The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane was adapted into a movie in 2018.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a novel by Lisa See that tells the story of a young woman, Li-yan, who is part of the Akha people in southwestern China. The Akha are a marginalized and often discriminated against minority group in China. Li-yan grows up in a remote mountain village and is taught the traditional Akha way of life, which includes the cultivation and processing of tea. When Li-yan becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is forced to leave her village and give up her baby for adoption. This event sets Li-yan on a journey of self-discovery and ultimately leads her back to her roots. The novel explores the themes of identity, family, and tradition.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane features the following special characters:

Li-yan – the protagonist, a tea farmer’s daughter

A-ma – Li-yan’s mother, a tea farmer

Old Cai – Li-yan’s grandmother, a tea farmer

La-ma – Li-yan’s aunt, a tea farmer

Jia-fen – Li-yan’s best friend, a tea farmer’s daughter

Hai-yan – Li-yan’s older sister, a tea farmer’s daughter

Kanin – a Akha man, Li-yan’s husband

Pah-lo – Kanin’s father, an Akha shaman

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a fascinating read that transports the reader to a world vastly different from our own. Through the story of Li-yan, a woman of the Akha minority group in China, the reader is given a glimpse into the little-known Akha culture and the difficult choices that Li-yan must make in order to preserve her heritage. While the story is sad in many ways, it is ultimately a story of hope and resilience, and Li-yan’s strength in the face of adversity is both inspiring and moving. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and thought-provoking read.