June 2026

Lisa See is well known and respected for her fiction that includes a little-known story of historical significance, as well as one of female friendship. DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON brilliantly does just that.

The novel is set in Los Angeles when it was a dusty pueblo town in 1855. The idea for the book came to Lisa over 30 years ago as she was doing research for her nonfiction work, ON GOLD MOUNTAIN. She saw details about the Night of Horrors, which occurred on October 24, 1871. An angry mob of roughly 500 white and Latino people attacked the city's Chinese quarter, murdering 19 Chinese men and boys.

The story stayed with Lisa, and around it she constructed a narrative based on four women who were known to have lived during that time, making one into a composite character.

Dove, Petal and Moon have come from China to live in Los Angeles. Dove is thought of as a precious jewel. Her feet are bound, and she has been sold by her family in China to become the second wife to a much older merchant in Los Angeles. His first wife knew of these plans.

Petal is big-footed. She has been sold by her family to buy money for rice seed. To pay her fare across the Pacific and down to Los Angeles, she is sold into prostitution where she must pay back the buyer who had her trafficked there.

Moon is the wife of a prominent Chinese doctor who specializes in herbal medicine. His practice includes both Chinese and white people. She has been trained by him and accompanies him on his various appointments. Her foot-binding fell, and she walks with a limp.

These women will bear witness to the massacre, which impacts their lives in different ways. Once again, as I always do after finishing one of Lisa’s books, I found myself thinking about the characters and their story. It's one that will stay with me.

Lisa includes details that bring the novel alive and will have you looking for more information about life in Los Angeles during this era. Her website includes a “Step Inside” feature that gives you the opportunity to delve more deeply into historical documents, writings and pictures about this place and time.

I also had the pleasure of talking to Lisa about the book. Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast.