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

adventurous emotional informative reflective sad 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

What a powerful debut! In capturing her family's story, Eve J. Chung wrote a novel that I'll never forget. I am so impressed with the book's pacing and clarity. Telling such a personal story that, while fictionalized, has clear grounding in history and fact--and doing it in such a way that it progresses at such a compelling pace is no small feat. Having the book narrated from the perspective of Hai worked beautifully--both because the first person narrative contributed to the immersion in the story and because her youth allowed the readers to stay oblivious to some of the details that she herself would not have been aware of--details that could have slowed the story down, made it too traumatic to bear, or made it more complicated to follow. Viewing the harrowing journey through Hai's eyes was both illuminating and riveting. Children have unique abilities to adapt and adjust, and seeing how she did that throughout the journey was truly compelling. 

Chung's writing is crisp and compulsively readable. She manages to paint the world of the Chinese revolution in vivid and personal color. While she tells her family's story she also shows us the deep inequity, fight for survival, personal resolve, and strength of ties that run throughout. This book examines intergenerational trauma, tradition, and the complexity of family in original and effective ways. Strongly recommend!