A review by em23jjh
Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Lai Wen writes a beautiful first hand account about coming of age during a tumultuous time in China's history. The author does an excellent job and depicting the impact of the Cultural Revolution on her parents and her relationship with them. She also describes the challenges of trying to be a typical teenager while living in an authoritarian state. This book is not a plot driven page turner. It's one of those stories you have to read more slowly and let it sit with you. If you liked Wild Swans by Jung Chang you will probably like this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual content