The Walled City, contrary to what it is labeled as, is not a dystopian novel. It’s a story about a walled city, yes, but that very real walled city was demolished in 1994. What’s scariest isn’t just the description of the wall; it’s the fact that this story is the story of thousands of girls, albeit with a much bleaker ending. Perhaps what’s even scarier is the fact that up until reading The Walled City, I had never heard of Kowloon Walled City or the tragedy attached to it. Ryan Grandin has opened her readers’ eyes to a situation many never knew existed, and for this she should be lauded.
The novel centers around three main characters – Dai, Jin, and Mei Yee. Dai traffics drugs, but now he wants freedom and needs help from someone else. Enter Jin. She doesn’t really have a secret, unless you count the fact that she’s disguising as a boy to protect herself as she searches for her lost sister. Oh, wait, that’s a huge secret. And finally we have Mei Yee, who’s been trapped in a brothel and is losing hope. All of that is about to change, though, when the three’s lives intersects.
Ryan Grandin’s writing is beautiful. Something about the she can weave the simplest of words together into a breathtaking, powerful quilt of phrases astounds me. Her description of Kowloon Walled City is also well-done; it’s dark and gritty and detailed. One of the most important things when it comes to books about unfamiliar situations is choosing the right details to showcase scenes. Grandin has shown her mastery of such a task. As I was reading the book, I never felt confused about the scenery. Her descriptions were not only informative but also imperative to the book as a whole.
I admit the plot of The Walled City probably never happened in real life. However, the tone of the story, the details, and even some of the events in the story seem very real. It’s a fast-paced book to begin with, and it’s gets even more fast-paced when Dai, Jin, and Mei Yee meet. Suddenly all of those pieces click and make sense. Suddenly the novel goes from three individuals to a group of three eager to make their way out of one of the most dangerous places in the world. I stayed up until two in the morning to read it, and I don’t regret it. Grandin gets it — she gets how to suck a reader into the story and never let them go.
The Walled City ended my reading rut and opened my eyes to a heartbreaking situation. Trust me if you’re having issues deciding whether to read this book — it’s worth it.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Publisher: Little, Brown (November 4th, 2014)
Source: Netgalley
Length: 432 pages (Hardcover)
ISBN #: 9780316405058
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