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.
PUBLISHED MARCH 2006
ISBN: 1-905203-95-0
“Malaysia in the 1950’s makes for an interesting backdrop to this genre of novel – it was far more cosmopolitan than China having been under British rule pre-war then faced Japanese occupation. Catholicism and Buddhism sit cheek by jowl, and strong traditions rub along awkwardly with a tolerant society exploiting Western tourism.
“All of these dualities and tensions are prominent in Brown Jade, revealing where Malaysia has come from and how it differs from its Asian neighbours.”
last update: 09/06/2007