Like Spilled Water

A suspenseful and poignant exploration of family dynamics and gender roles in today’s China.

Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. Years ago, Na’s parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything, including all their savings, to his education. 

But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really end his life because of a low score on China’s all-important college entrance exam? Her parents can’t bear to talk about him, so Na investigates on her own. She learns that Bao-bao had many secrets—and that his death may not be what it seems. She also learns that her parents have serious money problems, and as their only remaining child, she’s expected to quit school and go to work to help support them. As more secrets come to light, Na must decide not only what she owes to her brother’s memory, but what she owes to herself.

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Nominated, 2022

In the Margins: Fiction List, Short-listed, 2022

Freeman Book Award Title Of Note, Commended, 2020

“[F]ilters detailed depictions of filial piety, funeral rites, grief, romantic relationships, and parental support through a modern teenager’s perspective. … Will lead readers through a quiet revolution.”—Kirkus Reviews