What an inspiring, powerful memoir. Karin K. Jensen is a master and an inspiration. Stunningly beautiful.

I appreciated Karin K. Jensen sharing their coming-of-age story in this memoir, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed this as a memoir. I was invested in the stories and how we got to know Karin K. Jensen's mother in this memoir, it was a beautifully done tribute and glad I read this.

This memoir goes far beyond a typical coming-of-age story as it is an Asian American memoir of resilience and cultural differences. It offers a compelling glimpse into the Chinese American immigrant experience, told through a nuanced female perspective. The author skillfully explores:

Cultural contrasts between traditional Chinese village life and American society
Unwritten social expectations facing immigrant families
Remarkable family dedication to education and success
The story is not only about personal achievement but also shows the dedication to study and the motivation to ‘achieve something better.
What sets this memoir apart is its calm, matter-of-fact tone, which addresses experiences of prejudice and adaptation.
The book's strength lies in its ability to humanise the immigrant journey, while showing the family bond.

This was a really interesting memoir telling the tale of a Chinese family living in America in San Francisco’s Chinatown and the cultural differences between here and the Chinese village where the family originated from when they have to move back there.

Really informative and an incredible life story

THE STRENGTH OF WATER - A very inspiring, loving, and full memoir of a Chinese-American woman written by her daughter. I am always interested in the different cultures and how their members lived both in their own countries and adjusting to living in America. This is a well-written tribute to a woman born in America in 1923, who also had to live in China. The differences in the two cultures created havoc, but also defined this remarkable woman. In this book, she is remarkable but she is not unique. This wonderful woman is one of the many that made America great: the hard work; the perseverance; the sacrifices; the values; and the love. Source: Netgalley. 5*

Flowing Through Memory and Identity
Some books ripple quietly through you long after you’ve finished the last page, and Karin K. Jensen’s The Strength of Water is one of them. This memoir moves with the patience and persistence of its title, tracing Jensen’s journey from a young Asian American girl trying to make sense of her place in the world to a woman who learns to find power in vulnerability. Her writing feels at once gentle and unflinching, the way water smooths rock over time. She doesn’t rush to the revelations; instead, she lets them unfold naturally, allowing readers to sit with discomfort, joy, and the quiet ache of self-discovery. From the start, Jensen’s voice feels both intimate and universal, a reminder that coming-of-age stories don’t end when adolescence does—they evolve with us.

A Story Rooted in Culture and Change
At its core, The Strength of Water is about growing up between cultures and learning how to carry multiple truths at once. Jensen recounts her experiences navigating family expectations, racial identity, and belonging with clear-eyed honesty. Her memories flow between childhood moments marked by confusion or pride, and adult reflections filled with grace and understanding. She explores how the immigrant experience shapes not only her worldview but also her relationship with her parents, whose sacrifices echo quietly beneath every page. Each chapter feels like a step toward reconciliation—with her past, her family, and herself.

A Voice Both Tender and Strong
Jensen’s writing stands out for its emotional precision and poetic restraint. She doesn’t dramatize her story; she lets emotion build through the details—shared meals, small misunderstandings, moments of quiet defiance. Her prose is clean and evocative, often carrying the rhythm of someone deeply attuned to the power of silence as much as speech. The metaphor of water runs through the book not just as a motif but as a way of being: resilient, adaptable, and enduring. Through her storytelling, Jensen shows that strength isn’t about resistance—it’s about the ability to keep flowing, even when life feels heavy.

Why This Memoir Matters
What makes The Strength of Water so compelling is its balance of personal and cultural resonance. Jensen doesn’t just tell her own story; she gives voice to the experience of so many Asian Americans who grew up feeling invisible, torn between expectation and authenticity. Her reflections on identity feel especially relevant in today’s conversations about race, belonging, and heritage. Yet, beyond its social importance, the book is simply a beautiful piece of writing—clear, heartfelt, and deeply human. It invites readers to look inward and consider how we each navigate the tides of who we are and who we wish to become.

Final Thoughts
The Strength of Water is more than a memoir—it’s a meditation on identity, forgiveness, and the quiet strength that comes from embracing one’s whole self. Karin K. Jensen writes with both sensitivity and power, crafting a story that lingers like the calm after a storm. Her voice is one readers will want to return to, not just for what she reveals about her own life, but for what she helps us understand about our own. This is a book to read slowly, to savor, and to carry with you long after you close the cover. Like water, it finds its way into every crevice of the heart and stays there.

While my parents are younger than Helen/King Ying and they grew up in a major city, this book felt like listening to my parents talk about their childhoods.

After reading books like "The Making of Asian America," it's beautiful but also heartbreaking to read a first hand account like this. From the Sino-Japanese War to the Chinese Exclusion Act to interracial marriage, Helen's life was the embodiment of Chinese American history.

It was an honor to read these stories and acknowledge her legacy.