The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane: A Novel
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, “one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot” (The New York Times Book Review), a moving novel about tradition, tea farming, and the bonds between mothers and daughters.
In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.
The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a poor choice—she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.
As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her insular village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins. Across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.
A powerful story about circumstances, culture, and distance, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane paints an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and celebrates the bond of family.
In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.
The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a poor choice—she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.
As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her insular village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins. Across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.
A powerful story about circumstances, culture, and distance, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane paints an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and celebrates the bond of family.
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Community Reviews
This book kept you engaged the whole time, Lisa See delivered heartfelt emotion throughout the story. To celebrate the novel, We went to Savvy Tea in Madison Connecticut for a guided tea tasting, staring Pu erh Tea. This book is a huge hit for book clubs and offers questions in the back for discussion.
A tale of love, loss, motherhood, and staying true to who you are. A wonderful read.
It has been 3 years since I read a book by Lisa See. She does not disappoint. I love reading books with a historical backdrop, especially ones where I know very little about the subject matter. I am embarrassed to say how little I know about the ethnic minority groups living in remote Chinese mountain villages. This book will open your eyes to their way of life. Even today, the Akha are a people interpreting dreams, believing in spirits and superstition. I was fascinated by their ancient customs and strict customs & rituals. I found myself talking to my family about the story, the customs, the practices, the region. I was looking up information about what I read.
This is a powerful story about 2 woman separated by circumstance, culture and distance. When a stranger's arrival marks the beginning of the modern world to this remote village, Li-yan begins to rebel against these strict rules that have defined her ancestors way of life for centuries. Li-yan is one of the few educated girls on the mountain and she has the opportunity for new experiences. The first half of this book is about Li-yan growing up in this remote tea farming village and her own coming of age as she bucks traditions and customs. The second half deals more with Li-yan as an adult in the modern world, and the tea growing business. While I found this interesting, it also dragged a bit at times, probably because I do not drink tea, had no idea where it came from and or how it's made. I've never even heard of pu'er tea! There are secrets woven throughout the story, cultural history and well developed characters. There is so much research put into this book but it reads like a beautiful story. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and see how these stories of tea, Li-yan and the modern world all come together.
This is a powerful story about 2 woman separated by circumstance, culture and distance. When a stranger's arrival marks the beginning of the modern world to this remote village, Li-yan begins to rebel against these strict rules that have defined her ancestors way of life for centuries. Li-yan is one of the few educated girls on the mountain and she has the opportunity for new experiences. The first half of this book is about Li-yan growing up in this remote tea farming village and her own coming of age as she bucks traditions and customs. The second half deals more with Li-yan as an adult in the modern world, and the tea growing business. While I found this interesting, it also dragged a bit at times, probably because I do not drink tea, had no idea where it came from and or how it's made. I've never even heard of pu'er tea! There are secrets woven throughout the story, cultural history and well developed characters. There is so much research put into this book but it reads like a beautiful story. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and see how these stories of tea, Li-yan and the modern world all come together.
I enjoyed this book as my second novel by this author, not only for her strong female characters who break their mould, but for always displaying such unique glimpse of asian history and culture. I can tell she does deep studies to keep it fictional but on same guide as history. I found the ending to be a bit predictable but I still enjoyed the narration and wished to read more.
Another great story with a full historical background. The details Lisa See includes add depth to the story, and make it seem all the more real.
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