Little Wonder

“Sophie Chen Keller writes with such understated power that even a tone-deaf heart will recognize the melody—and feel the sting of that final note. This is the kind of story that breaks your heart, blows dust off the broken pieces, then quietly puts it back together again in better working condition. Basically, a system upgrade for your emotions. Everyone should read this book.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

“Little Wonder is an exquisite book filled with heart. It captures modern China with such vividness and color you can practically smell the roasted sweet potatoes. At parts enthralling, heartbreaking, and uplifting—and always bursting with musicality. A book to be savored.”—Susie Yang, New York Times bestselling author of White Ivy

“The tale of Song and River will pull you in. Little Wonder is an immersive journey amid the sights and sounds of urban China as a migrant mother and son follow a seemingly impossible dream inspired by their love of music—and their devotion to each other. So much of the telling of this story is in the details, from the jostling crowds at the railway station and the swarm of delivery workers on their scooters to small acts of kindness that sustain the characters in their worst moments. Keep something handy to dry your eyes.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Good Dirt and Black Cake

“At once heartbreaking and hopeful, Little Wonder is a delicate rendering of the enduring bond of a mother and son, even when the world is against them. Capturing the life-changing kindness of strangers, the magic of music, and the power of found family, Sophie Chen Keller’s deftly imagined tale will make your heart soar.”—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

“A beautiful debut about the love of a mother and child tragically separated, devoted and determined to find their way back to each other. Little Wonder explores the unbreakable bonds of family and the intrinsic goodness of human nature, filled with pathos and kindness from the most unexpected of places. It will transport you through the power of music and into the heaving metropolis of a modern Beijing, alive with energy, hustle, and an eye toward the future. You can’t help but root for these unforgettable characters.”—Emma Nanami Strenner, author of My Other Heart