Defying China

A Memoir

By: Tsultrim Dolma, Rebecca Wei Hsieh

Narrated by: Tenzing Kalden

The incredible true story of a teen who became an activist for the Tibetan independence movement, for readers of Red Scarf Girl and Farewell to Manzanar.

Tsultrim Dolma, born in a tiny village in the stunning mountains of eastern Tibet, always knew there had to be more than the life expected of her: More than no education, because her family was poor. More than being married off at a young age, because she was a girl. More than barely getting by under oppressive Chinese occupation, because she was Tibetan. When she was sixteen, Tsultrim found more, joining protests for the Tibetan independence movement, the call for her beloved country’s liberation from the People’s Republic of China. Shortly after, she was arrested and sent to Gutsa Detention Center, notorious for its brutal torture of political prisoners like Tsultrim.

This young adult memoir follows Tsultrim’s courageous coming of age through her time at Gutsa, being heavily surveilled by the government after her release, and, ultimately, her escape to the U.S. It also underscores the bravery it takes to speak up, and the power to be found in sharing one’s story.

Critic reviews

★ "This work shows the power of prayer and the kindness of strangers when facing horrifying circumstances. This powerfully and accessibly written story puts a human face on complex, ongoing issues. Chilling and memorable; a must-read." —Kirkus, starred review

"In this unflinching memoir . . . vivid language transports readers to the Kham region." —Publishers Weekly

"[A] vivid memoir . . . Visceral descriptions of Dolma’s emotional, spiritual, and physical journey create an immersive story." —Booklist