The Phoenix Pencil Company

In "The Phoenix Pencil Company," Monica Tsai, a college freshman and self-proclaimed recluse, embarks on a journey to uncover her grandmother Yun's hidden past. Struggling with loneliness and concern for her elderly grandparents, Monica’s life takes a turn when a digital connection leads her to a mysterious young woman who gifts her a pencil containing clues to her family's history. As the narrative intertwines Monica's present with evocative memories from Yun's wartime experiences in Shanghai, the novel explores themes of memory, identity, and the transformative power of storytelling. This captivating debut blends history, fantasy, and romance to examine who truly owns our stories and the legacies we leave behind.