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The House of Little Sisters
A supernatural exposé of a past system that still has a tight grip on contemporary Singapore and Malaysia.
It's August of 1931 in Singapore, sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei (Ah Mei) arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month. She has been sold to the family as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. At the Lee household, Lim Mei Mei's life education begins. There she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, who are both helpless and powerful, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. She becomes Hassan's Polar Star, and the young lovers must find a way to stay together. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
It's August of 1931 in Singapore, sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei (Ah Mei) arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month. She has been sold to the family as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. At the Lee household, Lim Mei Mei's life education begins. There she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, who are both helpless and powerful, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. She becomes Hassan's Polar Star, and the young lovers must find a way to stay together. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2020
About the author
Eva Wong Nava
28 books36 followersEva Wong Nava lives between two worlds. She reads copiously and writes voraciously. She believes in connecting Asia to Europe and America, and finds immense pleasure in telling her English daughters stories of Singapore where she spent a big part of her childhood. She regales them with tales from Chinese myths and literature, imbuing her stories with personal experiences of watching the Chinese opera with her mother. Her favourite Chinese opera is The Monkey King’s Journey to the West.
Eva holds a degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Hull where Philip Larkin was once the University Librarian (and the reason why she chose to go there!); a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from University College London where the Institute of Education resides, and a certificate in Art Writing from Sotheby’s Institute of Art which she undertook to better understand what the craft entails. She holds a M.A. in Art History and has taught children and adults how they can use writing for communication and play. She is the founder of CarpeArte Journal, an online space, which publishes works of flash fiction. Eva’s flash fiction have appeared in various places and her writing on art have been published in international art journals.
Eva holds a degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Hull where Philip Larkin was once the University Librarian (and the reason why she chose to go there!); a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from University College London where the Institute of Education resides, and a certificate in Art Writing from Sotheby’s Institute of Art which she undertook to better understand what the craft entails. She holds a M.A. in Art History and has taught children and adults how they can use writing for communication and play. She is the founder of CarpeArte Journal, an online space, which publishes works of flash fiction. Eva’s flash fiction have appeared in various places and her writing on art have been published in international art journals.
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April 8, 2022
"A woman's freedom lies not in the man she marries, but in the purse strings that she holds. Her own.
Insightful and resourceful, this is one of the reads that I was not expecting to like. It was one of the reads that caught me by surprise and I liked how true it stayed to the historical events and how it was also based loosely on real stories. A story on slavery, love and most of all, a story of standing up for the injustice of women, especially young girls at the time.
Personal Ratings : 3.85🌟
Short Summary
The House of Little Sisters is a story filled with the history of culture and lives in Singapore. Set in the 1930's during the Malaya era, it tells the story of 16 year old Lim Mei, who is also known as Ah Mei, who was sold to the Lee family as a mui-tsai. Mui-Tsai, or known as Charborkan are Chinese women entering the system from a young age and working as domestic slaves. They were offered nothing, none salary and no rights except years of service. When Ah Mei started working in the Lee household, there she discovered a secret so heinous about the Lee family which was considered something normal for the mui-tsais at the time. Ah Mei is a retelling of an era in Singapore before the anti-slavery law was enacted and a raw scenario on how it had affected the young girls at the time.
Personal Thoughts
Going into the book, I never thought that the book would be one that I enjoyed at first, but as I get the gist and grip of the author's intentions for the book, it became a very enjoyable read towards the end. The story is set in a place that is so very close to home, in which some cultures were shared in Malaysia, in which it makes this book so very fun to read! I honestly love representation in books, and how I loved the exploration of culture in introducing the food in this book! I was LITERALLY HUNGRY as the author mentions various cuisines that are a favourite among both Malaysians and Singaporeans like rendang, laksa, kueh lapes and some Singapore classic cuisines as well. The representation of the different ethnics co-existing together is such a joy to read and I loved how the author also showed the relationship between the communities in the book.
The book is intended and written for a YA audience, but mostly for me, its more of a New Adult read, with the topics and issues that were brought out in the book. I liked that the Writing was not hard to digest and easy to read, with short chapters that makes it a book that is good to be introduced especially in exploring the culture and history of Malaya. Its written in such a way that we get a glimpse of the lives at the time and how young girls were treated at the households that they were sold too. In some household cases, there are few masters that treated their mui-tsai's nicely, but , like in the Lee Household, some of the mui-tsais are treated as such that made them incapable to do anything except to serve the family that they were sold too. Its both inhumane and therefore I loved how the author showed the gruesome aspect of the book as well.
I would say the author had done her research well. The story was one that made me looked up on the history of the mui-tsai before the slavery law was enforced in Malaya. It was done in such a way that, even though the blurb had shown a love story between two people, its more on a story of a young girl fighting for her own fate. I liked how the author had expressed her characters, in which we have a perspective of Ah Mei and another perspective from Ah Wan Jie who is considered a senior helper in the Lee Household. Its interesting to read two perspectives of women at the time, where one had been used to be thought to think in such a way, and one in which feels that she can fight the system. I liked one of the lines in the author's note where she wrote:
"I discovered that women can be both the instigator of their own oppression as well as the activist of their own freedom. Likewise, they can also be responsible for imprisoning or liberating other women."
I liked that she portrayed various women characters, in which they have different mindsets in life. I understood the actions of some women who had been thought that women should act in a certain way, especially during the 1930s era where Patriarchy is at its finest. The prose of the book was empowering and I loved that it did not highlighted ONLY the relationship part!
Overall, this is a book that took me by surprise in a good way! A read that is intended for a YA audience which honestly, for me, is good for anyone to read as well. The representation of the culture especially of the Chinese Peranakan is something very educational and eye opening! Recommended if you'd like a quick read!
Thank you to Time Reads for generously providing me this gorgeous copy of the book.
Disclaimers: All my reviews are my thoughts of the book and according to my personal preferences. Even though I had received a review copy, it does not affect my review and honest thoughts for the book.
February 23, 2022
Alright how do I start talking about this book without being so emotional??? Actually I can't. Even though it took me 4 to 5 business days to get my act together after reading THOLS.
Everything about this book is unique and beautiful, I can't begin to describe it. The best part? - an all Asian cast because representation matters. (Except that one British guy obviously]
You'd expect me to be sour after weeping my heart out at a particular scene in the book but no. I am not. I'd give anything to do it again.
Firstly, the author could have gotten along with the trend of belittling Asian culture like how most modern media likes it but she said, 'No. We're doing it the right way' and I am glad! The historical accuracy and detail had me on chokehold. It was like wearing a lens to 1930 British Malay and the life of Mui Tsais. The experience was absolutely thrilling and the words are easy to understand, even though I had to look some up.
Ah Mei is a wonderful character, a fierce one at that. I loved her fire (technically I love everything about her!). Don't even get me started on Hassan. He was such a sweetheart! Although I shouldn't hold it against Ah Wan Jie who, unbeknownst to her is upholding the patriarchy. She was still an interesting character and had a heart as big as mainland China!
I took note of every Malay-Chinese and Fukien recipe mentioned in the book, even Ah Wan Jie's curries because it was so detailed. I might share the list if you ask nicely, that is *smirk*.
The finest thing about the book is how the moral or the finality isn't about Hassan and Mei getting together but Mei building a dream for herself. Now some of the scenes from the book actually hurt and I HATE Mister Lee and his wife so much. But I still wouldn't trade the feeling I had when I read this book with anything! I love it. The question it made me ask was, what makes other people think they have the right to belittle you? The needless discrimination based on gender was discussed in this book. I liked how Ah Mei was sure that she deserved to be treated right as most other Mui Tsais were brainwashed into believing they don't have basic human rights. (I would recommend looking up for trigger warning regardless)
An instant classic. You'd be missing a lot in life if you're not reading this!!
[Ps the author is the sweetest!!!! ]
Everything about this book is unique and beautiful, I can't begin to describe it. The best part? - an all Asian cast because representation matters. (Except that one British guy obviously]
You'd expect me to be sour after weeping my heart out at a particular scene in the book but no. I am not. I'd give anything to do it again.
Firstly, the author could have gotten along with the trend of belittling Asian culture like how most modern media likes it but she said, 'No. We're doing it the right way' and I am glad! The historical accuracy and detail had me on chokehold. It was like wearing a lens to 1930 British Malay and the life of Mui Tsais. The experience was absolutely thrilling and the words are easy to understand, even though I had to look some up.
Ah Mei is a wonderful character, a fierce one at that. I loved her fire (technically I love everything about her!). Don't even get me started on Hassan. He was such a sweetheart! Although I shouldn't hold it against Ah Wan Jie who, unbeknownst to her is upholding the patriarchy. She was still an interesting character and had a heart as big as mainland China!
I took note of every Malay-Chinese and Fukien recipe mentioned in the book, even Ah Wan Jie's curries because it was so detailed. I might share the list if you ask nicely, that is *smirk*.
The finest thing about the book is how the moral or the finality isn't about Hassan and Mei getting together but Mei building a dream for herself. Now some of the scenes from the book actually hurt and I HATE Mister Lee and his wife so much. But I still wouldn't trade the feeling I had when I read this book with anything! I love it. The question it made me ask was, what makes other people think they have the right to belittle you? The needless discrimination based on gender was discussed in this book. I liked how Ah Mei was sure that she deserved to be treated right as most other Mui Tsais were brainwashed into believing they don't have basic human rights. (I would recommend looking up for trigger warning regardless)
An instant classic. You'd be missing a lot in life if you're not reading this!!
[Ps the author is the sweetest!!!! ]
March 9, 2022
Thanks to Love Books Tour for making this book available to me as part of the blog tour!
I personally think that the synopsis of this book captures succinctly the story without giving too much away. That is honestly how I think you should go into this story. Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved this book, the culture, the historical contexts, the characters, the descriptions of food and most importantly the author's ability to bring a soul into every page. A soul that links to yours and pulls you into the story.
A brief summary - We follow Ah Mei who arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. She was sold to the family and has to continue to work for them as long as they want. Through her eyes and the overarching eyes of Wong Nava, we see the mui tsai problems while at the same time learn a bit more about the dark secrets of the Lee household. She meets Hassan and falls in love with him, which is an absolute no no. He is an outsider and that only means that their love will never work out. The cultural difference between Hassan and Ah Mei, in my opinion made their relationship more than just romance, it was them continually learning about each other. I love the way Wong Nava weaved in Asian mythology into every aspect of this book. There are a number of characters that I loved and intrigued by, from the mysteries of Ah Lian to Percy Lee.
I loved Wong Nava's take on culture and wealth and how if it was left to the rich, culture will cease to exist. The rich are quick to abandon ship and join any new 'superior/overbearing' culture that comes along as long as they can save their own necks. ...the wealthy ones stick to one another like flies to rotten meat in this case the rotten meat at the colonists.
Trigger warnings
-Rape
-Sexual Assault
-Islamophobia
-Colonialism
-Slavery
As a Nigerian, I can in some way highlight that we also have (or at least had) people who were in no better word for it, indentured servants. They were called (and I believe still called) House girls or House boys. They tend to be younger adults sometimes between the ages of 13-17 who serve in the home of the 'wealthy' while the payment for their services is sent to their family. Now, I know that over the years, this act have lead to a lot of brutality both to the 'indentured servants' and their families but I have seen a lot of 'indentured servants' treated just like any other member of the family, some were even sent to schools with the children of the family (which is what happened in my household. I did not even know that Chid*** (Protecting the name) was an indentured servant, she went to school with me, last year she graduated from University and is now working at a Bank). So I do have evidence that it can work out well for a number of people but I will not deny that I have heard horror stories.
Similar to this book, most of the horror faced by these people would have not occurred if they are just been treated as employees that are protected under the law. This book did help me think a lot more about this issue and the current movements helping to stop them.
I personally think that the synopsis of this book captures succinctly the story without giving too much away. That is honestly how I think you should go into this story. Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved this book, the culture, the historical contexts, the characters, the descriptions of food and most importantly the author's ability to bring a soul into every page. A soul that links to yours and pulls you into the story.
A brief summary - We follow Ah Mei who arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. She was sold to the family and has to continue to work for them as long as they want. Through her eyes and the overarching eyes of Wong Nava, we see the mui tsai problems while at the same time learn a bit more about the dark secrets of the Lee household. She meets Hassan and falls in love with him, which is an absolute no no. He is an outsider and that only means that their love will never work out. The cultural difference between Hassan and Ah Mei, in my opinion made their relationship more than just romance, it was them continually learning about each other. I love the way Wong Nava weaved in Asian mythology into every aspect of this book. There are a number of characters that I loved and intrigued by, from the mysteries of Ah Lian to Percy Lee.
I loved Wong Nava's take on culture and wealth and how if it was left to the rich, culture will cease to exist. The rich are quick to abandon ship and join any new 'superior/overbearing' culture that comes along as long as they can save their own necks. ...the wealthy ones stick to one another like flies to rotten meat in this case the rotten meat at the colonists.
Trigger warnings
-Rape
-Sexual Assault
-Islamophobia
-Colonialism
-Slavery
As a Nigerian, I can in some way highlight that we also have (or at least had) people who were in no better word for it, indentured servants. They were called (and I believe still called) House girls or House boys. They tend to be younger adults sometimes between the ages of 13-17 who serve in the home of the 'wealthy' while the payment for their services is sent to their family. Now, I know that over the years, this act have lead to a lot of brutality both to the 'indentured servants' and their families but I have seen a lot of 'indentured servants' treated just like any other member of the family, some were even sent to schools with the children of the family (which is what happened in my household. I did not even know that Chid*** (Protecting the name) was an indentured servant, she went to school with me, last year she graduated from University and is now working at a Bank). So I do have evidence that it can work out well for a number of people but I will not deny that I have heard horror stories.
Similar to this book, most of the horror faced by these people would have not occurred if they are just been treated as employees that are protected under the law. This book did help me think a lot more about this issue and the current movements helping to stop them.
April 29, 2022
Epic and evocative, The House of Little Sisters carries the theme of forbidden love, and the fights for basic human rights especially women’s.
💭 Sets in Singapore, August 1931, a sixteen year old teenager named Ah Mei has been summoned and sold unwillingly to the Lee’s mansion to become a Mui Tsai (servant girl) by her bastard uncle to pay his debt. It was on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month that was believed a non-appropriate time to travel. At Eminent Mister Lee’s mansion, she encounters the furious spirit of Ah Lian, the late mui tsai who wanted her death to be avenged. Despite of the spooky experiences, Ah Mei then fell in love with Hassan, a muslim guy. Their forbidden love somehow has given her the strength to confront the danger and threat within the mansion.
💭 4.5⭐️ to this amazing empowering read. How I wished Master Lee is a Miss Lee. It would be great to be able to read about a woman fighting for women’s rights.
⚠️ Sexual abuse, rape, enslavement
💭 Sets in Singapore, August 1931, a sixteen year old teenager named Ah Mei has been summoned and sold unwillingly to the Lee’s mansion to become a Mui Tsai (servant girl) by her bastard uncle to pay his debt. It was on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month that was believed a non-appropriate time to travel. At Eminent Mister Lee’s mansion, she encounters the furious spirit of Ah Lian, the late mui tsai who wanted her death to be avenged. Despite of the spooky experiences, Ah Mei then fell in love with Hassan, a muslim guy. Their forbidden love somehow has given her the strength to confront the danger and threat within the mansion.
💭 4.5⭐️ to this amazing empowering read. How I wished Master Lee is a Miss Lee. It would be great to be able to read about a woman fighting for women’s rights.
⚠️ Sexual abuse, rape, enslavement
March 28, 2022
it's ok. i liked the atmosphere and the description of food. it's rare for me to see Hokkien and Cantonese mentioned in a book together, so i felt instantly connected to the characters, even though there rlly isn't much going on for them.
anyway i rlly appreciate how this book gave me some insight on the mui tsai in British Malaya. i only wish we went deeper into the exploration, because it felt like we only scratched the surface. it made me look up a lot of things and do my own research though.
anyway i rlly appreciate how this book gave me some insight on the mui tsai in British Malaya. i only wish we went deeper into the exploration, because it felt like we only scratched the surface. it made me look up a lot of things and do my own research though.
November 12, 2022
[I won this book as a prize for a giveaway from Penguin Random House SEA]
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
A book that takes a look at INDENTURED SERVITUDE within the Singaporean Chinese community (famously known as 'mui tsai') set in the 1930s during the British-Malaya rule. It's somewhat like modern slavery but exists behind the facade of domestic servants/helpers that still exists today. We also get to read the main MC's story of forbidden love with an Indian-Malay Muslim.
