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A review by lovelymisanthrope
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received a copy of this book as a gift.
"The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" follows the life of Li-yan, a girl who lives in a remote village in China with her family. Li-yan's family pour all of their time and energy into growing and selling tea, but their lives have been difficult. One day a man shows up in a Jeep, and he wants to make them a deal to improve their lives, if they can help him produce tea. Told over years, "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" follows Li-yan as she rejects the life she came from and questions everything she was taught.
This book was incredibly written, and insightful about Chinese history in a way I have not read before. China's One Child Policy, as well as their attitude towards pregnancy, birth, and sex of their offspring is very different from the American views I have grown up with. I was fascinated to learn more about how childbirth is treated in China in a way that did not feel like I was being lectured about.
Li-yan is a strong protagonist, and a great character to read from. She was given opportunities to continue her education in ways that most people, especially woman, would not have had. It was great to not only see an intelligent and driven woman succeed academically, but to see her family support her in this dream. Li-yan's life was filled with hardship, but she embodied resilience and built a beautiful life for herself, even when she lost all hope.
This was a beautiful story that interweaves history and fiction seamlessly. Although I am not educated enough on the history of China to determine if the ideas presented in this novel are factually correct, the book felt well researched, and it felt real. The prose was eloquent and beautifully written, and it devastated me more than once.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their reading with an incredible historical fiction.
"The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" follows the life of Li-yan, a girl who lives in a remote village in China with her family. Li-yan's family pour all of their time and energy into growing and selling tea, but their lives have been difficult. One day a man shows up in a Jeep, and he wants to make them a deal to improve their lives, if they can help him produce tea. Told over years, "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" follows Li-yan as she rejects the life she came from and questions everything she was taught.
This book was incredibly written, and insightful about Chinese history in a way I have not read before. China's One Child Policy, as well as their attitude towards pregnancy, birth, and sex of their offspring is very different from the American views I have grown up with. I was fascinated to learn more about how childbirth is treated in China in a way that did not feel like I was being lectured about.
Li-yan is a strong protagonist, and a great character to read from. She was given opportunities to continue her education in ways that most people, especially woman, would not have had. It was great to not only see an intelligent and driven woman succeed academically, but to see her family support her in this dream. Li-yan's life was filled with hardship, but she embodied resilience and built a beautiful life for herself, even when she lost all hope.
This was a beautiful story that interweaves history and fiction seamlessly. Although I am not educated enough on the history of China to determine if the ideas presented in this novel are factually correct, the book felt well researched, and it felt real. The prose was eloquent and beautifully written, and it devastated me more than once.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their reading with an incredible historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism