In fifth grade, I read The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang, a memoir about her experiences during China’s Cultural Revolution, and it was my first conscious encounter with Communist China. Approximately 20 years before Jiang’s girlhood, Eve J. Chung’s grandmother fled rural Shandong province during the Communist Revolution. Daughters of Shandong is a fictionalization of Chung’s family history, and I believe it will be just as memorable for me. I enjoyed the book, but there were a few moments that seemed out of place, as if the exchanges came from a more modern period. Definitely a book worth reading, and lots to discuss as a book club.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Loosely based on Chung’s family history, the novel focuses on one family in Northern China as the Communists come to power. The novel opens in 1948, and the wealthy Ang family flees their home, ultimately settling in Taiwan. However since there is no male heir, the father deserts his wife and daughters, leaving them to face the Communist invasion. Hai, the eldest daughter and narrator is brutally punished for the family’s sins. Mom and the daughters eventually manage to escape to a larger city, not yet in the hands of the Communists. With ingenuity and resilience, they eventually escape to Taiwan. However they endure several years of starvation, ill health and hardship. This novel provides a clear picture of how Chinese society at the time viewed women and girls. They were considered disposable. A compulsive read.

4.5, rounded up. There are a couple of reviews I've seen about this being "tragedy porn," but it is based on a history that is undoubtedly very personal to the author (which I could tell even before reading the Author's Note). Eve J. Chung does a nice job of balancing the unrelenting hardships with hope and happiness, actually, so in that respect it's a beautiful read.

This was a fantastic read. The beginning third was so fast paced and really introduced me to memorable characters. I wish the vibe of the first half of the book translated to the second half, which I felt fell flat compared to the first half. Regardless, I learned a lot about the communist revolution and thought this was a fabulous debut

This was a very powerful and incredible story! The characters and the setting really came to life.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I appreciated the feminist perspective of the 1940s communist regime in China. I found the middle of the book to be a little slow and the plot really relied upon the “traveling between locations” at times, which can cause a little boredom on my part. THE BOOK OF LONGINGS is a masterclass on transitioning between setting/time without so much prose. I wish this book had had that balance, because I do feel like that’s where the majority of my critiques arise with this one.

Other than the pacing, this is really a fantastic debut novel. It is clearly well researched and conveys physical and emotional trauma in a gripping way. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future!

Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the digital review copy!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Grab yourself a copy, seriously! Such a captivating tale that dives into the lives of three sisters in a world inspired by East Asian mythology. Each sister—Li Mei, the brave oldest; Xin, the fiery middle child; and Aiko, the thoughtful youngest, struggles with the expectations placed on them by their family and society.

The writing is beautiful and immersive, bringing the lush landscapes of Shanding to life while weaving in rich cultural details that add depth to the story. The sisters' journeys of self-discovery are relatable, as they challenge traditional roles and fight for their own identities.

What really stands out is the theme of empowerment. As the sisters navigate their personal challenges, readers are taken on an emotional ride that’s both engaging and thought-provoking. Daughters of Shanding is a heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and the courage to break free—definitely a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my early copy!

“Daughters of Shandong” is my favorite type of historical fiction: a feminist perspective on an era I didn’t know much about. I selected this title for a small book club, and it was a hit.

I knew nothing about the Chinese civil war before “Daughters of Shandong.” We all said it’s unlikely we would have picked this book up on our own but we were all so glad we read it, so I suggest giving it a try!

The book follow Hai, the eldest of four daughters. Her family is a wealthy landlord in rural Shandong — but her mother is yet to produce a son. When the Communists close in, Hai’s father, uncle and grandparents flee, leaving the women to fend for themselves. What follows is an incredible 1,000-mile journey of survival and tenacity — and some gut-wrenching moments that punch out of nowhere. And THE ENDING. I had chills.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung!

I can see why Daughters of Shandong was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award. This is an incredible debut novel.

I know very little about Chinese history and even less about when the Communist Party overthrew the Socialist government. Since reading the memoir Beautiful Hero by Jennifer H. Lau, I have been interested in knowing more about the history of Asia.

Chung used family stories as the basis for her story and the story definitely feels authentic. I was really drawn into the story of a mother and her daughters being abandoned by their wealthy family as the communist army began sweeping across China. I didn't want to put it down and when I did have to put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it - I even dreamed about it one night.

In their culture, women are there to serve the men in the family. They are little more than indentured servants. To have only daughters is to lose face as a male heir is necessary as they are the only ones able to care for the family.

