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katko123's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story based on actual historical events. It´s about a girl in nineteenth-century China, who has a very unfortunate life, gets kidnapped and smuggled to the US. There her life isn't any brighter so don't expect a sugary love story. It´s rather bitter and unpleasant as life was back in those days.
The girl does seem to be more mature than a real person her age could really be, but maybe back then that's how it was? If you didn't learn fast you wouldn't survive. And yet she restrains her emotions too well, she adapts too quickly and too easily to new situations and is way too resourceful for a real person, for a child, I might add. It just doesn't seem to be realistic.
The story is told in first person by Daiyu herself. So we know her exact thoughts and feelings. And that was, in my opinion anyway, the weakest part of the book. At times it was simply boring, but mostly I´d say there is too much text that is completely unnecessary. Where was the editor? There should be a large part of text crossed out.
What I really, really like about this book is the author's note at the very end, when she explains how she came around to the actual events and how she started researching the history of Chinese communities in XIX century in US, which is almost totally missed out from schoolbooks.
The girl does seem to be more mature than a real person her age could really be, but maybe back then that's how it was? If you didn't learn fast you wouldn't survive. And yet she restrains her emotions too well, she adapts too quickly and too easily to new situations and is way too resourceful for a real person, for a child, I might add. It just doesn't seem to be realistic.
The story is told in first person by Daiyu herself. So we know her exact thoughts and feelings. And that was, in my opinion anyway, the weakest part of the book. At times it was simply boring, but mostly I´d say there is too much text that is completely unnecessary. Where was the editor? There should be a large part of text crossed out.
What I really, really like about this book is the author's note at the very end, when she explains how she came around to the actual events and how she started researching the history of Chinese communities in XIX century in US, which is almost totally missed out from schoolbooks.
marsdengracie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
paytfowers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vivian_m_anderson's review against another edition
4.0
i really liked this book! there were some gorgeous passages, and i loved the references to Chinese characters. reminds me of why i love learning the language
areen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
I always love when a book teaches me about history through the lense of fictional characters, spanning the course of their lives. but more than that I love when authors can write them in a way that feels like they are writing from memory, like it's actually their experience.
I literally have nothing but good things to say about this book. It is so so powerful and the fact that the author wrote it during the pandemic when all the Asian hate crime was rampant makes this even more powerful to me. she really showed us how so little has changed in america.
the writing is phenomenal. so full of depth and meaning. not a single paragraph wasted. and the incorporation of calligraphy and chinese words to tell the story? I can't praise it enough. absolutely obsessed.
when Lin Daiyu said at the end "you will never forget me." yes!!! I think she'll live inside me forever (iykyk 👀). I really need everyone to read it, but please check tws first!
I literally have nothing but good things to say about this book. It is so so powerful and the fact that the author wrote it during the pandemic when all the Asian hate crime was rampant makes this even more powerful to me. she really showed us how so little has changed in america.
the writing is phenomenal. so full of depth and meaning. not a single paragraph wasted. and the incorporation of calligraphy and chinese words to tell the story? I can't praise it enough. absolutely obsessed.
when Lin Daiyu said at the end "you will never forget me." yes!!! I think she'll live inside me forever (iykyk 👀). I really need everyone to read it, but please check tws first!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Trafficking, Racial slurs, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
bestknownfor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good but so bleak. The story repeatedly flirts with cliche (Samuel being surprisingly innocent, Nelson's lawyer quest) and then averts it to devastating effect.
After reading the origin, it makes sense that the whole book is leading up to Idaho, and I feel like some of the earlier segments could have been briefer. Really solid overall.
After reading the origin, it makes sense that the whole book is leading up to Idaho, and I feel like some of the earlier segments could have been briefer. Really solid overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Murder, Rape, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, and Slavery
awagnergaines's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Murder, and Violence
thebookishbint's review against another edition
5.0
“In calligraphy, as in life, we do not retouch strokes, Master Wang often said. We must accept that what is done is done.”
I was not expecting to be such a heavy read but it was and it had me teary. I was not aware of the origin story of this book so that made things even more depressing. Daiyu is such resilient young girl that has to battle against so much of the issues that she experiences. Zhang beautifully writes in a way that you feel you are living with her, hoping that her next encounter with a person is a good one.
The writing was atmospheric and melodious to some extent especially with the way calligraphy plays such a huge role in it. As well as that, I have never heard about the persecutions that Chinese people has experienced in the 1880s in America. Subhanallah, there is just so much that we do not know and thankfully through works of literature like this, we can educate ourselves. Please read trigger warnings before reading as it deals with emotive topics.
I was not expecting to be such a heavy read but it was and it had me teary. I was not aware of the origin story of this book so that made things even more depressing. Daiyu is such resilient young girl that has to battle against so much of the issues that she experiences. Zhang beautifully writes in a way that you feel you are living with her, hoping that her next encounter with a person is a good one.
The writing was atmospheric and melodious to some extent especially with the way calligraphy plays such a huge role in it. As well as that, I have never heard about the persecutions that Chinese people has experienced in the 1880s in America. Subhanallah, there is just so much that we do not know and thankfully through works of literature like this, we can educate ourselves. Please read trigger warnings before reading as it deals with emotive topics.
athomehangel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Murder
mcfarlse195's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0