Dragonfly Eyes by Cao Wenxuan, Helen Wang
Published by Candlewick Press on June 14, 2022
ISBN: 1536200182
Pages: 384
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

“Dragonfly Eyes” is a middle grade novel written by Cao Wenxuan and translated into English by Helen Wang. This historical fiction novel jumps between several time periods, following Du Meixi from Shanghai and his wife, Oceane, from France and their granddaughter, Ah Mei. We see 1920s Marseilles,  France, through to the 1960s in Shanghai, China. The book goes through a lot of heavy historical topics, like famine, poverty, the Japanese invasion, and China’s Cultural Revolution. The characters are compelling, but the time jumps can occasionally be a bit confusing. While middle grade readers may enjoy the book and the theme of family, the darker and more sensitive parts of the novel may resonate more with older readers. Written for ages 9 through 12, this book is a good additional purchase for your middle grade fiction collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.