Finding this book was one of those serendipitous moments when the Universe knows exactly the book you should read next.

The book tells the story of Li-yan and her family who are Akha tea growers in a remote village in Yunnan, China. It begins when Li-yan is quite young and goes into great detail about the lives, beliefs, customs, and traditions of the Akha people. I found this part especially interesting as I knew very little of the Akha before reading this book.

As Li-yan gets older, China grows and changes around her. She is introduced to new people who live outside of the tea mountains and learns more about the world beyond their villages. She proves to be a bright student who has the fortune of receiving an education.

Along the way, Li-yan must navigate a world that is rapidly changing, and the book is unflinching and often brutal about how difficult life in a rural village can be. It also speaks honestly to the experience of the Chinese people under the One Child policy.

The other main voice in the narrative belongs to Haley, a young Chinese girl who was adopted by a white couple in California. Through her experiences, the reader learns a lot about life for children who are born in one country but adopted into another. Haley’s journey of self-discovery leads her to China and the tea mountains that Li-yan calls home.

I was so sad to finish this book because it’s just so good. See writes so beautifully and poetically, even when talking about things that are harsh. I am very much looking forward to reading more of her work.