Dreams of Joy: A Novel by Lisa See

Dreams of Joy is a stand alone novel. I had no idea until I started writing this review that it's a sequel to See's, Shanghai Girls novel, a book that is now on my must read list, since Dreams of Joy is absolutely riveting.

Joy and Pearl narrate this historical novel in alternating points of view. Nineteen year old, Joy has been raised by her mother and aunt. She is a student at the University of Chicago and has become a defender of Mao's "New China", she joins a group that garners the attention of the FBI and INS this calls attention to her family  resulting in a tragedy.

When, Joy returns to her home in Los Angeles, China town, a family secret is revealed. Joy feels betrayed and lets her emotions get the best of her. She flees to Shanghai to met her biological father and to help rebuild Mao's "New China". Communist, China is changing at an alarming rate at is no place for a young American girl. Pearl goes to China to find and bring her daughter back to the United States and she will do anything in her power to make thi
s possible.

This book is filled with twist and turns and will keep you captivated. It is full of rich characters and vivid story lines. See's paints a portrait of red China. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Grade: A