Sunlight Playing over a Mountain
Sunlight Playing over a Mountain by Selina Li Bi is a lyrical debut novel published by Soho Press Inc on April 1, 2025. This 320-page book is written in English and explores the life of Jasmine Cheng, a Chinese-Filipino teenager whose idyllic world of daydreams is shattered by a family secret. As Jasmine navigates her complex relationship with her free-spirited mother and the challenges posed by a social worker, she must confront the arrival of her mother’s old flame, which sends her on a transformative journey across the United States.
Readers will find a rich narrative that intertwines elements of mythology and coming-of-age themes. The story delves into Jasmine’s struggle to maintain stability in her chaotic home life while grappling with her mother’s refusal to confront the truth. As Jasmine embarks on her quest for understanding, the novel captures the tension between fantasy and reality, ultimately questioning whether the cracks in their shared illusions will lead to destruction or enlightenment. This edition invites readers to engage with the complexities of identity and family dynamics within the context of Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences.
Official synopsis Publisher
A lyrical, mythology-tinged debut novel about a Chinese-Filipino teenager whose world of daydreams is destroyed by a family secret—perfect for fans of Emily X.R. Pan and Ann Liang.
Jasmine Cheng has grown up on stories spun by her beautiful, free-spirited mother. Together, they’re the Phoenix and Dragon. Jasmine’s father is the god Pangu, creator of the heavens and earth. Her mother may have boyfriends, but Jasmine chases them away. For her mother, love brings chaos, sleepless nights, and frightening episodes, and it’s Jasmine’s job to keep their home life stable—especially now that a social worker has started to keep tabs on them.
When the sudden arrival of Cal, her mother’s old flame, fractures their delicate world, events unfold that will send Jasmine on a cross-country journey to the West Coast—and into her past. Trapped in a tangle of fantasy and reality, Jasmine becomes determined to find the truth, even while her mother’s refusal to be honest drives a deeper wedge between them. Will the crack in their fantasy destroy her, or finally let the light in?
Selina Li Bi’s magical debut perfectly portrays the pain of growing up in a less-than-magical world and introduces a remarkable new voice in young adult fiction.
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