A super underrated book. This is evocative and to a certain extent, eye-opening. The writing is also very rich with the Peranakan-chinese cultural influence, and her writing captures the cultural diversity of Singapore with the people of different races being able to co-exist in fighting for justice.
The title doesn't do the book justice imo. This is just so good and I wish it didn't have to end so soon.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Just remember to read the author's note/acknowledgement when you're done.
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
A book that takes a look at INDENTURED SERVITUDE within the Singaporean Chinese community (famously known as 'mui tsai') set in the 1930s during the British-Malaya rule. It's somewhat like modern slavery but exists behind the facade of domestic servants/helpers that still exists today. We also get to read the main MC's story of forbidden love with an Indian-Malay Muslim.
A super underrated book. This is evocative and to a certain extent, eye-opening. The writing is also very rich with the Peranakan-chinese cultural influence, and her writing captures the cultural diversity of Singapore with the people of different races being able to co-exist in fighting for justice.
The title doesn't do the book justice imo. This is just so good and I wish it didn't have to end so soon.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Just remember to read the author's note/acknowledgement when you're done.
February 28, 2022
First of all thanks to the author for writing this book. It’s wonderful to see this part of the world where I come from, to be represented in a novel. (Though I am a Malaysian, Singapore was once under Malaya too)😌
Now starting from the book cover, loving the blue and pink combo. And according to the author, this novel was supposedly named something else. However, I think, the current title is just apt.😊
There are several trigger warnings to be aware about; mainly sexual assault, slavery and domestic abuse. Hence, if you find this triggering for you, please take your time to read this book. Besides, the plot and characters of the novel is worth splurging. It revolves around domestic slavery back in the 1900s in British Malaya, which isn’t long ago.
I was not aware of the Mui Tsai Ordinance 1932 until I picked up this book. Once I was done, I did read about on it. I was flabbergasted when I read more into it. Thank goodness for the ordinance. I can’t imagine the lives of those girls, if it weren’t for the ordinance.
It’s wonderful to see how the author weaved the interracial relationship between the main characters. Even till this day, I guess interracial relationships has its own challenges. The author also had included several poems of Rabindranath Tagore, which I loved it. So if you are a Tagore fan, you are in for a delight. 😉
And how can I leave out the wonderful descriptions of the local dishes. It was mouth watering moments for me while reading. Those yet to try Peranakan dishes; please come over and have a feast. 😃
Overall, I enjoyed this book although, at some parts I had to take my time to compose myself. I only had one concern about this book. This is about how the author had included racial slur (though spelt differently) in the book without an asterisk which I felt should have been there. As a Malaysian Indian, that word is still being used as a demeaning remark on us. Therefore, I would appreciate if that could be addressed.😊
One of my favourite line: ‘Fate can be both benevolent and cruel.’
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
Now starting from the book cover, loving the blue and pink combo. And according to the author, this novel was supposedly named something else. However, I think, the current title is just apt.😊
There are several trigger warnings to be aware about; mainly sexual assault, slavery and domestic abuse. Hence, if you find this triggering for you, please take your time to read this book. Besides, the plot and characters of the novel is worth splurging. It revolves around domestic slavery back in the 1900s in British Malaya, which isn’t long ago.
I was not aware of the Mui Tsai Ordinance 1932 until I picked up this book. Once I was done, I did read about on it. I was flabbergasted when I read more into it. Thank goodness for the ordinance. I can’t imagine the lives of those girls, if it weren’t for the ordinance.
It’s wonderful to see how the author weaved the interracial relationship between the main characters. Even till this day, I guess interracial relationships has its own challenges. The author also had included several poems of Rabindranath Tagore, which I loved it. So if you are a Tagore fan, you are in for a delight. 😉
And how can I leave out the wonderful descriptions of the local dishes. It was mouth watering moments for me while reading. Those yet to try Peranakan dishes; please come over and have a feast. 😃
Overall, I enjoyed this book although, at some parts I had to take my time to compose myself. I only had one concern about this book. This is about how the author had included racial slur (though spelt differently) in the book without an asterisk which I felt should have been there. As a Malaysian Indian, that word is still being used as a demeaning remark on us. Therefore, I would appreciate if that could be addressed.😊
One of my favourite line: ‘Fate can be both benevolent and cruel.’
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2022
"A woman's freedom lies not in the man she marries, but in the purse strings that she holds. Her own"
✨ Personal Thoughts✨:
The House of Little Sisters is a story set in 1930s Singapore, revolving around Ah Mei, a sixteen year old girl who was sold as a Mui Tsai (literally, Little Sister) to a wealthy Peranakan family, and becomes their servant, without any rights or income to her name. She arrives at the Lee household just as the Hungry Ghost month is about to begin. Eventually, she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
More than this just being a love story, I believe this was really about how this young girl was fighting for her own fate, and thwarting the systemic injustices that exist. I liked how the author had multiple POVs in the story - namely Ah Mei and Ah Wan Jie, a senior helper in the Lee Household. Loved the multicultural representation in Singapore and how they were able to co-exist harmoniously (as a SEAsian, i feel seen !). Although I found the pacing to be slightly irregular/slow at times, I loved the characters portrayed in this story. We have Ah Mei who appears soft at first but is fierce, headstrong and fights for what she believes in. We have Ah Wan Jie who appears tough but actually has a soft heart and tries to do what’s best for everyone. We have Percy Lee and Po Gek, who treats mui tsais with more kindness and respect than others. We also have Hassan who dreams to have a better life and believes in love no matter the circumstance. Also, gotta love all the Peranakan food being meticulously detailed! I could almost smell the food from the pages :p what would our culture be without its food after all?
Overall, I appreciate how this book highlights some pretty heavy themes (slavery, racism, rape, drug abuse, patriarchy) through good writing that captivated me from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Personal rating: 4/5 🌟
✨ Personal Thoughts✨:
The House of Little Sisters is a story set in 1930s Singapore, revolving around Ah Mei, a sixteen year old girl who was sold as a Mui Tsai (literally, Little Sister) to a wealthy Peranakan family, and becomes their servant, without any rights or income to her name. She arrives at the Lee household just as the Hungry Ghost month is about to begin. Eventually, she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
More than this just being a love story, I believe this was really about how this young girl was fighting for her own fate, and thwarting the systemic injustices that exist. I liked how the author had multiple POVs in the story - namely Ah Mei and Ah Wan Jie, a senior helper in the Lee Household. Loved the multicultural representation in Singapore and how they were able to co-exist harmoniously (as a SEAsian, i feel seen !). Although I found the pacing to be slightly irregular/slow at times, I loved the characters portrayed in this story. We have Ah Mei who appears soft at first but is fierce, headstrong and fights for what she believes in. We have Ah Wan Jie who appears tough but actually has a soft heart and tries to do what’s best for everyone. We have Percy Lee and Po Gek, who treats mui tsais with more kindness and respect than others. We also have Hassan who dreams to have a better life and believes in love no matter the circumstance. Also, gotta love all the Peranakan food being meticulously detailed! I could almost smell the food from the pages :p what would our culture be without its food after all?
Overall, I appreciate how this book highlights some pretty heavy themes (slavery, racism, rape, drug abuse, patriarchy) through good writing that captivated me from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Personal rating: 4/5 🌟
July 16, 2022
“This is a sad tale of the fate of little girls, mui tsai, who are both powerful and helpless. Their stories need to be heard and shared”
We follow a 16 years old Ah Mei whom had been sold to a house to serve as a mui tsai (indentured servant girl). There, Ah Mei learnt the value of freedom, experienced love, and also discovered the hideous crime within the house..
Written in a simple style yet engrossing, the story takes turn between Ah Mei and Ah Wan Jie’s POV. I initially thought little sisters meant the two of them but as I finished it, I think it meant more
This book is rich in history and Peranakan culture. During the British occupancy, mui tsai are little girls around the age of 8+ were taken into the house, unpaid and treated badly by their employees. Thankfully there’s Percy Lee, although a fictional character but he represents the youths who wished for human rights, hence came the Mui Tsai Ordinance of 1932
I wasn’t really fond of the storyline as it is rather straightforward but the characters grew on me. Each one has their own representations, like Percy Lee advocating equality; Hassan as an Indian-Muslim proving mixed-race population during British Malaya era; Ah Wan Jie as a symbol of matriarchy
With such loosely connections to history, touching the issues of social patriarchy, slavery, poverty, inter-racial marriage, I came to like this book hence 4🌟
Wished Ah Lian’s story could be more gruesome hehe
P/s: when Peranakan culture being the centre of the book, of course we can’t get away with foods 😋
Thank you Ms Putri Fariza & Times Reads for the review copy!!
