The Original Daughter
BOOK BY Jemimah Wei
ABOUT BOOK In this dazzling debut, Stegner Fellow Jemimah Wei explores the formation and dissolution of family bonds in a story of ambition and sisterhood in turn-of-the-millennium Singapore. Before Arin, Genevieve Yang was an only child. Living with her parents and grandmother in a single-room flat in working-class Bedok, Genevieve is saddled with an unexpected sibling when Arin appears, the shameful legacy of a grandfather long believed to be dead. As the two girls grow closer, they must navigate the intensity of life in a place where the urgent insistence on achievement demands constant sacrifice. Knowing that failure is not an option, the sisters learn to depend entirely on one another as they spurn outside friendships, leisure, and any semblance of a social life in pursuit of academic perfection and passage to a better future. When a stinging betrayal violently estranges Genevieve and Arin, Genevieve must weigh the value of ambition versus familial love, home versus the outside world, and allegiance to herself versus allegiance to the people who made her who she is. In the story of a family and its contention with the roiling changes of our rapidly modernizing, winner-take-all world, The Original Daughter is a major literary debut, rife with emotional clarity and searing social insight. The book appeals to readers who value thoughtful storytelling over constant action. Moments of introspection and dialogue are used effectively to deepen understanding of the characters and their motivations. These quieter elements contribute significantly to the story’s emotional resonance. The narrative avoids unnecessary complexity, instead focusing on clear storytelling supported by strong character development. This approach makes the book accessible while still offering depth for those who seek it. As a result, it appeals to a broad audience.