Armed with an eighth-grade education and a centuries-old set of traditional values, 15-yr-old Mei Zi leaves her impoverished farming village in search of a better life. When an elusive businessman lures her a thousand miles from home, she quickly discovers dazzling Shanghai has its own brand of desperation. Penniless and on the brink of starvation, a stranger’s single act of kindness sets Mei Zi on a path that will lead her across the world. Inspired by a true story.A must read for Amy Tan and Lisa See fans.