by Amy Tan
First published 1996
Winnie and her lifelong friend Helen have kept each other's darkest secrets for decades. Now, on Helen's deathbed, she's determined to expose it all. Winnie must decide whether to let the past stay buried or finally tell her daughter Pearl the truth - about her harrowing childhood in 1920s China, her desperate flight to America, and the devastating choice that would echo through the generations. This sprawling family drama explores the bonds of motherhood, the weight of history, and the power of forgiveness.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, asian-american, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: California, China
Period: 1920's to 1949
532 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ivy Books