starrynews 's review for:

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

4.0

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As is mentioned in the book, Dreams of Joy brings the story of Pearl, May and Joy in a full circle from where it began in its predecessor, Shanghai Girls. See brings the reader into the world of Red China in the late 1950s, as the story picks up directly where it left off in the first book, with Joy's trip into China. Joy undergoes quite the transformation from naive young college freshman consumed with idealism to a woman of the world, very much mirroring the evolution of Red China during the period. Pearl and May's relationship continues to develop, and many people from the past reappear. A fitting sequel.