Shanghai Girls by Lisa See gives readers an amazing glimpse of life for Chinese immigrants who came to the United States in the 1930's. Two young women, May and Pearl, have grown up in Shanghai are living a life of luxury when they lose everything due to their father's gambling. They are forced to flee Shanghai and endure many difficulties and hardships before they come to America to enter into arranged marriages with 2 brothers. May has a daughter which she must give up to her sister Pearl and this daughter, Joy, becomes a person of great importance to everyone in the extended Chinese family. The story describes life for Chinese in Los Angeles and all the hardships they face until the disaster comes wtih the fears of Communism that engulf the United States in the 1950's. Woven among the story from beginning to end is the special relationship between May and Pearl, which endures in spite of so many tragedies. Lisa See gives a compelling view into the lives of the Chinese people in America.