Girls on the Line by Jennie Liu
Published by Carolrhoda Lab (R) on November 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512459380
Pages: 232
Goodreads

Girls on the Line by Jennie Liu is a hard-hitting contemporary novel focusing on the inequality of class and gender in modern Chinese culture. The plot revolves around two young teenage girls who age-out of the orphanage they grew up in together. Lilu was dropped off by her grandfather whose failing health made it impossible for him to care for her. Yun never knew the love of family as her the mark on her face was considered unlucky and she was left as a baby.  

Yun leaves first,  then Lilu follows Yun, destined to live the rest of their lives as factory workers. But Yun has fallen in love with Yong who is suspected to have ties to human trafficking.

The chapters bounce back and forth between the viewpoint of Yun and Lilu. Yun has an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. Yong runs from the authorities at the cost of Yun’s welfare.  Lilu struggles to stay afloat working in the factory without a real human connection in a cruel world.

This was a good YA read for high school and college-aged students. It would make for an interesting book discussion.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library