by Lisa See
First published 2009
As Japan's bombs rain down on their beloved Shanghai, Pearl and May Chin must abandon their gilded lives. Sold by their father to repay his debts, the sisters embark on a perilous Pacific crossing, bound for arranged marriages in Los Angeles. Torn from their glamorous world, they must adapt to life in America's Chinatown, navigating discrimination, Red Scare paranoia, and a devastating family secret. Through it all, their unshakable sisterly bond is their only anchor.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, asian-american, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: China, Grand Canal (China), Shanghai (China), Shanghai (China : International Settlement), United States
Period: 1937-1957
309 pages · Hardcover · Random House