Super Short Summary

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See follows Joy, a nineteen-year-old who travels to China during Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward to seek her biological father and contribute to the Communist cause. She discovers harsh realities about collectivist farming and political repression. Meanwhile, her adoptive mother, Pearl, follows her to China, leading to a dramatic family reunion amid severe challenges. Sensitive topics include political persecution, starvation, and mentions of sexual violence.