Barbara's Reviews > Freedom Swimmer

Inspired by her own father's story, the author carefully brings together the lives of two young men, Ming and Li, in China in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ming has seen all the members of his family die in Guangdong during famine and the Three Years of Natural Disasters. He remembers his father's stories and how he spoke of the men who tried to swim to Hong Kong and freedom, and he experiences the stigma attached to the family of anyone who has done so. His days are filled with hard work in the fields and some companionship with other villagers at night, but life is hard. When Li, a former Red Guard arrives from the city, he is completely enthralled by the words of Chairman Mao and the Cultural Revolution, and completely unsuited for the hard physical labor that he will need to perform each day. On their own, both young men begin to question the party line, and slowly, yearn for freedom. Li helps Ming reconnect with Fei, a girl he met years ago, and the couple share tender moments while Fei is being educated about Mao's policies. Li and Ming also enjoy swimming at night. When Li comes under suspicion of the authorities because of his father's actions, enduring cruel beatings and self-criticism and Fei is lost to Ming, and with nothing else left to lose, the two friends decide to try to swim their way to freedom even though to do so is risky. This riveting story of heroism and awakening to the imperfections of one's governmental leaders and policies sheds insight into China during that particular period as well as highlighting the importance of friendship and allies and the universal impulse toward freedom. Readers will feel as though they are in the water with Ming as he strokes toward a different, surely better, life. Since the story is told through alternating points of view, readers gain insight into two perspectives on events.