R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 3/23/2024 + 1438 more book reviews

Discover how an ethnic minority, the Akha, from a small Chinese village lives in a tea growing region. Li-yan makes her way into one's heart as one begins to understand her life in China. Determined to marry the man she loves, she runs away with him but discovers that he is not the man she believed him to be. Only when he gives his life to save hers from the mauling of a tiger, does she realize that he loved her in his own way. Alone and pregnant, she returns to the village where she gives birth to a daughter. With no income, she gives her up for adoption and returns to school to immerse herself in learning about the culture of growing tea.

This read offers so much more than a story about a Chinese woman. The Cultural Revolution impacted even those as isolated as the Akha whose beliefs about life and tea ruled for so many years. In addition, the author follows the life of the adopted daughter in America. She grows up wonders who she really is when she discovers that even other Chinese recognize her differences.

The book gives readers much to reflect upon: development of modernizing of the tea growing industry, the impact of world economics on the industry, and how it all affects lives of people like Li-yan who becomes an expert in all things tea.

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