If you read and enjoyed "Shanghai Girls" your are in for a real treat with this sequel. Joy is the daughter of Pearl and May from the earlier novel. She has grown up in Los Angeles. As a young woman, her life is shattered when she discovers that she is not at all who she thinks she is. Having been born in the year of the Tiger, she follows her inborn impulse, and takes off for China to find the truth about herself. But it is a time of great change in China as Chairman Mao has begun to institute the "Great Leap Forward." Joy embraces these new changes with abandon and intends to learn from the masses, working tirelessly for the good of all. When Pearl follows her to China to bring her back home, they find leaving will not be nearly as easy as they thought.

 

This is an epic, expansive story that shows the boundless capacity for love; love of country, romantic love and primarily maternal love. There is hope, disallusionment, and forgiveness. As a reader, you will experience the gamut of emotions. I highly recommend it. --Nancy S.