The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane follows the life of Li-yan, a member of the Akha hill tribe whose way of life is still tied to the land. Growing up picking tea leaves each season with her family and living without electricity or running water in a hut made on bamboo stilts, Li-yan’s life is a far cry from the modern world of the late 1980’s. Set to follow in her mother’s path as a midwife, Li-yan struggles to accept her path and works hard in school hoping to be the first in her village to qualify for upper level schooling that would open up other possibilities. Fate however intervenes through two different men destined to change her life, one through love, the other through the business of tea, helping her village join the modern world. Years later, across the globe, a young Chinese girl adopted by Americans wonders at her roots and the special tea cake that was wrapped in her blankets when she was left at the orphanage. Who was her mother and what is the significance of this tea cake?
I enjoyed this book, learning about an ancient culture I had never heard of. It's amazing to think that such a primitive culture existed in modern times. The story kept me interested throughout, although I was very disappointed at the abruptness of the ending. I wanted more and felt cheated that after being so invested in these people for a time span of approximately 30 years the story ended.....just like that.
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