Jing-Mei, who represents the author, grows up in two cultures, American
and Chinese. As a child she embraces the American culture, but cannot deny the
other side of herself. When she becomes an adult she feels the need to know
more about her Chinese roots. What she learns ends up giving her more respect
for her mother’s traditions and way of life.
The novel is a unique depiction of the relationship between mother and
daughter, what it’s like to live far away from your original roots and how it
feels to plant new ones.