A review by justjacq
Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Reading this, I would never have guessed it was the author's debut novel - it is truly stunning. It is complex, layered, and riveting. I've not read much about the communist revolution in China, so this was chilling and eye-opening. I bounced back and forth between listening to the audiobook and reading a physical copy, and both ways completely captivated me. It's based on and inspired by Chung's grandmother, and you can tell through the writing how much love, passion, and research went into making this story. As a reader, it feels like you are right there with the Ang women and their refugee journey - the writing is descriptive and transportative. This is a complex and compelling look at tradition, sexism, poverty, worth, duty, family, and so much more. It does a beautiful job of illustrating how one person's choices can help break the chain of negative traditions and nuture future generations. It's a fantastic read for historical fiction lovers and a dazzling debut!