First published 2026
Song works as a food delivery worker in a village in Northeastern China, but her son River possesses extraordinary musical talent. At three, he picks out melodies on piano. By five, he conquers Liszt's Liebestraume. At eight, he masters Chopin's complete études. Through poverty, illness, and hardship, Song supports his gift. When River turns eleven, a renowned teacher invites him to study in Beijing. At Beijing Railway Station on the year's busiest travel day, crowds surge around them. Song's grip slips. River's small hand tears away from hers. Despite frantic searching, she cannot find him. Days pass, then weeks, then years. Both Song and River build separate lives as they search for each other. The distance between them grows even as their longing remains constant. Their story unfolds against modern Beijing's backdrop, where music threads through the urban pulse and human dreams persist despite impossible odds.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, china, music, family-drama
Vibes: bittersweet, heart-wrenching, intimate, lyrical, poignant, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, perseverance-against-odds, separation-and-reunion
Setting: Northeastern China, Beijing, Beijing Railway Station
Period: 21st century, contemporary
338 pages · Paperback · Fig Tree
Content warnings: death, kidnapping