Taiwanese American lawyer and women’s human rights specialist whose acclaimed debut novel, Daughters of Shandong, is equal parts heartbreaking, beautiful, and important
Over the course of her career as a human rights lawyer, author Eve J. Chung has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide.
Chung’s explosive debut novel, Daughters of Shandong, is based on her grandmother’s harrowing true story of fleeing from communist China to Taiwan in the late 1940s. The extraordinary book was an instant USA Today Bestseller, New York Times Editors’ Choice, and Good Morning America Buzz Pick.
Chung has said that she hopes that Daughters of Shandong both helps people learn about a difficult time period and also gives voice to women—not only from her culture but any women who have grown up feeling like they were worth less because of their sex. “It is a form of discrimination that is so ingrained that many women don’t consider it to be unfair and might perpetuate similar practices. I hope that in this new generation, fewer girls experience this type of pain,” she has said.
Told in assured, evocative prose with impeccably drawn characters, Daughters of Shandong is a hopeful, powerful story about the resilience of women in war, the enduring love between mothers, daughters, and sisters, and the sacrifices made to lift up future generations.
“Throw open the doors of your heart for the lionhearted girls of Chung’s gripping debut…they are heroines for the ages.”
– People Magazine
“This expansive novel is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of a Chinese girl amid civil war and the Communist Revolution. It explores the bonds of family and the consequences of society’s patriarchal values…Daughters of Shandong brings to life brave women who seek to control their fate in the face of insurmountable odds.
– Newsweek
“Chung imbues her debut novel — based in part on memories shared by her grandmother — with spitfire flair and real-life specificity. Her colorful portrait of a young girl’s harrowing journey across China in the wake of the Communist revolution comes alive with villains,
twists, and unlikely triumphs over adversity.”
– The New York Times Editors’ Choice
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