We follow a 16 years old Ah Mei whom had been sold to a house to serve as a mui tsai (indentured servant girl). There, Ah Mei learnt the value of freedom, experienced love, and also discovered the hideous crime within the house..
Written in a simple style yet engrossing, the story takes turn between Ah Mei and Ah Wan Jie’s POV. I initially thought little sisters meant the two of them but as I finished it, I think it meant more
This book is rich in history and Peranakan culture. During the British occupancy, mui tsai are little girls around the age of 8+ were taken into the house, unpaid and treated badly by their employees. Thankfully there’s Percy Lee, although a fictional character but he represents the youths who wished for human rights, hence came the Mui Tsai Ordinance of 1932
I wasn’t really fond of the storyline as it is rather straightforward but the characters grew on me. Each one has their own representations, like Percy Lee advocating equality; Hassan as an Indian-Muslim proving mixed-race population during British Malaya era; Ah Wan Jie as a symbol of matriarchy
With such loosely connections to history, touching the issues of social patriarchy, slavery, poverty, inter-racial marriage, I came to like this book hence 4🌟
Wished Ah Lian’s story could be more gruesome hehe
P/s: when Peranakan culture being the centre of the book, of course we can’t get away with foods 😋
Thank you Ms Putri Fariza & Times Reads for the review copy!!
July 12, 2022
The House of Little Sisters hooks you in from the very beginning with the way Eva Wong Nava crafts a specific time in history and adds her own twist to it. Ah Mei's gripping tale touches upon issues that will definitely tug at the heartstrings, whether it's about the giddiness of young love or the horrific realities of a mui tsai during that period in time.
What makes the book even more compelling is how masterfully Nava offers readers such vivid imagery from different cultures. Reading through her work is almost like taking a guided trip through echoes of the past.
I'm not big into historical fiction, but reading Nava's work has made me realise what I've been missing. I'm definitely looking forward to more of her works in the future!
What makes the book even more compelling is how masterfully Nava offers readers such vivid imagery from different cultures. Reading through her work is almost like taking a guided trip through echoes of the past.
I'm not big into historical fiction, but reading Nava's work has made me realise what I've been missing. I'm definitely looking forward to more of her works in the future!
May 26, 2024
This book feels like it was written to be read in school 🤓 but I learned about the mui tsai system in Singapore and that was interesting. The story and characters are a little shallow and the ending didn’t feel earned for me, everything just worked out.
May 31, 2022
Although some parts are quite confusing but what an insightful read this book is?!
March 7, 2022
I enjoyed reading this so much that I was shocked when I reached the last page of the book cause I thought there was more. It finished way too soon 😭
This story follows sixteen year old Ah Mei who is the new mui tsai to the Lee household. She arrived in August 1931 which coincides with the eve of the Hungry Ghost month. Ah Mei goes into the care of Ah Wan jie, the main chef. From there, Ah Mei learnt the ropes of being a good mui tsai, running errands for Ah Wan jie and also caring for Lee’s eldest daughter, Po Gek. Life in the Lee household seemed good until she encountered Ah Lian, a vengeful spirit who used to be a mui tsai for the Lee’s. Ah Mei soon discovered a dark secret that changed her thoughts about her life and the plight of mui tsais. In the midst of it all, she met Hassan. Can two people from different background be together? How will Ah Mei regain her freedom from the Lees?
I love how Eva showcased multicultural representation in Singapore and how they were able to co-exist harmoniously. I also love how dynamic each of Eva characters are. We have Ah Mei who is fierce, headstrong and fights for what she believes in. We have Ah Wan jie who seems like a tough character but actually has a soft heart and tries her best to do what’s best for everyone. We have Percy Lee and Po Gek, who treats mui tsais with more kindness and respect than others. We also have Hassan who dreams to have a better life and believes in love no matter the circumstance.
I absolutely love all the food mentioned here especially how some Nyonya dishes are made! I feel hungry just reading about it and I can smell the aroma of Ah Wan jie’s kitchen with all the different blends of spices. I love Roti John and had no idea it was invented in 1970s. It was so interesting to read up on its history!
I am happy that the ending didn’t revolve around love but instead focuses on Ah Mei breaking out of the norm and make a life for herself doing what she loves. She gave hope that other mui tsais can fight for their rights. Eva didn’t shy away from slavery, domestic abuse and sexual assaults that mui tsais face from their owners which was hard to read because some of these girls were still so young! It’s sad to know that that their fates lie in their masters’ hands. All they wanted was a roof over their heads, be treated with a little kindness and respect and hope to see their family again some day. I was also very intrigued with the Mui Tsai Ordinance 1932 which I knew nothing about. I’m definitely going to read up more on this but I am comforted to know that there are people who would fight for mui tsais’ human rights!
Thank you @evawongnava and Garima from @penguinssea for the arc.
This story follows sixteen year old Ah Mei who is the new mui tsai to the Lee household. She arrived in August 1931 which coincides with the eve of the Hungry Ghost month. Ah Mei goes into the care of Ah Wan jie, the main chef. From there, Ah Mei learnt the ropes of being a good mui tsai, running errands for Ah Wan jie and also caring for Lee’s eldest daughter, Po Gek. Life in the Lee household seemed good until she encountered Ah Lian, a vengeful spirit who used to be a mui tsai for the Lee’s. Ah Mei soon discovered a dark secret that changed her thoughts about her life and the plight of mui tsais. In the midst of it all, she met Hassan. Can two people from different background be together? How will Ah Mei regain her freedom from the Lees?
I love how Eva showcased multicultural representation in Singapore and how they were able to co-exist harmoniously. I also love how dynamic each of Eva characters are. We have Ah Mei who is fierce, headstrong and fights for what she believes in. We have Ah Wan jie who seems like a tough character but actually has a soft heart and tries her best to do what’s best for everyone. We have Percy Lee and Po Gek, who treats mui tsais with more kindness and respect than others. We also have Hassan who dreams to have a better life and believes in love no matter the circumstance.
I absolutely love all the food mentioned here especially how some Nyonya dishes are made! I feel hungry just reading about it and I can smell the aroma of Ah Wan jie’s kitchen with all the different blends of spices. I love Roti John and had no idea it was invented in 1970s. It was so interesting to read up on its history!
I am happy that the ending didn’t revolve around love but instead focuses on Ah Mei breaking out of the norm and make a life for herself doing what she loves. She gave hope that other mui tsais can fight for their rights. Eva didn’t shy away from slavery, domestic abuse and sexual assaults that mui tsais face from their owners which was hard to read because some of these girls were still so young! It’s sad to know that that their fates lie in their masters’ hands. All they wanted was a roof over their heads, be treated with a little kindness and respect and hope to see their family again some day. I was also very intrigued with the Mui Tsai Ordinance 1932 which I knew nothing about. I’m definitely going to read up more on this but I am comforted to know that there are people who would fight for mui tsais’ human rights!
Thank you @evawongnava and Garima from @penguinssea for the arc.
April 1, 2024
Let me start off with this: This book was really very unique and different from other Historical Fiction books I've read previously, and I really really enjoyed The House of Little Sisters! The story follows a girl, Lim Mei Mei, as she arrives as a servant at a home in British Malaya. It's a story that includes a love story, and especially about standing up against the injustices women had to face, especially young girls working as servants in rich households at the time. If one reads a book like this, one will find themselves engrossed in the lingering question of what happened to Ah Ling, be confused(in a mysterious way) by Hassan and Lim Mei Mei's love story, and be captivated by the many secrets that Eminent Mr Lee's household has. This book has bold characters, and one will always find oneself surprised by how well these strong characters' personalities gel in a unique different way. The House of Little Sisters is for those who want to know, who want answers to how women, time and time again stood up for their rights. This book has a strong sense of justice, and a constant search for answers, so for all readers who wish to read this, come prepared to find out the harsh reality for these young servant girls in British Malaya.