It was interesting to see, although Hai, her sister, and her mother prove they are very capable women, that Hai's mother cannot let go of the culture that is ingrained in her. I also think it is interesting that the role of women and tradition is changing at about the same time that it was in the U.S. Perhaps it is the result of WWII.

I loved the characters and was rooting for them the whole time. The things they went through are incredible.

I loved the history and glimpse into the sociopolitical culture of not only rural China, but urban China, British Hong Kong, and Taiwan. I understand a little better the animosity between mainland China and Taiwan.

Whether you want a great story about human resilience or want to know more about a time and place in history that you might not know a lot about, this is a book you do not want to miss.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/12/daughter-of-shandong-by-eve-j-chung.html

I don't like books in which the main character is a child for most of the book and which are also written in first person. I don't need to watch characters grow up, I want to watch them do something besides get victimized or hurt(which is generally what child narrators spend their time doing), and I don't like reading through the naivete that child narrators always have.

That's the whole start of this book, along with an entirely evil grandmother (who lets a baby girl die because she doesn't want to spend money on a mere girl), an entirely gormless husband (who's easily convinced to let his wife and daughters face the rebel army while he absconds with his parents), an entirly martyred mother (who is abused constantly but never shows anything but dutiful deference toward her abusers). Everything was black and white, there was no nuance in any character and it seemed cartoonishly over the top. Who knows, maybe it really was exactly this way, since the author claims to be writing based on family history. But it felt like cheap melodrama and I didn't feel like going further for more.

I only read about half of this book. Although the time period is intriguing and the characters well-drawn, I found the pace of the story slow, and I lost interest. It is very well written, it just didn't capture my attention.

Hai was the first daughter of a wealthy family. When the Communists took over China her father and Grandparents escaped her home but left her, her two sisters and her mother since girls were only mouths to feed. The Communists took their farm and the four women lived in a shed with the chickens and a donkey. They eventually travelled South with a wheel barrow as their transportation. This is an amazing story of fortitude. It is based on the author's Grandmother.

This story was a story about a mother and her children fighting for their lives during the communist revolution in China. Abandoned by her father's family , Hai, her mother and her sisters are forced to survive on their own while also trying to stay together and hold onto their land. This book was hard to read at times, the misogyny during this time felt so sad and deflating for these women. I loved seeing how each sister found their way in the world. I didn't know much about this time period in China so it was an interesting subject that sparked my need to know more.

Overall I really like it and look forward to reading more by this author .

I've been reading a lot of similar books as of late, but Daughters of Shandong stands out to me. The storytelling in this book works really well, the characters fleshed out in a way that made me really care for them. I'd say pick it up if you're interested in this period and family dynamics.

Eve Chung's historical fictional story, inspired by the author's grandmother's life, tells the harrowing story of a mother and three daughters left behind when their Nationalist family flees communist revolutionaries. Narrated from the perspective of the eldest daughter, Li Hai, the book masterfully captures the thoughts and experiences of an adolescent girl grappling with unimaginable trauma and everyday concerns.

I enjoyed the portrayal of the relationship between Li Hai and her younger sister. It is both tender and honest, showcasing the complexities of sibling bonds. The gripping plot follows the mother and daughters' perilous flight and their struggles as women in a patriarchal society.

More than just a page-turner, this thought-provoking novel offers inspiration for the fight for gender equality. The author's writing is impeccable, with every word serving a purpose.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing one of the best books I have read in 2024.

A great sense of time and place. I was riveted by Hai's story. I'm eager to see more from Eve Chung.

Daughters of Shandong is one of the best debut novels that I have read. It is roughly based on a true story. The novel begins in 1948 in Shandong, China. The wealthy Ang family is anxious for the oldest son to have a male heir to carry on the family title; however, the son is cursed with only having daughters. The matriarch of the Ang family, Nai Nai, is ruthless with her treatment to the in-laws.The Ang family flee to Taiwan and leave the wife and daughters behind. They become refugees and have an arduous journey to Hong Kong and then Taiwan.

The two main developed characters are the two oldest daughters, Hai and Di. Chung developed these characters throughout the novel so beautifully. Hai endures so much in these changing times. I learned so much history by reading this book. It was even heightened by the author’s note at the end of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced e-galley.

Based on the author’s grandmother’s story of fleeing China for Taiwan during the Cultural Revolution. The Chinese treated their girls like crap; they may still. A lot of cultures devalued their daughters, but the Chinese raised it to an art form. And the mothers and grandmothers not only put up with it, they encouraged it. Inspiring but depressing at the same time.