historical fiction 

1940s-50s China 

family drama 

strong women 

 

This book was a highly anticipated 2024 read for me and I’m happy to report it lived up to my expectations! The premise caught my attention - a mother and children escaping the Communist revolution in China (a time period I don’t know much about and have never read a fictional story about). 

 

This story is told from the perspective of Hai, a young daughter escaping with her mother and 2 younger siblings. The story takes us through some horrible experiences, many of which are historically accurate. While I loved reading from Hai’s perspective throughout the book, I would have loved to read from the perspective of her mother or her younger sibling Di. 

 

Overall, a vibrant historical fiction read. There is a lot to unpack from military behavior, Chinese culture, regional differences, gender expectations, and more. Highly recommend it to my histfi lovers!