The Gift of Rain

In Tan Twan Eng's acclaimed debut novel, The Gift of Rain, set against the backdrop of World War II on the lush island of Penang, a young man named Philip Hutton grapples with his mixed heritage and feelings of alienation from both the Chinese and British communities. At 16, he forms an unexpected friendship with Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat, who introduces him to the world of aikido and Japanese culture. However, as war erupts and loyalties are tested, Philip discovers that his mentor is actually a spy, thrusting him into a moral quandary where he must covertly navigate the dire circumstances to protect lives, including his own family's.