"In telling these stories, the writers have liberated themselves. For so many years we did not speak about it, even when we became free people living in a free society. Now, when at last we are writing about what happened to us in this dark period of history, knowing that our stories will be read and live on allows us to feel truly free. These unique historical documents put a face on what was lost, and allow readers to grasp the enormity of what happened to six million Jews – one story at a time."

Art Spiegelman's moving tale of the Holocaust and how it impacts a family a generation later, is hailed as a comics classic for a reason. It is a landmark work that transcends the term "comics."

Thompson packs her mesmerizing, chaotic novel with Irish culture interconnected mysteries, and sly questions about the stresses of contemporary life and the age-old frictions between religion and folklore. Readers will quickly overlook any creaky plot connections and fall eagerly into the rich, comic language and the captivating characters and scenes, particularly those that feature musicians who play the "wild, anarchic music" that bridges worlds.

The title belies the content of this riveting fictional account of life in China under Mao. Told from the perspective of Ling, the young daughter of two doctors, the story chronicles her father's imprisonment, attacks by schoolmates, betrayal by neighbors, and her sometimes painful relationship with her mother. This book is ideal for students of the Cultural Revolution.