February 27, 2024
2.5 stars. man i am so disappointed.
starting out, i was extremely excited to read a book about peranakan chinese. the first quarter of the book was intriguing and captivating; i was sure it would be a strong 4, if not 5 stars.
then it all went downhill.
before i go into the bad, let me just preface this with the good: i am so glad that there is a book about nyonya culture and heritage (however fleetingly this book touches on it). descriptions about the food and the atmosphere in the lee house were fascinating and it was so easy to picture it all in my head.
now for the rant:
i feel like the author was trying to introduce too many plot points at the same time and unfortunately, they did not have the skill to make it work. between the romance, the mui tsai regulations, the supernatural aspect and the development of mei and ah wan jie as characters, none of it moved me be cause the author did not make me want to care. the love story between hassan and mei was painful and downright cringey to read. their dialogue felt stilted and cheesy. honestly, i’ve read better fanfiction than this.
the mui tsai regulations act could have been handled so much better because, here is a slice of history that deserves to be told and shared to future generations. instead, we get some half-baked story with ghosts, underdeveloped characters (i’m looking at you, percy lee) and a weird church scene that felt vaguely preachy and ridiculous.
the editing was also terrible - chapters ended on the weirdest notes and there was no depth to any of these characters. there was plenty of telling instead of showing and the way the villain gets his comeuppance is laughably anticlimactic. the ending is also disjointed and it honestly feels like the author expended a lot of effort on the first 30% before deciding fuck it and half-assing the rest.
minor notes:
- the author claims to set this story in 1930s singapore but then goes on to say the word Malaysia TWICE. is this not historical fiction? simple research could have shown malaysia was only named so after 1963. source: am malaysian
- the grammar and sentence structure. good lord, i expected better. at one point, the author describes the new number two madam but uses number three madam to refer to her and it became so convoluted and confusing.
- the instalove. why.
- the constant need to remind us that mei speaks fukien and ah wan jie is cantonese. WE GET IT.
- some things were just not well described and honestly i only understood them because i had exposure to these things. case in point, shanghai jar.
i’d hate for this to be someone’s introduction to peranakan chinese culture or even singapore/malaysia literature. for the latter, i would recommend yangsze choo’s works instead.
starting out, i was extremely excited to read a book about peranakan chinese. the first quarter of the book was intriguing and captivating; i was sure it would be a strong 4, if not 5 stars.
then it all went downhill.
before i go into the bad, let me just preface this with the good: i am so glad that there is a book about nyonya culture and heritage (however fleetingly this book touches on it). descriptions about the food and the atmosphere in the lee house were fascinating and it was so easy to picture it all in my head.
now for the rant:
i feel like the author was trying to introduce too many plot points at the same time and unfortunately, they did not have the skill to make it work. between the romance, the mui tsai regulations, the supernatural aspect and the development of mei and ah wan jie as characters, none of it moved me be cause the author did not make me want to care. the love story between hassan and mei was painful and downright cringey to read. their dialogue felt stilted and cheesy. honestly, i’ve read better fanfiction than this.
the mui tsai regulations act could have been handled so much better because, here is a slice of history that deserves to be told and shared to future generations. instead, we get some half-baked story with ghosts, underdeveloped characters (i’m looking at you, percy lee) and a weird church scene that felt vaguely preachy and ridiculous.
the editing was also terrible - chapters ended on the weirdest notes and there was no depth to any of these characters. there was plenty of telling instead of showing and the way the villain gets his comeuppance is laughably anticlimactic. the ending is also disjointed and it honestly feels like the author expended a lot of effort on the first 30% before deciding fuck it and half-assing the rest.
minor notes:
- the author claims to set this story in 1930s singapore but then goes on to say the word Malaysia TWICE. is this not historical fiction? simple research could have shown malaysia was only named so after 1963. source: am malaysian
- the grammar and sentence structure. good lord, i expected better. at one point, the author describes the new number two madam but uses number three madam to refer to her and it became so convoluted and confusing.
- the instalove. why.
- the constant need to remind us that mei speaks fukien and ah wan jie is cantonese. WE GET IT.
- some things were just not well described and honestly i only understood them because i had exposure to these things. case in point, shanghai jar.
i’d hate for this to be someone’s introduction to peranakan chinese culture or even singapore/malaysia literature. for the latter, i would recommend yangsze choo’s works instead.
March 24, 2022
I enjoyed this YA historical novel that sheds light on a part of history I was completely unfamiliar with. It tells the story of indentured servants known as mui tsais - girls bought to be servants who received no pay and were then trapped with that family until they decided to either find her a husband or leave them somewhere else - essentially washing their hands of them after years of service. There was no protection from sexual attention from the men in the house or protections from other forms of abuse. Our main character Ah Mei doesn't even understand what is happening to her when she is collected and delivered to her new family like she's nothing more than goods.
Ah Mei has a pendant that flashes to life filling with warmth and seeming to offer her insight into the terrible fate of the previous mui tsai Ah Lian. Using her wits Ah Mei must protect herself against dangers that lurk, and follow her heart to find happiness with someone from a different background fighting against the prejudice of the time. She must also try to find the truth and punish the perpetrators.
Ah Wan Jie is so ingrained in the system and its horrors that she accepts them for the most part. While she's aware of what happened to Ah Lian and is haunted by guilt at her inaction, it is fair to say that she is a victim too. Her character is a complex one as we find it easy as readers to be drawn to characters who fight and abhor those who are complicit.
There were some occasions where I wasn't sure which character's pov we were reading and a few times I lost a bit of the narrative thread. I also wish the supernatural elements were slightly more at the forefront. However, I found in Ah Mei a character to cheer for, I enjoyed the inclusion of real historical figures and was happy to see the character growth in Ah Wan Jie.
I would read more from this writer.
I rate the novel 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the work it does to educate about an important history.
Ah Mei has a pendant that flashes to life filling with warmth and seeming to offer her insight into the terrible fate of the previous mui tsai Ah Lian. Using her wits Ah Mei must protect herself against dangers that lurk, and follow her heart to find happiness with someone from a different background fighting against the prejudice of the time. She must also try to find the truth and punish the perpetrators.
Ah Wan Jie is so ingrained in the system and its horrors that she accepts them for the most part. While she's aware of what happened to Ah Lian and is haunted by guilt at her inaction, it is fair to say that she is a victim too. Her character is a complex one as we find it easy as readers to be drawn to characters who fight and abhor those who are complicit.
There were some occasions where I wasn't sure which character's pov we were reading and a few times I lost a bit of the narrative thread. I also wish the supernatural elements were slightly more at the forefront. However, I found in Ah Mei a character to cheer for, I enjoyed the inclusion of real historical figures and was happy to see the character growth in Ah Wan Jie.
I would read more from this writer.
I rate the novel 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the work it does to educate about an important history.
April 7, 2022
"A woman's freedom lies not in the man she marries but in the purse strings that she holds. Her own."
In The House of Little Sisters, set in the early 1930s, we follow the story of sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei or known as Ah Mei. She is sold to a rich family like the Lee without her mother's knowledge to become their mui tsai (little sisters). Mui tsai is a young girl 'adopted' into a wealthy family as a servant. In Lee's house, Ah Mei is curious about what happened to previous mui tsai, Ah Lian, but no one will talk to her. She learns of Ah Lian's narrative and is concerned about the bad things in the house.
This book does a fantastic job of exploring the lives of Singapore's mui tsai. I struggled to get into the book at first, but the story started to flow nicely, and I became engrossed in Ah Mei and Hassan's lives and was intrigued by the development of their forbidden relationship. Besides, I really adored Ah Mei and the transformation of her life 💛
Furthermore, the author is a former food blogger and she writes a lot about food in this book. The description of the food is so mouth-watering! I was craving Roti John while reading this book, and getting Roti John during fasting month is so hard as the queue is always too long 😕
Categorized as Young Adult fiction, this book is well written with a good storyline and likable characters. Ah Wan Jie and Percy are the two characters that I like. Ah Wan Jie knows the Lee house very well and always supports Ah Mei, while Percy, the Lee family heir, uses his status and privilege for good, and stands up for mui tsai rights.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and appreciate how this book brings up some challenging topics with good writing that captivated me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction. It was delightful to read a story about what happened in British Malaya once upon a time.
Thank you, Times Reads, for sending me this book in return for an honest review.
instagram.com/siriusiqa
In The House of Little Sisters, set in the early 1930s, we follow the story of sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei or known as Ah Mei. She is sold to a rich family like the Lee without her mother's knowledge to become their mui tsai (little sisters). Mui tsai is a young girl 'adopted' into a wealthy family as a servant. In Lee's house, Ah Mei is curious about what happened to previous mui tsai, Ah Lian, but no one will talk to her. She learns of Ah Lian's narrative and is concerned about the bad things in the house.
