Shanghai Girls

Lisa See does it again! Her most recent novel, Shanghai Girls is skillfully plotted with rich characters plus an exotic location. See tells the story of sisters Pearl and May Chin, born to middle class Chinese parents in glamorous 1937 Shanghai. Both girls are modern, smart and beautiful and are having the time of their lives thanks to their father’s successful rickshaw business. Their lives take a dramatic turn when their father tells them he has gambled away his wealth, and in order to settle his debts, he has sold them as wives to two California brothers. The girls must leave Shanghai immediately and travel to Los Angeles to honor their father’s agreement. Pearl and May set out on a perilous journey amidst Japanese bombs and the horror of invasion by Japanese soldiers. When they reach Los Angeles, they must contend with strangers for husbands and try to adapt to American life. Shanghai Girls is the story of sisters; devoted, best friends who share hopes, dreams and a past. See is an expert storyteller and this novel will not let you down. If you like Shanghai Girls, check out her other titles: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Dragon Bones, The Interior, and Flower Net.