Growing Up the First Time

Set against the backdrop of Shanghai during World War II, the narrative follows four American siblings navigating their dual cultural identities. At the heart of the story is Mary, who, along with her brothers and baby sister, endures seven months in a Japanese internment camp in 1943. The book offers a poignant exploration of their childhood experiences and the emotional complexities of growing up in a tumultuous environment. Enhanced by personal reflections and photographs, it captures a vibrant yet fleeting era in "The Paris of the Orient."