Xinran was born and raised in China and worked there as a reporter for a radio station. The book begins, “A Book Written for Adoptive Daughters.” Xinran begins,
“It took a long time for me to summon the courage to relive the personal memories and experiences of my life as a reporter in China.” Page 1
China has a strict one child per family rule, due to over-population. If you are caught with having more that 1 child, there are deep penalties, including losing your job. Xinran goes on to recount numerous stories of mothers forced to give up their daughters because their parents in-law insist that they have a boy.
For a very long time, China would not allow adoptions of children from outside the country. Many of the stories Xinran heard and some that she even witnessed, firsthand were gruesome. Parts of this book was shocking to read.
“Suddenly, I thought I heard a slight movement in the slops pail behind me, and automatically glanced toward it. I felt ice in my blood. To my absolute horror, I saw a tiny foot poking out of the pail. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Then the tiny foot twitched! It wasn’t possible. The midwife must have dropped that tiny baby alive into the slop pail!” Page 92
There were other stories of female babies being abandoned and left to die. There were some orphanages but they were all very poor.
“The children were just left to cry all day. She mostly fed them on rice gruel, and kept them clean by sluicing the urine and excrement off the mat with cold water. By night she slept squeezed onto the mat with the babies, at the mercy of the mosquitoes just as they were.” Page 244
Things improved, some when adoption was opened up to families from other countries. Though mothers don’t know where their daughters live, they did give messages to Xinran to pass on to adopted daughters, her main motivation for writing this book.
I found these true stories to be raw, heart rendering, and shocking. Xinran writes beautifully but opens the child issue in China up for the entire world to see. If you don’t know what is happening in China, even to this day, read this book. If you know what is happening read this book and learn more.
4/5
Did you review this book? Please leave the link in the comments and I will post it here.
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Wow, that sounds like a powerful book!
I can’t even imagine how sad some of the stories have to be.
Kathy, it is!
Carol, some were so sad. Some made me angry as well.
And on top of this don’t forget about the untold number of babies killed by abortion in China due to them being 2nd children or a first child but not acceptable because they are a girl. I certainly hope the book discusses the topic of abortion in China too, if it does I may well read this.
It doesn’t put an emphasis on abortion but does mention it. Many people, especially in rural places don’t have access to birth control or abortion, or even OB care to ensure a healthy baby.
Nicola, you and I disagree on the abortion issue, I am pro-choice, however I think we can both agree that this shouldn’t be happening because the baby is female. That is not a choice. Women are forced to get rid of their female babies.
I think you would like this book.
The topic of this book just makes me shake my head. I wonder if in the not too distant future when all these “preferred boys” become men, will China be calling for their daughters back?
Wanda, for now it seems like there are still enough women around to make babies.
Wow, sounds like a powerful story. The whole deal with treating girls like that, that’s something akin to shooting self in a foot.
Poor little ones! I wonder if the situation will change much with China easing up a bit on the one child rule!
This sounds so heartbreaking, and even with the one child rule being “gone,” I wonder how much has changed for girls in China. I read that the change was made not because of the cruel treatment and murder of girls, but because of other social reasons like young people are needed to help pay taxes for care of the elderly and also because there is an overpopulation of young men in China now who cannot marry and who are engaging in quite a lot of crime. I am interested in reading the book. A friend of mine is now in her early 30s and was adopted by her parents from China, so this is a topic that has always struck close to home for me.