A vividly-rendered reminder of the perils and tragedies that come with migration - this book was so painfully beautiful, it has stayed with me.

Thank you a Unbound and Netgalley for an ARC in return for my review.

This was a wonderful book, it was beautifully written and completely drew me in. This is one of my favourite books I have read this year. Set aside uninterrupted time, bring a box of tissues and a pot of tea amd be ready to be mesmerised .

This is a beautiful story, very well-written, detailed, descriptive, makes you feel what the main character feels and hope for his safety. I had a different ending in mind. It feels unfinished (unless the author has a sequel in mind). Really brings the life of a Chinese boy from a small village and his journey on the ocean to get to Guyana (to seek gold and diamonds to bring back to his mother and family) and what happens when he does reach land, grows up, marries, and makes a story of his life worth telling.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

Firstly I have to say how much I love that cover, the bold colours and unusual picture really works. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I think there is no denying that a great cover definetly helps.

This was a surprising emotional read for me. The hardships that Songs family endure at the start of the novel was just heartbreaking and I have no idea how I’d cope in a similar situation. The strength and resilience the children show in this situation made me cry and i just wanted to give them a hug. I ran upstairs to hug my kids after reading some parts of this book.

Song was a character it’s hard not to fall in love with. He’s so brave setting off to try and help his family, even more so when you realise he’s only 9. All the hardships and awful things he experiences on the way was very sad and I kept hoping he’d find someone to take him under his wing.

This isn’t a particularly fast moving book but what makes it is the beautiful descriptions and attention to detail that is included. The author has clearly done her research and I found it fascinating to learn more about the history of this part of the world. The reader wants to continue reading to find out what happens to Song and if he makes his fortune to help his family. The story is ultimately uplifting and it was wonderful to see how far Song had come.

This is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater and Unbound publishers for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

Set in the late 1800s, this is the story of Song - a young Chinese boy who leaves behind his family and home after the death of his father, to seek his fortune in the colonies of the British Empire, namely in Guiana. What follows is a harrowing boat trip, which is so well written, you can almost feel the claustrophobia and smell the death and faeces; his work on a sugar plantation on arrival in Guiana and his journey through decades as he seeks to overcome his past and improve his life and those of his friends and (new) family.
This book deals with slavery, colonialism at its worst, racism and religious prejudice and despite being set in the 19th Century, has some telling similarities to modern day people trafficking and forced labour. But this is not heavy-handed ... Jana Chan has a beautiful way with her prose, she can be poetic and lyrical yet brutal and heartbreaking,
There were occasions where I felt the descriptions were a little lacking (I wanted to be able to smell the moist, dampness of the rainforest 'upriver') and there were a couple of instances of repetitiveness but overall this was a very worthy read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Unbound and Michelle Jana Chan for the opportunity to read and review.

The following review will be posted to my blog and social media during publication week -

The plot (in a spoiler-free nutshell): After his father's death, 9 year old song leaves his village in China in order to find work to support his starving family. After a long and perilous journey by boat he arrives in British Guiana. Song faces horrific racism and prejudice, but has a determined spirit, and the ability to make friends in unexpected places, in a story that is both inspirational and heartbreaking.

The author: Michelle Jana Chan, an accomplished travel writer - the sense of place throughout the novel makes it come alive.

It's a bit like...an echo of modern day stories of migrants.

You should read it if...you are a keen bird watcher. Feel free to do a shot of something each time a new species is mentioned, and have a merry old time.

You shouldn't read it if...you are out of tissues.

The best bit: The wonderfully crafted writing, never leaving you without a sense of hope even in the bleakest of times.

Book hangover severity: Song's story plants itself deep within and refuses to let go...

Rating 5/5

Final thoughts: Few books that are entirely set in the past can resonate so much with issues of the modern day. Slavery has long been (officially) abolished but that's about the only difference between those exploited by the British Empire in the time that Song takes place and the current day. A deeply thought provoking and beautiful novel.

Song is published on 28th June 2018 by Unbound. Thank you to Michelle Jana Chan, Unbound and NetGalley for the ARC

Michelle Jana Chan’s novel Song tells the inspirational saga of a young Chinese boy’s struggle to defy class and racial lines in colonial British Guyana in the late 1800s. After a flood in his village in China takes his father and siblings, Song finds his way to Guangzhou and boards a ship that eventually takes him to a sugarcane plantation half a world away. His industry on board ship leads him to learn English, and eventually find a benefactor in the local vicar. But Father Holme’s kindness does not sit well with his Georgetown congregation, and he is forced to the interior. This is where Song is able to thrive and maybe ascend, among the wildlife he loves and the fever of gold mining.

The strength in Chan’s novel lies in the undying hope and optimism of her main character. Even in the “wild west” town of Bartica, Song is able to balance his good luck with his misfortune. Although the plot may seem straightforward at times, there is an inner turmoil of in Song that keeps the tension high. From the descriptions of the birds in the jungle to the relationships the characters develop, Chan’s writing can be quite lyrical at times. The prose draws the reader in as Song tries everything he can to help himself and others fight the injustices of British rule.

Overall, Song is a worthy read. It is no simple Horatio Alger tale, but one that is layered with themes of systematic racism, religious hypocrisy, and most importantly, love of family. This is the history of colonial times come alive.

Thank you to NetGalley, Unbound, and Michelle Jana Chan for the advance copy for review.