⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Eve J. Chung’s Daughters of Shandong is a powerful debut inspired by her grandmother’s real-life escape from Communist China. It follows teenaged Hai, her mother, and sisters after they’re abandoned by Hai’s father during the civil war. The women face violence, hunger, and betrayal on their harrowing journey from Shandong to Taiwan. Chung nails the setting and stakes, giving readers a vivid, emotional ride.
Hai is a strong narrator—young, naive, and surprisingly resilient. I had a hard time putting the book down. Chung brings urgency and heart to the page, especially in scenes of political persecution and gender injustice. The themes of survival and sisterhood pack a punch, and the author’s note at the end is a must-read.
That said, the middle drags a bit, and the dialogue occasionally breaks immersion with modern Western idioms that don’t fit the time or place. The grandmother, while loathsome in a delicious way, sometimes felt a little overwritten. And the YA-style tone might not work for everyone.
Still, this is a moving, memorable story told with heart. If you like historical fiction with fierce women and emotional weight, you’ll want this one on your shelf.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a comp. Opinions are my own.