From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, “one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot” (The New York Times Book Review), a moving novel about tradition, tea farming, and the bonds between mothers and daughters.In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in … For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.
The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a poor choice—she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.
As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her insular village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins. Across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.
A powerful story about circumstances, culture, and distance, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane paints an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and celebrates the bond of family.
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I love Lisa Sea. This is one of my new favorites
empowering for women
This book gives incite into what it’s like to be thrust into a life that is completely unlike the one you’ve always known. We deal with hardship, displacement, and condescension in this heartbreaking, yet heartwarming story of learning to live and love a new life, but remembering your roots.
O loved this book. I learned a lot about TEA and the importance it is to the Chinese people. Loved the characters as well!
I learned a lot about a different culture and about tea growing. I loved it and the story moved nicely. There were no boring parts
Great read. Lisa sees books are always well written
Some areas of the book were repetitive and caused me to lose interest. If you’re in the tea business this might be a good book for you. I have read other Lisa See books which are much better. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was her best novel by far.
This book brings understanding and knowledge of a part of Chinese history and culture that is not often seen. That’s what I like about historical fiction.
good book but way too much detail on tea making for me…others might enjoy.
interesting and informative
It was not as good as other Lisa See books I have read but was interesting.
I loved this book. A story that could truly have been true!
I found it very interesting and felt like it was probably a rather truthful depiction of how life probably was for people of that time and place.
I enjoyed the story of the book’s protagonist but felt there was much more detail, especially in the second half, about tea than I needed to have. It bogged the book down for me. Though I have thorough enjoyed several of the author’s other books, I thought this one was less engaging and not one I would highly recommend.
Since I know several people who have adopted Chinese girls, it was eye opening to read about this issue from the Chinese mother’s point of view and from the adopted girl’s as well. I also learned about growing tea in the tea mountains of China. Some events were not easy to read about, but they are probably realistic.
Not only is there a lovely story of a Mother’s love, it is very informative. Based in China, It weaves a story around the culture of the tea growers and tribes in mountain regions, the societal hierarchy, the deeply imbedded traditions, superstitions and conflicting moral values. I read it for book club and really enjoyed it.
Unique and touching. I know a young man who was adopted by a ‘white’ family in the south (GA) – from Korea, and we have chatted about his feelings on how it effected him (and his sister) into his adult life. Although this is a different circumstance, I couldn’t help but think about him throughout the book.
It was a great blend of cultural information, and personal struggles and growth. I enjoyed the book very much, as I have with all of Lisa See’s books.
I learned so much about the Akha people while reading this book.
The writing is good. And although the ending was anticipated, I enjoyed the book
A very pleasant read.