3.5/5 Gifted by the publisher

It's rare to read Chinese historical fiction that's not about the Cultural Revolution—hence my excitement about this refreshing tale set afterward, leading up to Tiananmen Square and student protests. I particularly enjoyed the moments of solidarity between the grandma and the granddaughter and the complex friendship set against the increasingly authoritarian rule. While there are some mentions of politics, SQUARE's focus on coming-of-age and teenage drama left me wanting more historical background. The telling rather than showing style also detracts from my emotional connection with the characters. SQUARE is a solid read I'll recommend to those who want to gain a deeper understanding of modern Chinese history through a teen/tween lens.

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notes

More of a coming of age story set after the cultural revolution that covers love, friendship, and complex family dynamics. Less focus on the politics/history.

I haven’t read much Chinese lit that’s set after cultural revolution so it’s a refreshing story. I really appreciate the grandma-granddaughter dynamics.

I enjoyed this book even though I was expecting a deeper dive on the politics and Tiananmen Square (only happened in the last 10%?). For a book that’s over 500 pages, I was also hoping for an emotional rollercoaster, but somehow it reads a bit distant. Maybe too much telling and not enough showing?

Also, what’s with the homophobia?? It came out of nowhere and didn’t really get addressed imo. Maybe I missed it but I feel it could’ve been edited out.