The Porcelain Moon

In Janie Chang's novel The Porcelain Moon, set in the final days of WWI France, the lives of two young women—a Chinese woman named Pauline Deng and a French woman named Camille Roussel—intersect with life-altering consequences. Pauline escapes an arranged marriage in Shanghai and seeks refuge with her cousin while Camille aims to flee her own abusive situation. As their friendship deepens, they uncover dangerous secrets that force them to confront tough choices, exploring themes of forbidden love, identity, and the struggle for freedom amidst the backdrop of a little-known chapter in wartime history.