Daughters of the Sun and Moon
Daughters of the Sun and Moon
Plus, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Shanghai Girls and more.
About the book
Daughters of the Sun and Moon
Publishers Weekly “Best Books of Summer” Staff Reads Pick
Indie Next Pick for June
A June Library Reads Hall of Fame Selection
A June Amazon Best of the Month Selection
An Apple Books Staff Pick for June
Beloved New York Times bestselling author Lisa See draws on the vibrancy and turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles to tell the story of three Chinese women who managed to survive and, eventually, thrive, despite all odds.
In 1870, three Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent pueblo of Los Angeles. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar, is entrancing and innocent, poised to fulfill her role as a daughter with an arranged marriage to a much older merchant. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants, is arriving on the shores of Gold Mountain—America—after being sold into servitude by her parents. And Moon, married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, is educated and beautiful, yet her failed foot binding as a child has left her with a limp that lessens her value in the eyes of many.
Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a ruthless society, devoid of goodwill and increasingly hostile to all three women, despite their different backgrounds. Set during a period of rampant anti-Chinese sentiment in Los Angeles, Daughters of the Sun and Moon is a gripping tale of an exhilarating but tumultuous society in a fever pitch, and three women who must navigate its unique challenges. In the wake of the real-life Night of Horrors, a long-forgotten, bloody episode of American history, Dove, Petal, and Moon are brought together by hardship and heartbreak, and they must use their bravery, endurance, and ability to “eat bitterness” to discover their voices, find freedom, and connect through solace and friendship. Together they are daughters of the sun and moon.
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Praise & Reviews
Lisa See does not disappoint with her ability to find little-known events in Chinese history and bring them to life through unforgettable women. While this novel contains graphic scenes of violence, it is an important reminder that hate begets hate, and that we are all not so different, no matter our backgrounds.
See excels at the ‘wordless communion of women,’ portraying three disparate personalities drawing strength from and helping each other survive. Moments of beautifully rendered heartbreak will have tremendous appeal for fans of women’s fiction and historical fiction readers interested in Chinese culture.
See’s narrative brims with historical detail… Poignant and fascinating, Daughters of the Sun and Moon is a heart-pounding frontier narrative and a tender tribute to female friendship.
In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, Lisa See once again delivers a luminous, deeply affecting novel. With her signature blend of historical richness and emotional depth, she brings to life women from vastly different social classes who are nonetheless bound by the shared realities of anti-Chinese discrimination and the constraints placed on them as women. Their intertwined stories are both heartbreaking and empowering, revealing resilience, sisterhood, and the unyielding pursuit of dignity. This is historical fiction at its most powerful—intimate, unflinching, and unforgettable.
See offers a stunning piece of historical fiction based in truth. It will touch readers with the characters’ resilience, heroism, and devoted friendship.
For Book Clubs
Visit Lisa’s book club page to find a Reader’s Guide, with discussion questions and fun activities to enhance your book club experience. You can also invite Lisa to join your book club on Zoom. She can’t always join in, but she’ll surely try.
Book Club Page
