Nineteenth-century
China. A young girl, Lily, prepares herself for womanhood, meaning a life of
yielding to men, sitting quietly in the women’s chamber of her house, assuming
a woman’s place a homemaker—a life void of true love. That is the way of
things, after all, as has been the tradition with all the women in Lily’s
family dating back for generations. That is, until the local town diviner pays
a visit to her household and informs her parents that Lily is a special child.
Lily has the potential to have the most perfect pair of bound feet in all of
China—a much coveted asset. Additionally, she is eligible for one of the most
sacred bonds that can be created between two people—a laotong. This relationship would last for a lifetime, and Lily
would be closer to her laotong than
she would be to anyone in her family or even her future husband. The
arrangement is made, and Lily is paired with a girl from Tongkou, Snow Flower.
The two girls communicate by writing on a fan in the secret written language of
Chinese women. When the time comes to meet each other in person, Lily is
thrilled yet nervous Snow Flower comes from a much higher social standing and
is much more educated. Despite this, Lily and Snow Flower have an immediate
connection and become fast friends. As the two grow up, they face the trials of
life together, learning lessons from each other—the most important of which is
true love. However, a miscommunication
eventually occurs which endangers their close relationship. Could a bond so
sacred and deep possibly be broken?
To
me, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is
a story about the importance of valuing the people you love the most. I
laughed, cried, and fell in love with the two girls and their friendship. Ingeniously
entwined with aspects of Chinese culture, this book is the best kind of history
lesson. Hauntingly beautiful, this is a story that will never leave me, and
fans of heartbreaking tragedies would likely say the same. This will be put on
my “favorites” shelf, and I aspire to one day experience the sort of love
shared in Lily and Snow Flower’s laotong.
Reviewed by Aubrie L.
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