A powerful, dual-narrative coming-of-age story set in 2009 China.

Sixteen-year-old Luli has just aged out of the orphanage where she grew up, and her childhood friend Yun helps her get a job at the factory where Yun works. Both girls enjoy the freedom of making their own decisions and earning their own money--until Yun gets pregnant by her boyfriend, who's rumored to be a bride and child trafficker.

China's restrictive family planning laws put Yun in a difficult position: she'll either have to have an expensive abortion or face crippling fines for having a child out of wedlock. When she disappears, it's up to Luli to track her down and find a way to help her.

• Chinese-American author paints a vivid portrait of an international setting 
• Suspense and intrigue make this a page turner 
• Luli's and Yun's alternating voices highlight the challenges girls and women face in their society