An uplifting depiction of the activists who led the Tiananmen Square uprising through the experiences of a 13-year-old girl. Min’s life is forever changed when her family makes the dangerous and challenging decision to join the fight for democracy. Min and her family have always followed the rules and respected authority. However, inspired by the brave college students’ decision to participate in an unprecedented hunger strike for freedom, the family peacefully joins thousands of others in Tiananmen Square to demand political and economic changes. Readers will identify with Min’s internal struggle and determination to fight for her family’s freedom. Through suspenseful and heartfelt writing, Collins takes readers on a journey through Min’s evolution from a child who unquestionably obeys her elders to a courageous young woman who learns to trust her instincts and think for herself. Family unity, empathy for others, and the quest for liberation are expressed through Min’s courage, her father’s determination to fight for justice, and her mother’s insistence on caring for others in their community despite the risk to herself. Authentic yet age-appropriate descriptions of brutality, gun violence, and physical suffering are depicted. Min is a spirited character whom readers will identify with and root for. Realistic and detailed black-and-white illustrations capture the mixture of fear and hope that Min experiences. Vocabulary words and a description of the historical events in Tiananmen Square provide additional context.

VERDICT: A nuanced and inspirational story with warm and heroic characters who successfully bring a powerful historical event to life.