Daughters of the Bamboo Grove

The extraordinary and riveting story of separated Chinese twins, with one twin seized by the authorities and adopted into America, by the Samuel Johnson-winning author of Nothing to Envy. In 2000, a Chinese woman gave birth to twins in a bamboo grove, trying to avoid detection by the government because she already had two daughters. Two years later, an American couple travelled to Shaoyang to adopt a Chinese toddler they thought had been abandoned. Their understanding had been that China's brutal one-child policy was leading to hundreds of abandoned girls, desperate for the care of adopted parents. What they didn't know - and what award-winning journalist Barbara Demick uncovered in 2007, while working as a correspondent in Beijing - was that their daughter had been snatched from her beloved family and her identical twin. Under China's one-child policy hundreds of poor Chinese were giving up their children due to soaring fines and threats of violence. More sinister still, international demand for adoptees was sky-rocketing, and local officials were forcibly seizing children and trafficking them to orphanages, who were selling them abroad. Daughters of the Bamboo Grove tells the gripping story of separated twins, their respective fates in China and the USA, and Barbara Demick's role in reuniting them against huge odds. Painting a rich portrait of China's history and culture, it asks questions about the roots, impact and consequences of China's one-child policy, the ethics of international adoption, and, ultimately, the assumptions and narratives we hold about the quality of lives lived in the East and the West. Why You Should Read? It reveals the hidden realities behind China's one-child policy, exposing the forced separations and trafficking that occurred. The book tells the compelling story of separated twins and their individual experiences in both China and the USA. Demick's role in reuniting the twins adds a unique layer of personal involvement and investigative journalism to the narrative. The book offers a rich portrait of Chinese history and culture, providing context for the policy and its effects. About the Author Barbara Demick is an award-winning journalist and author known for her in-depth reporting on complex social and political issues. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including "Nothing to Envy," which earned her the Samuel Johnson Prize. Demick's work often focuses on the human stories behind major global events, offering readers a unique perspective on challenging subjects. Her writing is characterized by meticulous research and a compassionate approach to her subjects.