A primary reading series developed with UCL Institute of Education to help children become confident, independent readers.
A bracelet. A curse. And golden fishbones to be returned to the sea …
Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.
After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family’s shoe factory.
But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever…
Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.
After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family’s shoe factory.
But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever…
Reviews
YA author Lim (A Forgery of Fate) dazzles in her dark and deftly woven adult debut . . Blending the historically grounded and complex mother-daughter narratives of Amy Tan with the rich fantasy of Yangsze Choo, this stunning tale will delight Limʼs fans and newcomers alike. This is a gem
A gorgeous, haunting story of magic, memory and loss. Fishbone Cinderella is an aching exploration of the lengths we go to protect the ones we love, and the bonds between mothers and daughters in all their forms. Lim's story has all the hallmarks of a new fable: elegant, atmospheric, and resonant across time and space
Elizabeth Lim's dazzling Fishbone Cinderella is an enthralling fairytale with a Chinese twist. A family curse dooms the women in Helen and Marigold's family, entwining their fates through a dark ability. Their secrets are traced against the richly evocative and lusciously detailed backdrop of Hong Kong and Berkeley in the 1940s and 60s, where uncertainty and love bloom. Enthralling, thought-provoking, and heartfelt, Fishbone Cinderella is a must-read for historical fiction fans
Everything you want in a book - mothers and daughters bound by love and
fracture, an aching, fate-twined romance, women carrying the weight of inherited magic, and a sweeping history that crosses borders and generations - Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim is utterly unforgettable
Everything you want in a book - mothers and daughters bound by love and fracture, an aching, fate-twined romance, women carrying the weight of inherited magic, and a sweeping history that crosses borders and generations - Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim is utterly unforgettable