It is 1954, San Francisco Chinatown. The story revolves around Lily Hu, a seventeen year old young woman living with her parents and Brothers. Navigating the tightrope being a respectable Chinese girl and also the offerings of assimulation.

Lily is in her senior year at school, when she begins to study and work closer with her Caucasian peer Kathleen Miller. The two grow closer; one day Lily plucks up the courage to ask Kathleen "Have you ever heard of two women who fell in love with each other?"

"Love was the justification for all of her secrets, but it also made her feel vulnerable"
This is a love stort from Lily's emerging awareness of her own sexuality to finding the language to express herself and make sense of her world. I love Lily's aspirations and love for science and maths, tender moments with Kath and growing confidence in herself as a Woman.

"She would secretly welcome soviet invaders, at least she will never be mistaken for being Russian"
This was also the time of Communist paranoia, the emerging times of same sex rights, and threatened deportation. As my family settled in Britain, I don't have the same reference points so I found it useful that every few chapters a timeline and flashback involving Lily's family was used as an anchor for their experiences.

This is a beautiful YA; at times the pace is slow, but this aided the character development of Lily and her emerging agency.