4.5 stars for Half the World Away by Cath Staincliffe.
This is every mother's worst nightmare come true.
Distance. Culture. Language. You name it, the story has it. Across the vast ocean from one end of the globe to the other, from Manchester in the UK to Chengdu in the Sichuan province in China, it is indeed Half the World Away. But when physical barrier no longer becomes an issue, the breakdown in communication and cultural differences become everything that stand in the way of reaching out to a loved one.
Having visited Chengdu before, I can relate easily to what the author is trying to bring across in her story. I love the way the author brings this big city to life with its spicy fiery food, the custom of adopting a Chinese name and the hustle and bustle of a typical day in the park to name a few.
Equally impressive are the little details, simple as it may seem, that add charm to the story. The author has either done a fantastic job in her research or she has gone the extra mile to visit this city where the sun never shines.
If you like mystery stories that revolve around family life, then this one is for you.
