Daughters of Shandong

By: Eve J. Chung

Narrated by: Yu-Li Alice Shen

An Instant USA Today Bestseller, a Good Morning America Buzz Pick!

A People Book of the Week!

“Throw open the doors of your heart for the lionhearted girls of Chung’s gripping debut…they are heroines for the ages."—People

A propulsive, extraordinary novel about a mother and her daughters’ harrowing escape to Taiwan as the Communist revolution sweeps through China, by debut author Eve J. Chung, based on her family story

Daughters are the Ang family’s curse.

In 1948, civil war ravages the Chinese countryside, but in rural Shandong, the wealthy, landowning Angs are more concerned with their lack of an heir. Hai is the eldest of four girls and spends her days looking after her sisters. Headstrong Di, who is just a year younger, learns to hide in plain sight, and their mother—abused by the family for failing to birth a boy—finds her own small acts of rebellion in the kitchen. As the Communist army closes in on their town, the rest of the prosperous household flees, leaving behind the girls and their mother because they view them as useless mouths to feed.

Without an Ang male to punish, the land-seizing cadres choose Hai, as the eldest child, to stand trial for her family’s crimes. She barely survives their brutality. Realizing the worst is yet to come, the women plan their escape. Starving and penniless but resourceful, they forge travel permits and embark on a thousand-mile journey to confront the family that abandoned them.

From the countryside to the bustling city of Qingdao, and onward to British Hong Kong and eventually Taiwan, they witness the changing tide of a nation and the plight of multitudes caught in the wake of revolution. But with the loss of their home and the life they’ve known also comes new freedom—to take hold of their fate, to shake free of the bonds of their gender, and to claim their own story.

Told in assured, evocative prose, with impeccably drawn characters, Daughters of Shandong is a hopeful, powerful story about the resilience of women in war; the enduring love between mothers, daughters, and sisters; and the sacrifices made to lift up future generations.

©2024 Eve J. Chung (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Unforgettable....[a] story in the straightforward first-person style of a narrator who is not much given to cynicism or poetry but who can keep your attention with her wit, a knack for shrewd details and uncommon tenderness."—The New York Times

"For several breathless days, I ignored all of my daily duties while Daughters of Shandong held me in its spell. An empowering and uplifting tale of the bonds between mother and daughter in the most challenging of times. I loved it."—Dolen Perkins-Valdez, New York Times bestselling author of Take My Hand

“In Eve J. Chung's skillful debut, she creates a winding, breathtaking tale through the many political upheavals of mid-century China. The Ang daughters are unforgettable and complex characters who demand to be seen. Their will to survive sings on each page. Through their eyes, we see a world of fraught despair as well as blinding hope. We can't help but follow them on their extraordinary journey. Spellbindingly transportive, Daughters of Shandong is one of those rare books that stays with readers long after the last pages and promises to illuminate all the corners of humanity."—Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon, a Today Show Read With Jenna Book Club Pick

Compelling writing, captivating story

Eve Chung’s Daughters of Shandong is a beautifully written narrative that intricately weaves personal and cultural elements to shed light on the pervasive inequities between men and women in Chinese society. The deeply personal nature of the story offers a nuanced understanding of the female experience within a patriarchal framework, making Daughters of Shandong both a specific cultural tale and a broader human story. This masterful work is as enlightening as it is moving, a testament to the strength of women and a critique of enduring societal inequalities.

Awesome Story

The story is a look into a different culture in a different time that will hold you captive! One of the best stories I have heard thus year! Well written and read.

Inspirational

So many of us daughters identify with this story. Captivating and engaging. Making many recommendations.

Katt

Good book. I recommend it. Held my interest. Looking forward to more books like this one.

Excellent!

Wonderful story and narration! Great historical fiction revealing the time of the Communist Revolution in China.

Wow! Such a captivating read

Thank you for writing this book and sharing the story of your family. i was not taught about the Chinese Revolution in school -well not enough to remember it or any of the details that you were able to share. I’m not versed in Chinese culture (although i would love to be) however reading this book had definitely shed light on Chinese history, culture, and beliefs. This book was very well written, Readers, expect for your emotions to be just up and down. The things that these women had to endure is a true testament of faith, love, and family.

It was partially fiction but it felt like a non- fiction book.

I liked the writing about real history. Interesting family history . The sad and happy parts. Trump is a sexist pig. So were the Chinese men. At that time and probably still today.

Power of education for women

This story parallels my own gratitude for my mother in knowing that education makes a world of difference in promoting independence in a woman

Amazing Novel

A fantastic novel giving insight into a time in China’s history that the older generation does not wish to retell. Appreciate it!

Excellent story telling

As a true fan of historical fiction, this hits all of the marks. Beginning to end, fantabulous listen. Thank you for telling your families story in such a captivating way. Though tragic, I can see truth in the struggles of war and family. I also see truth in the resilience of generations.