Similar in feel to her biographical book On Gold Mountain, this is the story of two sisters from Shanghai. They are very close, and their lives are comfortable and easy until their father loses his money and they are forced into marriages to pay his debts. At the same time, the Japanese are invading China. The story is told from the point of view of Pearl, the older sister. Interestingly, at the end, everything you think you understand about what happened changes when May gives her point of view. Issues that See brings out in the story include traditional Chinese parent/child relationships and how they change due to immigration to America, and the challenges of prejudice and what it does to family loyalty and trust. The end felt a bit abrupt. It is not as good as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but I recommend it.