This book does a fantastic job of exploring the lives of Singapore's mui tsai. I struggled to get into the book at first, but the story started to flow nicely, and I became engrossed in Ah Mei and Hassan's lives and was intrigued by the development of their forbidden relationship. Besides, I really adored Ah Mei and the transformation of her life 💛
Furthermore, the author is a former food blogger and she writes a lot about food in this book. The description of the food is so mouth-watering! I was craving Roti John while reading this book, and getting Roti John during fasting month is so hard as the queue is always too long 😕
Categorized as Young Adult fiction, this book is well written with a good storyline and likable characters. Ah Wan Jie and Percy are the two characters that I like. Ah Wan Jie knows the Lee house very well and always supports Ah Mei, while Percy, the Lee family heir, uses his status and privilege for good, and stands up for mui tsai rights.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and appreciate how this book brings up some challenging topics with good writing that captivated me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction. It was delightful to read a story about what happened in British Malaya once upon a time.
Thank you, Times Reads, for sending me this book in return for an honest review.
instagram.com/siriusiqa
February 22, 2022
It's August of 1931 in Singapore, sixteen-year-old Ah Mei arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month. She has been sold to the family as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, who are both helpless and powerful, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. Can the two lovers find a way to stay together? And will Mei and other mui tsai gain their freedom soon?
The House of Little Sisters is an eye-opening look at the “mui tsai problem” going on in British Malaya in the first part of the 20th century. So much of the historical context of this book was brand new to me, and I found myself pausing during reading to look up more information, which isn’t a bad thing! I loved the dual perspectives, and Ah Mei was an incredibly strong heroine. The supernatural elements and incorporation of Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore enhanced the story. And the food! I found myself craving curries and wanting to taste everything that Ah Wan Jie made in her kitchen! The cross-cultural romance between Hassan and Ah Mei was sweet and genuine. There are major trigger warnings with this one (sexual assault, rape). Part of me almost wished this were an adult book, so that themes could be explored in a deeper way — but within the author’s note, the author explained her reasoning for making it YA. The author’s note at the end was wonderfully informative and honest — thank you Eva Wong Nava for writing such a well-told story that was a window into Singapore’s history from the perspective of a strong female character.
The House of Little Sisters is an eye-opening look at the “mui tsai problem” going on in British Malaya in the first part of the 20th century. So much of the historical context of this book was brand new to me, and I found myself pausing during reading to look up more information, which isn’t a bad thing! I loved the dual perspectives, and Ah Mei was an incredibly strong heroine. The supernatural elements and incorporation of Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore enhanced the story. And the food! I found myself craving curries and wanting to taste everything that Ah Wan Jie made in her kitchen! The cross-cultural romance between Hassan and Ah Mei was sweet and genuine. There are major trigger warnings with this one (sexual assault, rape). Part of me almost wished this were an adult book, so that themes could be explored in a deeper way — but within the author’s note, the author explained her reasoning for making it YA. The author’s note at the end was wonderfully informative and honest — thank you Eva Wong Nava for writing such a well-told story that was a window into Singapore’s history from the perspective of a strong female character.
March 9, 2022
I was gifted a copy of this book by Love Books Tours and I am so glad I was as it isn't something I probably read otherwise. The writing was very good, with incredible descriptions, especially around food - I could almost smell the spices cooking as I read.
This was set in a time and place that I knew nothing about and had to look up to get more context, which I really like in a book as I feel it expands my horizons. I knew nothing about the plight of the mui tsai, or how this in ongoing in the form of modern slavery today and thought this was a really important message to raise awareness of, especially with the links at the end of the book to direct readers towards websites to increase their knowledge.
I really liked the characters of Ah Mei and Hassan and was intrigued by the development of their relationship, taboo as it was.
I was very surprised at the end to learn that this is categorised as YA fiction. There are so many deep themes within the book which are quite dark - rape, suicide, the treatment of girls in China, slavery, interracial relationships, drug use - which are important for YA to be aware of but I feel they need to be aware of some of these themes before reading.
The only thing that I didn't particularly understand was the use of magic within the book. I understand the relevance of ghosts and the importance of ancestors in Asian culture and this came across clearly during the scenes in the Month of Ghosts. However, the magic within Ah Mei felt like it was touched on but not fully developed and I didn't feel like this added much to the book.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this and would recommend it to the older end of the YA fiction market and anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
This was set in a time and place that I knew nothing about and had to look up to get more context, which I really like in a book as I feel it expands my horizons. I knew nothing about the plight of the mui tsai, or how this in ongoing in the form of modern slavery today and thought this was a really important message to raise awareness of, especially with the links at the end of the book to direct readers towards websites to increase their knowledge.
I really liked the characters of Ah Mei and Hassan and was intrigued by the development of their relationship, taboo as it was.
I was very surprised at the end to learn that this is categorised as YA fiction. There are so many deep themes within the book which are quite dark - rape, suicide, the treatment of girls in China, slavery, interracial relationships, drug use - which are important for YA to be aware of but I feel they need to be aware of some of these themes before reading.
The only thing that I didn't particularly understand was the use of magic within the book. I understand the relevance of ghosts and the importance of ancestors in Asian culture and this came across clearly during the scenes in the Month of Ghosts. However, the magic within Ah Mei felt like it was touched on but not fully developed and I didn't feel like this added much to the book.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this and would recommend it to the older end of the YA fiction market and anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
February 25, 2022
Read the full review here - https://www.theverybookish.com/2022/0...
I would firstly like to thank Love Books Tours for organising this tour and allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for a review. What a book! I was lured in by the book cover and it being a YA historical fiction novel and I can confirm that it did not disappoint.
This book brought out ALL of the emotions and there was a lot I really liked about this book. I very much enjoyed that it was an all Asian cast as this is something I haven't read before. It was an immersive experience and a book that I managed to consume in one sitting. From a perspective of the book's target audience, 12 to 17 year olds, I think that this book is so important in terms of representation for ethnic minorities being read by Western-world readers.
With regards to the writing, Eva Wong Nava wrote this book so beautifully. It was so easy to imagine the world that the characters were living in and historically it was an interesting period of time to write about.
There wasn't necessarily anything in particular that held it back from being a 5 star read - I'm just a harsh marker! If this book sticks around in my mind over the next few months then it will definitely get upgraded to a 5 star due to the memorability factor - I think this could be the case!!
All in all, this is a wonderful little book that I enjoyed very much. Diversity for younger readers is so important and it's something that I feel very passionate about so I was really glad to see an all Asian cast, and the book being set in a part of the world that's very different from other YA reads.
I would firstly like to thank Love Books Tours for organising this tour and allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for a review. What a book! I was lured in by the book cover and it being a YA historical fiction novel and I can confirm that it did not disappoint.
This book brought out ALL of the emotions and there was a lot I really liked about this book. I very much enjoyed that it was an all Asian cast as this is something I haven't read before. It was an immersive experience and a book that I managed to consume in one sitting. From a perspective of the book's target audience, 12 to 17 year olds, I think that this book is so important in terms of representation for ethnic minorities being read by Western-world readers.
With regards to the writing, Eva Wong Nava wrote this book so beautifully. It was so easy to imagine the world that the characters were living in and historically it was an interesting period of time to write about.
There wasn't necessarily anything in particular that held it back from being a 5 star read - I'm just a harsh marker! If this book sticks around in my mind over the next few months then it will definitely get upgraded to a 5 star due to the memorability factor - I think this could be the case!!
All in all, this is a wonderful little book that I enjoyed very much. Diversity for younger readers is so important and it's something that I feel very passionate about so I was really glad to see an all Asian cast, and the book being set in a part of the world that's very different from other YA reads.
February 28, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @evawongnava & @lovebookstours for my gifted copy for a honest review.
A supernatural exposé of a past system that still has a tight grip on contemporary Singapore and Malaysia. It's August of 1931 in Singapore, sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei (Ah Mei) arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month. She has been sold to the family as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. At the Lee household, Lim Mei Mei's life education begins. There she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, who are both helpless and powerful, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. She becomes Hassan's Polar Star, and the young lovers must find a way to stay together. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
My thoughts: this was such a surprising read. I really enjoyed being immersed in the Singapore world which I was unfamiliar with and the tragedy of the indentured servants especially women. I Truly loved the main character’s spirit and willingness to fight for others and herself plus her love story was so sweet. It was all and all a well researched historical read & I appreciated the author’s exploration of these tricky and triggering themes. I highly recommend!
