by Timothy Mo
First published 1995
The Ng family faces upheaval as Hong Kong approaches its handover to China in the 1990s. Father Ng struggles to maintain his small business while mother Alice worries about their children's future. Their teenage son Michael rebels against traditional expectations, torn between Western education and Chinese heritage. The family lives on Breadfruit Boulevard, a street that embodies the cultural mixing of colonial Hong Kong. When economic pressures mount and political uncertainty grows, each family member must choose between staying or leaving. The Ngs discover that home means different things to different generations. Their story captures the anxiety and hope of ordinary people caught between two worlds during a historic moment.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, asian-american, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, generational-conflict
Setting: Breadfruit Boulevard, Hong Kong
Period: 1990s
258 pages · Paperback · Paddleless Press