China Dolls by Lisa See ***

This novel traces the lives of three girls, Helen, Ruby, and Grace, who meet in San Francisco in the late 30s. Helen and Grace are of Chinese parentage, while Ruby is Japanese, although she succeeds for awhile in passing for Chinese.  The three girls work as dancers in Chinese night clubs, and two of the girls at least achieve a measure of stardom. Ruby's background is discovered and she spends some time in an internment camp for Japanese, who of course are sworn enemies of the Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. The novel is a good story of friendship with all its ups and downs,  plus a good depiction of entertainment by Chinese people  during the war. Maybe didn't have the impact of Dreams of Joy, or Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, but still held my attention- no mean feat these days with Mike in hospital and our future uncertain!