Fu, Melissa

Melissa Fu grew up in Northern New Mexico and has lived in Texas, Colorado, New York, Ohio, and Washington. She now lives near Cambridge, England, with her husband and children. With academic backgrounds in physics and English, Fu has worked in education as a teacher, curriculum developer, and consultant. Peach Blossom Spring (Little, Brown and Company) is her first novel. It is 1938 in China, and Meilin is a young wife with a bright future. But as the Japanese army approaches, Meilin and her 4-year-old son, Renshu, flee their home. Relying on their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll filled with ancient fables for solace and wisdom, they travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge. Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. His daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, but he refuses to talk about his childhood. He doesn’t want the weight of history dragging his family down. But how can Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story? Peach Blossom Spring offers a look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past and finally being home.