This was a good book. I read it in no time as I had a hard time putting it down. Story of a girl that was trained as a spy in China - who then befriends an American and pays for it. Unbelievable what she went through. Not a happy ending, feel good kind of book. I really liked it though ( )

Mai Lin tells her story, as the daughter of a Christian in China she grew up knowing what it is like to be persecuted. The house church that she is a part of is raided and the pastor carted off to jail. Mai Lin comforts her best friend, the son of the pastor, and they make tentative plans for a future together. But first Mai Lin wants to fulfill her dreams of going to university. But her outspokeness about her faith gets her into trouble and her dreams may never have a chance of coming true.
This story was gripping for the dramatic way it portrays the courage of those standing up for their faith in dismal circumstances. The orphanage scenes are particularly graphic and may disturb some readers--in ways we need to be disturbed. Still, the story seemed a bit contrived and predictable in places. ( )