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Dragonfly Eyes by Cao WenxuanPublished by Candlewick Press on June 14, 2022
Age Group & Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
Representation: biracial (Chinese and French) main cast, biracial and Chinese side characters
Format: ARC, Physical
Source: Publisher
From acclaimed Chinese author Cao Wenxuan, recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, comes a compelling family saga spanning fifty years and three generations.
Ah-Mei and her French grandmother, Nainai, share a rare bond. Maybe it’s because Ah-Mei is the only girl grandchild. Or maybe it’s because the pair look so much alike and neither resembles the rest of their Chinese family. Politics and war make 1960s Shanghai a hard place to grow up, especially when racism and bigotry are rife, and everyone seems suspicious of Nainai’s European heritage and interracial marriage. In this time of political upheaval, Ah-Mei and her family suffer much—and when the family silk business falters, they are left with almost nothing. Ah-Mei and her grandmother are resourceful, but will the tender connection they share bring them enough strength to carry through?
This multigenerational saga by one of China’s most esteemed children’s authors takes the reader from 1920s France to a ravaged postwar Shanghai and through the convulsions of the Cultural Revolution.
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Trigger & Content Warnings: racism, assault, bigotry, death of a loved one
Dragonfly Eyes is probably my most underrated read of this year and perhaps the most surprising as well (to an extent) because I’m generally not the biggest fan of non-linear books without a plot. But I’ve found that I love books that deal with family or are told over the course of a few generations (if The Green Bone Saga is any indication), and family is definitely one of the prevailing and core themes in this book, along with Ah-Mei’s bond with her Nainai (paternal grandmother).
This was one that originally started as a bit disorienting for me, mostly because I typically struggle with non-linear books, and it’s been a very long time since I’ve read a book that pretty much has no overarching plot. Cao Wenxuan jumps us around a lot after setting up the story when Ah-Mei’s Nainai and Yeye (paternal grandfather) fall in love and start a life in France, but eventually move their family to Shanghai for the family’s silk business. One moment we see Ah-Mei at a young age, but the next, she’s in middle school. Then we’re back in France when Nainai is younger and about to depart for China with Yeye and their family.
All of that probably sounds like a mess to read, but it’s far from that, though it might not be a style some would like.
Personally, I found myself absorbed in the story; each of the chapters honestly felt like its own individual, quick-to-read story, kind of like snapshots into Nainai’s and Ah-Mei’s memories. It kind of gives off that feeling of when you’re cozied up in bed in the dim flickering flames of the candlelight late with your grandparents in the chair beside you, and they’re telling you stories from their past before sleep shuffles you off. I found myself slowing down and taking my time with each chapter of Dragonfly Eyes, and while this is typically what happens when I’m not vibing along with a book, it was the exact opposite in this case. I was absolutely there for the feel-good vibes.
With that said, it’s no surprise that I enjoyed Cao’s descriptive and flowy writing a lot. I think what stuck out the most to me were the tiniest details put into some of the moments, like Nainai’s and Yeye’s love for each other over the years (they’re the cutest), the family’s support for Nainai and Yeye, and of course, Ah-Mei’s and Nainai’s close relationship throughout given that it’s a core part of the book. Their close relationship comes from their resemblance to each other, and I just love them so much.
But Dragonfly Eyes isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though, because it does go into some serious topics like bigotry and racism. There are cute and impactful moments, but there are also bittersweet moments that’ll make you emotional and moments where we see how events (especially the Cultural Revolution) deeply impact the family as a whole and the characters individually. All in all, I had a good time with the novel.
If you’re not a fan of non-linear novels where you’re not entirely sure which age or year the story could be set in, Dragonfly Eyes is probably not for you. But if you’re looking for something that makes you feel like you’re being told stories at a campfire, bed, or anywhere you enjoy a short story that leaves you wanting to come back for another story, and you don’t care about the jumps, then I would definitely give Cao Wenxuan’s novel a try.
Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.
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I can see why non-liner stories are hard to get into.. Glad you like this book.
This is good that you loved it because non linear books are hard for me too!