The book is about Yun’s life in Imperial China, a time where feet binding, child marriage, and servitude are the norm. Yun is lucky enough to have a feminist grandmother who teaches her the honorable role of treating women. The book covers the multiple relationships that Yun has throughout her life, mostly female. It starts with her mother, who dies from complications from feet binding, her fathers concubine, her mother and law, grandmother, servant Poppy, and most importantly her friend and midwife, Meiling. The story is based on the diary of a real woman’s physician in the 15th century. The story moves along and there are twists along the way. A good book for readers of historical fiction.