Sadly my phone which I was using to read this book screen had broken and so sadly I couldn't finish the book because it was past the archive date and I couldn't download it onto a different device. I only got a chapter or so read but the storyline was hooking, I really wished I could of finished this book.

This is such a wonderful, strong story!
While reading, I felt Na's emotions with her. The impatience, the sadness, the anger about all those things that were not fair, even the pressure to do as her parents say felt tangible even when I do not have the same experience. This story gave a little insight in what life for girls like Na can look like, and I am very grateful that I got the chance to gain this insight.

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I would Like to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Jennie Liu, for the opportunity to read this book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture while reading this book. If a female is born first, a couple is given a second chance to have a son. Girls are, ‘ like spilled water’, they take up space in the family until they belong to their husband’s family.
When a has a couple a male child, regardless of birth order. He becomes their hope for the future. And, The older, Female child is forgotten. This causes resentment and friction between the siblings.

Bao Bao does not live up to what his parents expect of him after years of being lavished with opportunities. Na, is called home. She is told her brother committed suicide. But, that does not make sense. Even though she resents what he was given over the years, she does not believe he would hurt himself.
This is a story of family love and loyalty. Na, tries to do what is right for her family. But, in the end, she does what is right for herself!!!!

I know this is a subject that started getting some press a couple of years ago. The Chinese have long been held up as the measuring stick for schools. We were told how hard Chinese students studied, their dedication to their school work. Now we're beginning to learn about the negatives. About the psychological pressure on teens. About how their system is heavily weighted to keep poor families down. Liu shows us the realities of life for this family. We see how the system has broken each of them: Bao is dead. The mother works nonstop but seems to fall deeper in debt each day. The father is utterly destroyed by grief and addiction. And the protagonist has had her once chance of advancement, a future she didn't even especially want, taken away. She's faced wit ha future she dreads: mindless exhausting work followed by a marriage she doesn't want. And inter-generational poverty means she never had much of a chance at more. But it's more than that. We're asked to question what gives a person value. What makes one ambition admirable and another disappointing.We're looking hard at the things a society asks of us and examining our own biases.

Strong female lead character, unique and interesting look at modern day China through a nuanced and sensitive lens.

This is the type of story that just sticks with you. The plot is seamless with strong characters. A story to savor and enjoy. Definitely worth checking out. A gem of a book. Happy reading!

Book Review: Like Spilled Water
by Jennie Liu
Pub Date 01 Sep 2020
Read courtesy of http://netgalley.com

This is a novel of regret, so it's a review filled with regrets.

I feel regret for the unlucky readers who found this book too long or too slow. It's not an action novel; it's an emotional one. It's reflective of the societal norms to not reveal one's troubles encapsulated into a story. I am grateful to have been able to enter and understand a world different from my own.

I regret that that I read other's reviews before reading the book; they gave away even more than the author did with her clues as to Bao-bao's fate. Jennie Liu hinted early that something was off about Na's brother's death, but she did so for literary movement, not to include a spoiler. I am grateful that the author skillfully cast doubt for the reader.

I regret Na's and Bao-bao's perceptions of their lost youth and their parents' perceptions of the purpose of children. I am grateful that the story ends with an ending that Na can live with.

I regret that Gilbert and Na's friendship encounters so many obstacles, but I am grateful that Na meets Min, who offers a different kind of friendship.

I regret watching Na and Bao-bao's unwavering parents live by ancient philosophies. I am grateful that I've been exposed to another culture's standards and been witness to how a culture changes between generations.

I regret not yet reading Liu's other book yet, "Girls on the Line." I am grateful that I now want to read more by this author, and I cannot wait to put this into the hands of my high school readers.

I regret that I cannot give "Like Spilled Water" 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for literary prose, but I'm grateful that I can for an accessible, non-judgmental, multi-story line plot that makes me think outside of myself.

This book appealed to me and is relevant for my 7th grade class. Each year I do a close read using an article "China's Cram Schools", which describes the Gaokao and the stress the students are under. This book will give my students a glimpse into the lives of those affected. It also gives them insight into the Chinese culture and should create empathy for the situation and perhaps a sense of gratefulness for the educational freedom and varied options they have. I thought this book dealt with some sensitive issues as well, but kept the focus on the importance of this test on the lives and futures of China's youth.

From an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher. Strictly speaking we're not supposed to post reviews until 30 days before publication, but since this book has almost a dozen reviews up on that execrable monopolizing review-site-killing Amazon-owned Goodreads venue already, I don't see that my modest one is going to make any difference.

