A New York Times Notable Book. A New York Times Book Review Editor'S Choice. Reviewed On The Front Cover. International Bestseller ""Zhang's blend of history and magical realism will appeal to fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates' The Water Dancer as well as Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement. "" -Booklist (starred review) ""Engrossing. . . Epic"" (The New York Times Book Review). ""Transporting"" (Washington Post). ""Propulsive"" (Oprah Daily). ""Surreal and sprawling"" (Npr). ""An absolute must-read"" (Buzz Feed). ""Radiant"" (Book Page). A dazzling debut novel set against the backdrop of the Chinese Exclusion Act, about a Chinese girl fighting to claim her place in the 1880's American WestDaiyu never wanted to be like the tragic heroine for whom she was named, revered for her beauty and cursed with heartbreak. But when she is kidnapped and smuggled across an ocean from China to America, Daiyu must relinquish the home and future she imagined for herself. Over the years that follow, she is forced to keep reinventing herself to survive. From a calligraphy school, to a San Francisco brothel, to a shop tucked into the Idaho mountains, we follow Daiyu on a desperate quest to outrun the tragedy that chases her.