Deserted at the gate of the orphanage six years ago by her mother when she was just five years old, Wen has a beloved friend who has a club foot. A year older, Shu Ling welcomed the frightened child with hot soup, slept next to her and comforted her across the years. They were like sisters sharing what little the orphanage was able to provide for them. Suddenly, at eleven, Wen was adopted by a family living in Boston. Wrenched away from Shu Ling, Wen promised her friend that she would find a family to adopt her too. Adjustment to her new life was greatly complicated by her pain and remorse over leaving Shu Ling and her inability to keep her promise, a huge responsibility for a young girl.

Chinese legend tells of an invisible, never breaking red thread that unites people that are destined to meet. This image, running through the book, also unites the girls. With empathetic insight into the thoughts and emotions of the burdened Wen, the author has written a mostly internal, yet tense and exciting page-turner.