Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element/MarySue Rucci Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut historical fiction novel by Vanessa Chan - 4.5 stars!
Set in Malaya (now Malaysia) during the years 1936-1945, we meet Cecily, her husband Gordon, and their 3 children - Jujube, Abel, and Jasmine. In the early years, Cecily meets a man she becomes enthralled with, who is actually General Fuijwara of the Japanese army, who plays into her desire for a more exciting life by offering her a chance to help restore Malaya back to Asian occupancy instead of British. Cecily becomes a spy, secreting information she gathers from Gordon's administrative job and getting it to Fuijwara. Ten years later, Cecily sees the damage done by helping the Japanese. Abel is now in a prison camp, Jasmine has to be put into the basement with her hair cut off to protect her, and Jujube takes on responsibility and guilt she shouldn't have to.
When I learn something I didn't know before from reading a historical fiction book, it's a win. And this book opened up my eyes to situations I had never heard about. How sad that a country wants out of one oppressive ruler only to find itself in even worse conditions. Cecily thought she was doing good but was taken advantage of and ended up betraying her family and country. There are a lot of tough subjects to read about in this book, but Chan's writing makes you keep turning the pages. Her prose is atmospheric - you can picture the deplorable conditions, feel the pain of these characters. Will be anxious to read her next book!
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