Peony - A vibrant and beautiful girl raised in China by her widower father. He taught her reading, calligraphy, painting and kung fu. At age four, she resisted foot-binding. At 16, she rejected an arranged marriage; repulsed rape attempts in Hong Kong by her uncle; and signed on as a domestic to a brothel in San Francisco for five years. She sent the $200 advance stipend to her sick father. This is a story of Peony's determination to control her own destiny against great odds. The mystic jade pendant - Peony's grandmother gave her the heirloom pendant saying, "Keep it with you at all times. It will protect you and give you wisdom." Frank Michaels, unintentionally snatched the pendant from Peony during the 1871 Chinatown Massacre. He kept the pendant as his surrogate mistress for 52 years. In 1923, he returned it to her husband Tom Wong who brought it to her grave in a very surreal encounter. Frank desperately needed absolution for his participation in the Massacre before he dies. During Peony's short life, three Chinese men and Frank were infatuated with her. She loved Tom dearly. Their life together was short but his love for her was unceasing.

Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.