Pan-pan and Shui-lian, two teenage girls born miles apart in modern-day rural China, leave home with dreams of a better future in Beijing or Shanghai. As dreams turn slowly into nightmares, they cross paths and decide to face their challenges together. This is a powerful tale of friendship and a stark, authentic portrait of modern China.

"This is a moving, oftentimes shocking, account of the desperate conditions faced by many young [Chinese] women. The exploitations of girls and women, as well as the deplorable working conditions in the factories described here should give North American readers occasion to think about social justice in a more meaningful way. Yet the kindness that [the two female protagonists] occasionally encounter, often in unexpected places, help to soften the harshness of these realities, giving the reader renewed hope."
—Lisa Doucet, Canadian Children's Book News