A Tiger's Heart: The Story of a Modern Chinese Woman

This unflinching, unapologetic Cinderella story from Chinese immigrant and businesswoman Shen will bring perspective and understanding to readers puzzling over the long history and rapid modernization of China. Born in China's Yangtze River Delta, a desperately poor area where a child's worth is determined by the speed with which he or she can plant rice, Shen found solace in schoolwork while dreaming of a better life. In 1991, days before her 17th birthday, Shen became the first person ever to leave her hamlet for college; as a college student, she was ""one of God's superior children"", guaranteed a job for life. What seems to be the answer to her prayers, however, is just the beginning of a long and troubling journey; ahead of her are challenges including a bleak period of homelessness, poor health, lice infestation, and eventual salvation via the Internet and an ambitious Amway representative. Shen's patient delivery and exquisite eye for detail provide a vivid look into modern Chinese life, but she wraps up her story much too quickly, suggesting that she has a sequel in mind.