they encounter starving refugees, Japanese bomber planes and death.

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Anchee Min’s — Wild Ginger *****

Set during the Cultural Revolution, Wild Ginger joins the Red Guards to save herself after her father is labelled a traitor and her mother commits suicide. But after she rises in the ranks, she’s faced with a dilemma. Evergreen loves Wild Ginger, but Mao prohibits romantic love. When Evergreen moves on to Maple, Wild Genger’s response is unpredictable.