Awesome Author: Lisa See

I am fascinated by Asian culture, partly because we don't learn much about Asian and Asian culture in our schools.  I love reading about people's lives during Mao's reign, or about the expectations placed on women in the late 1900s.  I think all of the inventions that came out of Asia are amazing, and it's cool to lean about the ways Asian countries have changed over time.

If you're like me and you like to learn about Asian culture, or if the above paragraph has gotten you excited to learn about Asian culture, then I have the author for you:  Lisa See.

 Lisa See's family came from China, and all of her stories focus on China and/or Chinese characters.  One thing I love about her books is that, while they are about China, the themes and topics are universal.  Her fiction covers love stories, mysteries, family dynamics, art and literature.

One of my favorite books, and a great one for tweens and teens, is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.  It's about a secret language for women, and how that secret language affects Snow Flower and her secret friend, Lily.  Young women will like this book because Snow Flower and Lily experience common feelings that all young women experience, plus there's the exciting factor of secret communication and hidden defiance.

If you're into a little darker read, then pick up See's mystery series, starting with Flower Net.  These stories happen in contemporary China, and they are fast-paced and emotional.  The series is probably best-suited for older teens and adults.

Don't like fiction?  See writes non-fiction, too!  Check out her memoir On Gold Mountain.  This is great because it gives the background about Lisa See's family, and it includes a bunch of history about China in general and her family's experience in particular.  This might be a great starting point, if you're interested in reading many of Lisa See's works.

If you want more information, check out Lisa See's website, lisasee.com.  (All of the pictures on this blog were downloaded from that website, too.)

Lisa See's books are published by Random House.