Girls on the Line
Age 13+
General Fiction
A suspenseful and affecting novel about friendship in modern-day 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 ruinous 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.
Creators
Jennie Liu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She has been fascinated by the attitudes, social policies, and changes in China each time she visits. She lives in North Carolina with her family.
Reviews
A powerful view into the struggles faced by young women in a world that doesn’t value them—and where they must find strength within themselves and each other.
Joanne O'Sullivan, author of Between Two Skies
This story will pull on your heart in a hundred different ways. I found myself so worried for Yun and Luli, and the difficult choices they had to make in order to survive. It was beautiful to watch their friendship evolve, as each girl lost, and then found, her own strength, voice, and sense of self amid such challenging circumstances. An authentic, gripping read from beginning to end!
Liu provides an authentic voice and portrayal of young Chinese women in difficult situations. Readers will learn much from this absorbing and realistic tale.
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