Thank you to @evawongnava & @lovebookstours for my gifted copy for a honest review.
A supernatural exposé of a past system that still has a tight grip on contemporary Singapore and Malaysia. It's August of 1931 in Singapore, sixteen-year-old Lim Mei Mei (Ah Mei) arrives at the home of Eminent Mister Lee on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Month. She has been sold to the family as a mui tsai, an indentured servant girl. At the Lee household, Lim Mei Mei's life education begins. There she encounters the spirit of Ah Lian, a mui tsai, who paid the ultimate price for her mistake. Through Ah Lian, Ah Mei discovers the plight of mui tsai, who are both helpless and powerful, and uncovers a shameful secret lurking in the shadows in the Lee house. Ah Mei also meets and falls in love with Hassan Mohamed, an Indian-Muslim and an aspiring poet, breaking every clause in the rule book of love in 1930s British Malaya. She becomes Hassan's Polar Star, and the young lovers must find a way to stay together. Through a twist of fate, Ah Mei finds a solution that will keep her and Hassan together, at the same time gaining agency that will secure her own future as an uneducated servant girl in British Malaya.
My thoughts: this was such a surprising read. I really enjoyed being immersed in the Singapore world which I was unfamiliar with and the tragedy of the indentured servants especially women. I Truly loved the main character’s spirit and willingness to fight for others and herself plus her love story was so sweet. It was all and all a well researched historical read & I appreciated the author’s exploration of these tricky and triggering themes. I highly recommend!
March 3, 2022
16 year old Lim Mei Mei was sold to the Lee family as a mum tsai, an indentured servant girl. This book follows her experience and explores the plight of mud tai in Singapore in the early 1930’s. I had little knowledge of this practise and culture prior to reading this book and found this element really interesting. Though the different characters the author was able to demonstrate both the hardships of these girls, the politics around their position and the evolving rights given to them
This was an interesting read which was rich in history and culture. However I struggled somewhat with the plot and found I was unsure where the story was going until the second half of the book. There was a vague supernatural arc to the story which I was expecting to develop more, however on reflection I think this was superfluous and didn’t add to the story in my opinion
I enjoyed the love story in this book watching the friendship develop between Lim Mei Mei and Hassan before blossoming into a romance. I also enjoyed their strong characters along with Percy Lee. In their own way each of these characters fought for what was right and stood up to the prejudices they saw around them (and in some cases experienced). These included race, religion and rank
There are trigger warnings to be aware of with this book including sexual abuse, miscarriage and racism. I would also like to highlight that whilst this is a Young Adult book aimed at ages 12-17 I believe it is most suited to older teens
This was an interesting read which was rich in history and culture. However I struggled somewhat with the plot and found I was unsure where the story was going until the second half of the book. There was a vague supernatural arc to the story which I was expecting to develop more, however on reflection I think this was superfluous and didn’t add to the story in my opinion
I enjoyed the love story in this book watching the friendship develop between Lim Mei Mei and Hassan before blossoming into a romance. I also enjoyed their strong characters along with Percy Lee. In their own way each of these characters fought for what was right and stood up to the prejudices they saw around them (and in some cases experienced). These included race, religion and rank
There are trigger warnings to be aware of with this book including sexual abuse, miscarriage and racism. I would also like to highlight that whilst this is a Young Adult book aimed at ages 12-17 I believe it is most suited to older teens
July 13, 2022
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The House of Little Sisters by Eva Wong Nava is a lyrical story poignantly bringing to light the injustice that the Mui Tsai (indentured servant girls) in 1930s British Malaya faced.
The main character, Lim Mei Mei, is a brave girl. Through her, I got to know how the Mui Tsais were snatched away from their families at a tender age and forced to work for the wealthy and were often abused.
Food occupies a special position in this story. The author describes the Peranakan Chinese cuisine so vividly I was salivating throughout the novel. So, don’t keep your stomach empty while reading this book.
It’s not just the food that delighted me. Eva Wong Nava brings alive the sights and smells of the Singapore before WW2. I enjoyed reading as much about the Lee household as the descriptions of the alleyways and markets that Mei Mei and Hassan would visit in their joint escapades.
Last but not the least, Hassan quotes Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry. He is the greatest Bengali poet ever born and being a Bengali, this touched my heart.
Even though the book deals with some heavy topics, it left with me a beautiful feeling in my heart. Heartily recommended to every historical and literary fiction lover.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
The House of Little Sisters by Eva Wong Nava is a lyrical story poignantly bringing to light the injustice that the Mui Tsai (indentured servant girls) in 1930s British Malaya faced.
The main character, Lim Mei Mei, is a brave girl. Through her, I got to know how the Mui Tsais were snatched away from their families at a tender age and forced to work for the wealthy and were often abused.
Food occupies a special position in this story. The author describes the Peranakan Chinese cuisine so vividly I was salivating throughout the novel. So, don’t keep your stomach empty while reading this book.
It’s not just the food that delighted me. Eva Wong Nava brings alive the sights and smells of the Singapore before WW2. I enjoyed reading as much about the Lee household as the descriptions of the alleyways and markets that Mei Mei and Hassan would visit in their joint escapades.
Last but not the least, Hassan quotes Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry. He is the greatest Bengali poet ever born and being a Bengali, this touched my heart.
Even though the book deals with some heavy topics, it left with me a beautiful feeling in my heart. Heartily recommended to every historical and literary fiction lover.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
January 14, 2022
This book had me spellbound. The House of Little Sisters is full of very familiar cultural elements. I especially liked the description of “pintu pagar” in the Peranakan household and what was its purpose. The market scene brought back memories. Transporting me back to when I was a child holding on to my mother’s hand tightly as we maneuvered the busy wet market. And than there was the dreaded chicken place where the necks of the chosen chicken was slit and thrown into the defeathering machine still squawking. Eva’s description of the Peranakans made me smile, it was funnily accurate “the wealthy ones stick to one another like flies to rotten meat. They’re Chinese but not Chinese. Speak Malay but are not Malay. Eat pork… pray to Chinese gods but act like Europeans.” This historical fiction also brought forth to my attention the existence of the 1932 Mui Tsai Ordinance which prohibits the acquisition of Mui Tsai. Overall I truly enjoyed reading this book. Oh last but not least I learned that the Roti John (a food I had no idea existed till a few years ago) was invented in the 1970s. Apparently by an American sailor who had requested a South Asian hawker to make him a hamburger. If you are looking for a book to add into your Reading List for 2022, this book is a MUST!!
April 7, 2022
The vivid, rich description of the first chapter instantly transported me to Singapore in the 1930s, and more specifically the Lee household. I liked the shifting narrators as it added to the complexity and depth to the story, even if it did sometimes take me a minute to sort out who was speaking.
This book was often different from many other YA books I read - more focused on rich, detailed narration to tell the story rather than relying heavily on dialogue. This may be an adjustment for some teenage readers. At times I found the plot a little rushed - but that can be common in YA books and it wasn’t overly disappointing.
I would be cautious when recommending this book to my 8th grade readers. Though I don’t take issue with the language or any of the scenes, the underlying abuse, mistreatment and rape that occurs “off stage” isn’t for every middle school reader. There is also racial tensions in places and the use of a word for rickshaw drivers that, whilst historically accurate, should be upsetting for readers.
That said, I just loved that this book really dug in to the life and experiences of the Mui Tsai girls and gave a voice to generations of young women who were so often expected to be voiceless. For that, I applaud the author and story.
This book was often different from many other YA books I read - more focused on rich, detailed narration to tell the story rather than relying heavily on dialogue. This may be an adjustment for some teenage readers. At times I found the plot a little rushed - but that can be common in YA books and it wasn’t overly disappointing.
I would be cautious when recommending this book to my 8th grade readers. Though I don’t take issue with the language or any of the scenes, the underlying abuse, mistreatment and rape that occurs “off stage” isn’t for every middle school reader. There is also racial tensions in places and the use of a word for rickshaw drivers that, whilst historically accurate, should be upsetting for readers.
