Forbidden City, Hua Vanessa

Forbidden City explores questions of power, ambition, and visibility through a lens that is both clear-eyed and compassionate.--Chloe Benjamin, author of The Immortalists

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022--Vulture, Electric Lit, Ms. magazine, The Millions, Book Riot

On the eve of Chinas Cultural Revolution and her sixteenth birthday, Mei dreams of becoming a model revolutionary. When the Communist Party recruits girls for a mysterious duty in the capital, she seizes the opportunity to escape her impoverished village. It is only when Mei arrives at the Chairmans opulent residence--a forbidden city unto itself--that she learns that the girls job is to dance with the Party elites. Ambitious and whip-smart, Mei beelines toward the Chairman.

Mei gradually separates herself from the other recruits to become the Chairmans confidante--and paramour. While he fends off political rivals, Mei faces down schemers from the dance troupe who will stop at nothing to take her place and the Chairmans imperious wife, who has secret plans of her own.