By Aube Rey Lescure.
Primarily narrated from the perspective of teenage Alva, this story unfolds as she grapples with her discontentment at a propaganda-influenced school, yearning to attend the American School instead. Simultaneously, she faces challenges in accepting her mother's relationship with the affluent Lu Fang, who, in the past, held a more modest position as a shipping clerk.
Alva, being a biracial individual with both Chinese and Caucasian heritage, navigates the complexities of her identity. Despite aspiring to a more Western lifestyle, her closest connections are with her Chinese friends and surroundings, leading to an internal struggle with her sense of self.
Insights into the lives of Lu Fang and Alva's mother, Sloan, are interspersed throughout the narrative, offering a glimpse into their respective journeys leading up to their present circumstances.
The book presents an engaging and accessible read, providing readers with a window into Chinese life and society through the perspectives of these three central characters. In exploring themes of dreams, aspirations, and identity, the narrative resonates with universal struggles, offering a compelling narrative that intertwines personal and societal dynamics.
This book holds significant cultural insights and is poised to gain widespread recognition in 2024. Thank you so much to the author - Aube Rey Lescure as well as Kathryn at Duckworth Books for the ARC!
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