The Bumpy Road

What does it mean to come of age in a world where your family is branded as enemies of the state? What courage does it take to leave everything behind and begin again on the other side of the world?
In this powerful memoir of a Chinese immigrant mother, Abby L. Jiang tells the unforgettable story of her childhood in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution and her life as an immigrant in America.
From a secure home filled with tradition to the terrifying raids of the Red Guards, Jiang recalls the fear, loss, and resilience of a family accused of being "capitalist" in a society that demanded absolute obedience. This is not just a Shanghai childhood memoir but also a record of survival-of what it meant to grow up under Mao's China in the 1960s, to endure separation, and to hold on to hope.
As she moves from life in Shanghai under Mao to building a new life in the United States, Jiang confronts the struggles of raising her daughter between two cultures. It is a story of sacrifice, determination, and the enduring strength of family.
The Bumpy Road is more than a historical memoir of China-it is also a true story of immigration, of resilience across generations, and of the pursuit of education and freedom. Readers who are drawn to memoirs of family sacrifice, Shanghai to America stories, or Asian American life stories will find in these pages both heartbreak and inspiration.
Perfect for readers of immigrant journeys, women's memoirs, and modern Chinese history, this book belongs on the shelf of anyone seeking a story of survival, identity, and hope.