Erratum:
"She holds the thermos up before setting in on the ground." - it on the ground

This is a story set in modern China and written by someone who has been there and seen what's going on. It paints a sad picture. The story is even more sad because it involves the untimely death of a family member. Na grew up as a sort of spare part in a family that was devoted to Bao-bao, the second born, but first valued. The very name, in Chinese, means treasure. That is, bao means treasure, and duplicating it means baby, so he gets to be the treasured baby boy. His parents spent their lives scrimping and saving, and borrowing to get the best education and the best preparation for the all-important entrance exam for college, but Bao-bao fell short and then he died.

Called back from her own modest college life, Na has to squeeze the details of what happened out in any way she can. All she knows to begin with is that her family is broken, especially her father, and at that point it seemed obvious to me what had happened, but I wasn't absolutely sure. I read on not because I needed to know about that, but because I found Na's life and her take on things engrossing. She is a strong female character who works hard to do what's right, but in the end, in discovering things about her resented brother, she discovers things about herself that make a huge difference to her life.

If I had a complaint it would be about the repetitive nature of the names in the story. They all seem babyish and sing-song, and while I know this is a thing in China, perhaps for western audiences it might have been toned down a little. If Na is just Na, then Bao-bao could have been just Bao, for example! But that for me was only a minor thing. I commend this as a worthy read and an interesting insight intro modern China that all of us could use right now.

I am reviewing this book as part of the Notable Books for a Global Society Committee. As we have not yet met as a committee on this title, it would not be appropriate for me to make personal comments at this time.

I have high expectation on thisbon because of the synopsis. I can tell the synopsis is hooking everyone but nah... I felt betrayed.

The plot is quite slow, even though the main problem is introduce in the first page. Bao Bao's death and her parents grief and stuff. But the thing is, the story didn't tell about Bao Bao ( which I expect so much ) but it is more focused on Na and her parents. How they are not doing so well after losing their beloved son and the father getting a bit insane. Well, that just showing too much. I want to know more about Bao Bao, how's he is like, what happened to him before, what had he been through. But I didn't get it.

The storyline is just too plain. It's all about Na helping her parents to live a better life. Which I see that not a big deal, and how Na wants to learn more about her brother and didn't make much effort on it, and that's that. Honestly, I don't see any clear conflict that excites me to turn the page. I just read through and hoping for anything unique to happen.

Well at least, I learned how Asian parents really want their children to succeed in the academic really really much. So much pressure and that can lead to serious mental illness. That's the reality.

Rating : 2/5 🌟

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a digital ARC of this novel.

Actual rate: 4.50 stars

This was a very meaningful read. It's the story about a girl and her dead brother living in rural China and dealing with the standards that society imposes on young people: study more than you can, even if it not what you want to study, because your career and future depends on it, marry young and well so you won't be a burden to your family, do as your family says because that's what everyone must do. It is clearly presented as an issue that involves most of the Chinese lower classes but, if you look hard enough, you can easily see how these issues are also present in other countries' societies. It truly makes you realize that if you have time to read, to draw to play videogames or just do something to please yourself freely then you may have some privilege without even noticing it.
The way this book was written (prose, characters etc...) may be not the shiniest I have ever read, but it makes you feel and understand what the main character is going through so it serves its purpose well and that's what really matters.
Overall, as I said at the start of the review, this is a very meaningful read and I definitely recommend it to people who wants to discover how much society can pressure young people even to these days.

Thank You to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for this ARC!!

Set in China, Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao. But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China's all-important college entrance exam? Na learns that Bao-bao had many secrets and that his death may not be what it seems.

This book was an interesting and simple read about the life in China, especially through the eyes of a young teenage girl. It deals with the topics such as one-child policy, the gaokao exams and the differences in lifestyle in urban and rural China.

The main character of the book, Na, was well written. It was enjoyable to read her journey discovering her desires and goals in life, while understanding the complexity of family relationships and expectations.

Overall I enjoyed this book since I could learn some new things about the Chinese culture and life.

Like Spilled Water by Jennie Liu, to be published on 1 September, 2020.

Split water is a reference in Chinese, just as other people’s gardens is in Indian, to daughters. Daughters are suffered rather than wanted as, when they marry, they cease to be part of their own family, and become part of the husband’s. Investment is only worthwhile in as much as bride price (dowry) warrants it.

Under China’s one-child policy, this has only become worse. Those whose first child is a daughter are permitted to try a second time for a son, but those who have a son first, do not get a second try for a daughter. And, to make up for China’s low birthrate, women are encouraged to marry and bear children early.

Na is one such young woman. After her brother, Baobao, was born, her parents concentrated all the family resources on him. They moved from the countryside to the city to earn more money to prepare Baobao for the gaokao exams that will earn him a place in college; they leave Na at home in the countryside, though she is bright enough to earn a scholarship at a third-tier college.

The book opens at the end of her first year, when she receives a call summoning her home: Baobao has died by his own hand. The pressure of the exams was too much and, like many other students, his shame was such that he was unable to face his own parents when he scraped through the exam with an indifferent result.

Because she was left in the countryside to be raised by her grandmother, Na scarcely knew her brother. His death is a source of sadness, not grief. But, as she goes to the city to support her parents, the effect on her own life becomes more and more pronounced: her parents borrowed heavily to support Baobao through his studies, and Na must now abandon her own studies and work, to help her parents pay back the debt.

It’s not only the money. She comes under pressure to marry, in part to remove the split water from her own family, and in part to gain the bride money to help with the debt. Yet, just as her options become more and more limited, help arrives in the form of her late brother’s friend Min, who opens Na’s eyes to Baobao’s own life – not the one that Na’s parents told Na about – and to her own potential as a person.

I live in Hong Kong and have been visiting China since the mid-1980s. The one-child policy, the gaokao exams, and the system by which those who live outside the main metropolises are second-rate citizens are factors I was aware of; just how toxic the combination is, was something that this book opened my eyes to. Throw in the sexism that is resurgent under the current leadership in China, and the plight of women is bad.

Yet the novel is more than a fictionalised commentary on contemporary Chinese society. The characters are clearly depicted; the sense of place is strong, with, for example, Na’s phlegmatic acceptance of the pollution in the big city contrasting with the clear air of her countryside home. The grinding monotony of scraping together a living from hard labour for minimal reward and little prospect of a better future is subtle, but all the more powerful for it.

The only reason I award it four stars instead of five is the writing itself, which at times lacks a certain zest; I’m not always quite in the moment with Na. But having said that, I finished the book in two sessions, and would read it again. A simple story, well-told, and set against a fascinating milieu. Well worth the read.

Like Spilled Water is an honest and unflinching story about the family, tradition and discovering who you are, rather than what your family thinks you are. An absorbing and thought provoking read.

3.5 "impactful, resonant, genuine" stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Lerner Publishing Group for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is due to be released in September 2020.

Na is a 19-year old girl studying coal technology at a second rate community college. She has been resentful of her younger brother and the attention and money spent on him and his education. In a matter of weeks she has to contend with dark family secrets, her brother's mysterious death and a marriage proposal from a lovely close male friend. Will she settle for factory work, become a rural wife with her own secrets or follow her own individual dreams ?

Through this prism, Ms. Liu, examines and explores life of both rural and urban China and the clash of family responsibilities and individual desires. This is a plot-driven book that teaches the younger reader much about Chinese culture and the stresses and hardships of many of the youth of both genders.

My minor qualms are too many issues for this length of novel as well as my personal preference would be to explore the inner lives of these very interesting characters.

Recommended for readers 14 plus. A very worthwhile read !

:

Honestly, I can't believe this book doesn't have more people reading it. This is seriously an outrage.

Set in China, <i>Like Spilled Water</i> is the story of Na, a college student whose younger brother abruptly dies. She returns home and begins to piece together what happened to him. Through her sleuthing, she ends up learning a lot about herself. 

From the blurb, it seems like this book will be a mystery style book, similar to [book:Verity|41957126]. This is false. <i>Like Spilled Water</i> is about grief, expectations and Chinese culture. It discusses marriage, education, LGBT+, and feminism through the lens of the death of Na's brother. It's about neighborhoods and art, community and arranged marriages.

And this book pretty much broke my heart.

I mean, our main character, Na is ambitious and smart and yet we see how again and again it blows up for her. This book was poignant, so full of missed attempts and failed expectations. You can feel this overwhelming sense of being trapped within your culture, of being unable to be anything but what you are.

Na is so well-developed. Her parents gave up everything for the success of her brother so she harbors a lot of bitterness towards him and yet, it's mingled with this strong sense of connection and empathy. She <i>cares</i> so much and it's just so sad, it's so sad. I found myself tearing up at some scenes here (god, the urn scene).

I don't know much about life in China. Obviously one ya book can't express wholly an entire country but I absolutely adored getting this peek into life in China. I've kind of accepted that ya is usually set in America or maybe the UK so it was so refreshing and special to see the same ya themes be dealt with in a country so different. Chinese people will have to speak up about the accuracy but as a reader, I definitely found myself reading up about children policies after this book.

So if you want a really solid character study, a ya that tackles Chinese culture and grief, this book is truly fantastic. I urge you to read it.

Huge thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my unbiased review!

Carolrhoda has bought Girls on the Line author Jennie Liu's untitled YA novel about 19-year-old Na, who has grown up in rural China while her parents lived and worked in the city. When her younger brother—the favored child, who moved to the city with her parents—dies unexpectedly, she sets out to learn what happened to him and uncovers more family secrets than she bargained for. Publication is planned for fall 2020.

I really liked this book, I think the subject is just so interesting, I couldn’t stop reading. The cover is okay.