This memoir investigates the personal and social challenges of growing up in China during the turbulent period between 1930 and 1949. Katherine Wei, drawing on her own lived experience, provides a detailed account of her upbringing within a complex family structure. The narrative examines how individual identity is shaped by traditional family hierarchies, shifting political landscapes, and the struggle for personal autonomy during a time of national upheaval.

Readers frequently note the personal and intimate nature of the prose, which provides a grounded view of historical events through a domestic lens. Experts highlight this work as a valuable primary source for understanding the social fabric of Chinese family life during the mid-20th century.