REVIEW: Peach Blossom Spring (Melissa Fu)

Book: Peach Blossom Spring

Author: Melissa Fu

Premise: China, 1938. With the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll filled with ancient stories, they must travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge. Years later, Renshu has settled in America, keeping his childhood firmly behind him. Yet how can his daughter Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story?

I adored this book. It reminded ne of Pachinko in that we have a story spanning multiple generations in 20th century east Asia, starting with a young mother being displaced by war.

In the first half, we have Meilin and Renshu moving around China, seeking refuge. I learnt a lot about what happened in China during and after WW2. I hadn't realised how awful things were and the horrors people had witnessed. The traumas Meilin and Renshu witness are heartbreaking and resonate long after the war. Yet despite the sadness, I loved watching Meilin grow in strength and enjoy her independence. 

The second half of the book focuses on Renshu's (now called Henry) life in America and his daughter Lily's need to understand her heritage. I felt her frustrations and her need to know her family history. But we also see Henry's paranoia and trauma. Again, I hadn't realised the precarious position of Taiwanese immigrants during the latter half of the 20th century.

Littered throughout the book are these Chinese fables that Meilin reads from a scroll. This was such a lovely added detail that I enjoyed. LOVED THIS BOOK!