A
story of hope
Malaysia, an equatorial peninsula with soft sand and swaying palm trees, but underneath this lush greenery lies a harsh landscape of real life.
Life in 1950’s Malaya
for 13-year-old Lau Li Jen was unkind – hardship and poverty was all she knew.
With her ailing mother close to death,
and three younger siblings to look out
for, responsibility weighed heavily on Jen’s shoulders. Would she have to
sacrifice her education to support her family?
Spirited and
intelligent, Jen boldly faces unknown challenges and the pains of growing up.
But when a stranger enters the family’s broken world, life is destined to be
different…
Brown Jade is sensitively written, full of
emotional warmth and atmosphere, emphasising the universal importance of
cherishing family and friendship. An evocative and heart-warming tale. |
...And life goes on
The adventure continues You are fine as you are. If you were my daughter, I would be so proud of you, and I am sure your Ah Ma would have said the same. You’ve had to grow up so quickly, because of your Ah Ma’s poor health. You must have missed out on being a teenager and having fun with your friends.
Jen’s life so far, to Western eyes at any rate, has been one of work, hardship and a heavy burden of responsibility. Now, for the first time, it appears that her life is her own. As she recovers from the shock of the mother’s death, futures open out before her – college, a job, the attractions of young men and the bright lights of the capital city…. It seems that all she needs to do is learn to be young. This is author Yong Pease’s second novel set in Malaysia, the country of her birth and once again, she leads the reader on an irresistible, magical journey full of love, tenderness, humour and danger.
Touch My Heart continues the story of Jen with equal warmth and sensitivity to Brown Jade. |