I was transported into the mid 20th century in an area of the world I knew little of. As much as the history of China, Taiwan and Chinese immigration in the US is fascinating; it is truly a novel where the characters shine and drive the story. I loved that over the span of …more the novel (70 years) we first follow the family thru the young Meilin and as time passes, her son's voice takes the lead and so on. It really allowed a fuller, broader scope of this family's story. I was completely engulfed in their lives. My heart broke to see the hardship Meilin endured; my mind got thinking a lot more later about being biracial in the late 20th century in America. The quest for identity is underpinning the story and the answer is unique to each individual. I hope to read more of this author. Thank you Bookbrowse and the editor for allowing me to read and review this novel! (less)

The writing is assured and much attention is given to the characters and description. I was rooting for Del all the way, holding my breath at times wondering how I would feel living in my old home in the midst of dismantling, how would I handle this or that. Colleen Hubbard …more somehow managed to make Del's story so real – despite some really insane moves in my opinion – that I was running a parallel scenario on how real it sounded to me. It's a book and a story whose main character gets a hold of you and doesn't let go. I could not relate to her living conditions and some of her choices and yet somehow it made sense for her. It's one of those books that when you read about the cold peeking and the snow blowing you feel yourself freezing and you shiver inside. Del sets her own course, braves obstacles and we are lucky as readers to get an inside peek of her while the people in her life are held at a distance. Highly recommend! I can't wait to read what Colleen Hubbard writes next. (less)

I knew very little of the deceptive practice of using black women's bodies for medical experiments. Through the lens of a young nurse, two sisters in Alabama in 1973; one gets to be transported into that inhumane world. The writing is so strong, the characters are well …more developed and you get caught up in their emotions; the story is compelling and repelling; messy in a way that life is. It would be a great book club selection. The subject matter reminded me of the Henrietta Lacks book for how black women's bodies were used without their consent or knowledge for medical experimentation. It is also the story of the trial that follows and the courage of a few who stood up and denounced it and how lives are torn apart by so called school of thought to rid the future of deemed 'inept' creatures through forced sterilization. This story and its characters made a deep impression on me. (less)