Sunlight Playing over a Mountain

About the book

Jasmine Cheng has spent her life listening to the captivating stories told by her enchanting, carefree mother. Together, they are known as the Phoenix and Dragon. Jasmine's father is none other than the god Pangu, the creator of the heavens and earth. Despite her mother's string of boyfriends, Jasmine always finds a way to scare them off. Love, for her mother, brings about turmoil, restless nights, and harrowing situations, and it falls on Jasmine to maintain stability in their household—especially now that a social worker is keeping a close watch on them.

When Cal, her mother's former flame, unexpectedly appears, their fragile world begins to unravel, setting off a chain of events that will lead Jasmine on a journey across the country to the West Coast, delving into her past. Caught in a web of illusion and truth, Jasmine is determined to uncover the secrets, even as her mother's reluctance to be truthful drives a deeper wedge between them. Will this fracture in their reality shatter Jasmine, or will it finally allow in the light?

Selina Li Bi's enchanting debut captures the struggles of coming of age in a world that lacks magic and introduces a captivating new voice in the realm of young adult fiction.