That said, I just loved that this book really dug in to the life and experiences of the Mui Tsai girls and gave a voice to generations of young women who were so often expected to be voiceless. For that, I applaud the author and story.
March 31, 2023
3.75 ✨
The pacing of this book was off to me - far too slow in the beginning and too fast at the end to wrap things up. The reader knows what is happening way before the main character does and so it feels a bit of a slog to get to the resolution.
Yet the story is so richly detailed, and so tender about homesickness and separation and the historical plight of the mui tsai, that its more than worth reading. It reads a lot in many ways like pramoedya toer’s Girl from the Coast, in its preoccupations with the domestic workings of a feudal household.
Its billed as a star crossed lovers romance but its really not about that. The relationship between the muslim hassan and chinese mei mei is not really that interesting and there are hints towards the end that hassan is kind of complicit with the secrets keeping of the household. Percy is an interesting character - part saviour, part hero.
I wish it were more satisfying to see meimei take charge of her own destiny, but because this impulse is not really developed in the narrative, just plopped at the end, it lacks triumph.
Overall rich setting, plump with historical detail and tender in its depiction of individuals.
The pacing of this book was off to me - far too slow in the beginning and too fast at the end to wrap things up. The reader knows what is happening way before the main character does and so it feels a bit of a slog to get to the resolution.
Yet the story is so richly detailed, and so tender about homesickness and separation and the historical plight of the mui tsai, that its more than worth reading. It reads a lot in many ways like pramoedya toer’s Girl from the Coast, in its preoccupations with the domestic workings of a feudal household.
Its billed as a star crossed lovers romance but its really not about that. The relationship between the muslim hassan and chinese mei mei is not really that interesting and there are hints towards the end that hassan is kind of complicit with the secrets keeping of the household. Percy is an interesting character - part saviour, part hero.
I wish it were more satisfying to see meimei take charge of her own destiny, but because this impulse is not really developed in the narrative, just plopped at the end, it lacks triumph.
Overall rich setting, plump with historical detail and tender in its depiction of individuals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2022
Let me start off by saying I adored this book. I picked it up because the cover caught my attention but stuck around for the story thick in historical and mythological context. Prior to reading this, I had never read about life in Singapore or Malayasia, let alone read about the lives of mui tsai in the 1931. It was an eye opening dive into classism, hierarchy, and racism in Asia.
There was a lot that I loved about this book, the first being our protagonist Lin Mei Mei (or Ah Mei). It was an experience to witness this story through her eyes from being ripped from her family into the life of a mui tsai and uncovering the dark secrets of the Lee household and eventually being part of the reason the women in the Lee household were given rights. I absolutely loved her love story with Hassan and how the author discussed the taboo of their intercultural romance without ever making them question their devotion to one another. I also loved Percy, the heir to the Lee family, using his power and privilege for good and advocating for mui tsai rights. Very rarely do I root for the rich man, but Percy is alright I’m my book.
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Thank you to Love Books Tours, Eva Wong Nava, and Penguin Random House for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and a friendly reminder that this is an #AllAsianCast because #RepresentationMatters
There was a lot that I loved about this book, the first being our protagonist Lin Mei Mei (or Ah Mei). It was an experience to witness this story through her eyes from being ripped from her family into the life of a mui tsai and uncovering the dark secrets of the Lee household and eventually being part of the reason the women in the Lee household were given rights. I absolutely loved her love story with Hassan and how the author discussed the taboo of their intercultural romance without ever making them question their devotion to one another. I also loved Percy, the heir to the Lee family, using his power and privilege for good and advocating for mui tsai rights. Very rarely do I root for the rich man, but Percy is alright I’m my book.
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Thank you to Love Books Tours, Eva Wong Nava, and Penguin Random House for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and a friendly reminder that this is an #AllAsianCast because #RepresentationMatters
March 9, 2022
Thank you to @lovebookstours for my copy of this book.
I haven’t read any historical fiction from this time and area of the world, but will definitely search out more after reading this one.
I loved this story of the mui tsai and how their lives were changed, from working in appalling conditions in 1930’s British Malaya to their bright future. Ah Mei is taken to live/work for the Lee family under the guidance of Ah Wan Jie and learns well from her, learning and being given more responsibility throughout.
There is mention in the synopsis about a supernatural element to the novel, I wish there had been more of this, I really enjoyed the parts of the story that incorporated it.
Overall the book was well written and a lot of research had obviously taken place, the historical parts of the book were really good and very informative. I especially liked the recipes and the medicines mentioned, all explained well. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and wants something a bit different to old English times.
I haven’t read any historical fiction from this time and area of the world, but will definitely search out more after reading this one.
I loved this story of the mui tsai and how their lives were changed, from working in appalling conditions in 1930’s British Malaya to their bright future. Ah Mei is taken to live/work for the Lee family under the guidance of Ah Wan Jie and learns well from her, learning and being given more responsibility throughout.
There is mention in the synopsis about a supernatural element to the novel, I wish there had been more of this, I really enjoyed the parts of the story that incorporated it.
Overall the book was well written and a lot of research had obviously taken place, the historical parts of the book were really good and very informative. I especially liked the recipes and the medicines mentioned, all explained well. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and wants something a bit different to old English times.
March 31, 2022
The House of Little Sisters by Eva Wong Nava is YA Historical novel that I was so lucky to be able to review so thank you Kelly @lovebookstours for allowing me to do so.
The story takes place during the 1930's and concentrates on the Mui Tsai controversy that was happening at this time in Singapore and Malaysia. I am ashamed to say that I didn't know about this until I read the book and I learnt so much. It was informative but not like reading a textbook and extremely heart-wrenching at times, but such an important read.
This book is really well written with a good storyline and characters that I took to my heart - Ah Mei I'm looking at you girl - I adored her in all honesty.
This book had everything - well researched history, folklore, a forbidden romance that I was rooting for, food descriptions that actually made my mouth water and an examination of class and class structure during the 1930's.
I really enjoyed this book and as you can see the cover is stunning I can't wait to get a physical copy 🥰🥰🥰
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The story takes place during the 1930's and concentrates on the Mui Tsai controversy that was happening at this time in Singapore and Malaysia. I am ashamed to say that I didn't know about this until I read the book and I learnt so much. It was informative but not like reading a textbook and extremely heart-wrenching at times, but such an important read.
This book is really well written with a good storyline and characters that I took to my heart - Ah Mei I'm looking at you girl - I adored her in all honesty.
This book had everything - well researched history, folklore, a forbidden romance that I was rooting for, food descriptions that actually made my mouth water and an examination of class and class structure during the 1930's.
I really enjoyed this book and as you can see the cover is stunning I can't wait to get a physical copy 🥰🥰🥰
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
February 25, 2022
In British Malay (now Singapore) in the early 20th Century, young woman are routinely taken advantage of as mui tsai. Mui tsai (‘little sisters’) are young women and girls, ‘adopted’ into families as indentured servants. In The House of Little Sisters, we follow sixteen-year-old Ah Mei as she is sold to the Lee household. As she uncovers the horrors of the past she works to find a way to gain her freedom and be with the man she loves.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
As International Women’s Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to discover the stories of women from all over the world, and from all different eras. Set during a pivotal moment in history, The House of Little Sisters does such a fantastic job of both humanising real people’s stories while still giving a sense of the wider perspective and the sheer numbers of people affected. It reminded me of The Girl with the Louding Voice with its simultaneous focus on an individual woman’s empowerment and the wider systemic changes needed for the liberation of all.
Eva Wong Nava does a fantastic job of portraying the complexity of people, showing how the society we grow up in shapes our perspectives and sometimes blinds us to either our own oppression or our own privilege. And on top of all that, she has written a wonderfully engaging and immersive historical fiction. What more could you want?
Thank you to Love Books Tours for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a review.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
As International Women’s Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to discover the stories of women from all over the world, and from all different eras. Set during a pivotal moment in history, The House of Little Sisters does such a fantastic job of both humanising real people’s stories while still giving a sense of the wider perspective and the sheer numbers of people affected. It reminded me of The Girl with the Louding Voice with its simultaneous focus on an individual woman’s empowerment and the wider systemic changes needed for the liberation of all.
Eva Wong Nava does a fantastic job of portraying the complexity of people, showing how the society we grow up in shapes our perspectives and sometimes blinds us to either our own oppression or our own privilege. And on top of all that, she has written a wonderfully engaging and immersive historical fiction. What more could you want?
Thank you to Love Books Tours for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a review.
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