Book Review: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See delivers a powerful, heartbreaking continuation of the story begun in Shanghai Girls. Set against the backdrop of Maoist China during the Great Leap Forward, the novel is a harrowing exploration of ideology, identity, and the enduring strength of maternal love.
The story begins in 1957, when Joy — reeling from a family secret revealed at the end of Shanghai Girls — runs away from Los Angeles to the People’s Republic of China. Fueled by idealism and guilt, she seeks to reconnect with her roots and find her birth father. But as Joy immerses herself in a country reshaped by Communist fervor, she quickly discovers that the utopia she imagined is a far cry from reality.
Meanwhile, Pearl — Joy’s mother and the protagonist of Shanghai Girls — follows her daughter back to China, determined to protect her at any cost. What unfolds is a gripping dual narrative of survival and transformation, as both women are forced to reckon with their pasts, their beliefs, and their unbreakable bond.
See’s prose is rich with historical detail and emotional nuance. She captures both the hope and horror of 1950s China with unflinching clarity — from the bustling communes and blind collectivism to the devastating famine that cost millions of lives. Yet the novel’s heart lies in the evolving relationship between mother and daughter, shaped by sacrifice, forgiveness, and fierce, unconditional love.
Dreams of Joy is a deeply affecting story about what it means to come of age in a world built on illusions, and what a mother is willing to endure to save her child. Lisa See has once again created a novel that is as historically insightful as it is emotionally unforgettable.
About Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
In her most powerful novel yet, acclaimed author Lisa See returns to the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy. Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the Communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.
