Set in 19th century China, Lisa See’s novel Snowflower and the Secret Fan is the story of a life-long friendship between two girls. The reader follows them through their lives, watching them change as they reach milestones together and apart. The depth of Chinese culture is a steady theme throughout the story, as practices like foot binding dictate the lives of the heroines. One is able to absorb the history as it is humanized through the main characters.

The novel begins when Lily, the narrator, is eighty years old. She is documenting her life story and begins at the time when she was of age to start her foot binding process. Even at six years old, Lily is aware of the importance of this practice for her future; her feet are her bargaining tool for her marriage and her life to come. It is discovered, however, that Lily’s feet are not ordinary, but possess all of the necessary characteristics to make “golden lilies”— the best feet that can be obtained. This possibility can raise her status, and allow her to marry

beyond the realms of her lower middle class family. After a special matchmaker, Madame Wang, is consulted, she is presented a laotong or life match. Such a match is between two girls of high class families, and is different from the “sworn sisters”—groups comprising similar-aged girls that disband after marriage. Lily’s laotong, Snowflower, is of higher class than she, but the two still become fast friends

when they meet. Snowflower comes to Lily’s humble home and teaches her. Lily learns how to pour tea, and how to speak to one’s mother-in-law. She also learns the secret language of nu shu, a form of Chinese writing used only by women. Through the secret language, the girls communicate on a fan,

sending each other messages back and forth until they are united once annually.

As the two girls grow into women events in their lives alter their relationship. Throughout their adult years they experience heartbreak, competition, betrayal, joy, disappointment and war as they mature and change. Lisa See crafts characters that are mysterious and captivating, which propels the reader to continue to turn the page. Her extensive research and Chinese heritage are obvious in the

novel, although the story itself is beautiful regardless of the historical background. Amidst the cruelty of the world and the destruction occurring in China during the civil war, an innocent closeness can be maintained. See also explores the effects of ego and distrust as they corrupt this innocence. Forgiveness lingers just out of reach until it is too late to make amends. Following Snowflower and Lily in their “upstairs room” through their life passages is an

experience that should not be lost.