25. Daughters of Shandong. Eve J. Chung. 2024. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [adult historical fiction, coming of age, refugees, adult fiction] [4 stars]
First sentence: When I recall my birthplace, Zhucheng, Shandong, I think first of our shiheyuan, the traditional courtyard home that I grew up in.
Premise/plot: Hai is the oldest daughter at a time when daughters were almost seen as a curse and definitely seen as less-than. Her father's family--whom they all live with--the Angs--definitely see their son's having THREE daughters (as of the opening of the novel) as tragic. So much so that they take their daughter-in-law to a fortune-teller (or cultural equivalent). Alas, the son won't come until she's thirty-six!!! Determined to prevent the curse of daughters continuing, the mother-in-law determines to keep her son and daughter-in-law apart--far, far, far, far apart. Oh, and also to treat her as dirt. Well, dirt might be a nice way of saying it. But in-law troubles is the least of the families worries once the Communists come into power in China. Half the family flees--just in time--but Hai, her mother, and her sisters are left behind to "guard" the family estate. What happens next is horrifying and disturbing...as the family tries to flee to Taiwan. Will the family ever be reunited? Will their brokenness ever be healed? Can Hai forgive her mother and her sister?
My thoughts: This was such a compelling read. I read it over two or three days. If I had the stamina of my youth, then I would have finished it in one sitting.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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