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Written by Mark A. Rafter Editorial Director

Book Review: The Daughter of the Peace General

Building Bridges Between China and USA

Zhang Sujiu and Peter Kjenaas

Building Bridges The Daughter of the Peace General is a deeply human story that explores the personal cost of public service, the weight of legacy, and the delicate balance between love and duty of the peace general—an emblem of integrity, sacrifice, and diplomacy. Then the transition to a moving beautifully composed novel that celebrates the quiet heroism of a young woman forging her place in the world built by her father’s renown. After living through the trauma of a war-torn country and moving forward into the period of economic reform, the author Zhang Sujiu as she tells her story with the assistance of Peter Kjenaas, made her way to America to build bridges of cooperation and understanding between China and the USA while creating her own legacy. The story follows her as she navigates the challenging world of expectations and public idealism, seeking to form her own identity under the weight of her father’s revered legacy. I love history and find through this book things that are from behind the scenes of the public persona that tell a compelling story of things I never knew. Having done an editing of the book I read and reread every page. The more I read, the more I found myself drawn into history as if it put me into the places and scenes painted by Ms. Sujiu. It reminded me of having interviewed and written about a few of the last surviving Flying Tiger Pilots and having family that fought against the Japanese War Machine know some of the inside story that differs from that others might tell.

At the heart of the novel is the daughter of a revered peace general—an iconic figure celebrated for his diplomacy, integrity, and unwavering moral compass. Through her eyes, readers are drawn into the complexities of growing up in the shadow of greatness, where expectations are high and personal identity often takes a backseat to public image. Themes of generational tension, moral duty, and the search for inner truth making a testament to her own inner strength, complexity, talents and the courage to chart her own path while honoring the traditions of her father and mother. The book delivers a moving narrative that lingers long after the final page.

What sets this book apart is its powerful emotional resonance along with factual eyewitness accounts of interaction with China’s leadership and a glimpse of where China’s future leadership was to arise and come from. I was amazed to learn as Madam Sujiu told her story of how Chairman Xi’s father worked with her father. The General Zhang being Chiang Kai-shek’s Chief of Staff and later joining Mao, and Zhou En Lai for the sake of peace for China.

Her journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and reconciliation—not only with her father’s legacy, but with her own dreams and scars. The author masterfully balances historical context with intimate storytelling, creating a layered narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is heartfelt. This book provides the world a glimpse of General Zhang…was a quiet man from a humble village who always enjoyed being a teacher, yet when leadership was thrusted upon him, and he answered the call humbly, sacrificed his own quiet life for the betterment of the Chinese People. The book describes the love of a dutiful traditional mother and the dignity and respect and love story of her parents that comes through in a manner befitting such a legacy. The book tells from a loving daughter an eyewitness account of the history and great sacrifice of a man who brought opposing sides together and began China on a course of setting aside differences and Chinese killing Chinese and uniting against an attacking enemy the Japanese War Machine and later helping to bring China coming into the modern world while describing her own personal look back through vivid memories and captures a reader to desire to read-on.

The writing is rich in atmosphere and insight. Relationships—between father and daughter, past and present, peace and personal turmoil—are rendered with nuance and compassion.

For readers who appreciate literary fiction that speaks to both the heart and the mind, The Daughter of the Peace General is a must-read. It’s a beautifully written tribute to the enduring bonds of family, the cost of heroism, and the quiet strength found in forging one’s own path.

Highlights

• Character depth: The protagonist is fully realized—authentic, introspective, and flawed, yet inspirational in her compassion and resilience.
• Emotional resonance: The authors strike a delicate balance between the grandeur of public duty and the intimacy of personal struggle.
• Writing style: Poetic yet grounded, the prose captures both sweeping historical context with a subtle nuance.
• Supporting cast: A varied ensemble—trusted allies, skeptical rivals, and unexpected mentors— such as dancing with Chairman Mao who was living at their family home that adds richness and emotional texture to the main story.

Why It Stands Out

• A tribute to service and identity: The book honors profound public contributions while exploring the private reckoning that accompanies them and Madam Sujiu’s own contributions to America and the American Chinese Community.
• Grace under pressure: The protagonist’s inner journey—defined by courage, doubt, and eventual self-possession—feels deeply human and deeply moving.
• Accessible yet sophisticated: Ideal for both general readers and literary enthusiasts, blending heartfelt storytelling with thoughtful personal reflection while interacting with a child and her mother on the train.

Who Will Love It

• Fans of literary drama that explores the intersection of personal and political life.
• People who want to be surprised by the reality of history within China with traditional life before war and the making of peace thereafter.
• Readers drawn to narratives about legacy, family expectation, and self-definition.
• Anyone who enjoys emotionally immersive stories that still carry narrative weight and thematic depth.

Verdict
The Daughter of the Peace General is a moving, beautifully composed novel that celebrates the quiet heroism of a young woman forging her place in a world built by someone else’s renown and then escaping the trauma of a war-torn country and coming to America and creating her own legacy. It’s a stirring testament to the power of inner strength, emotional complexity, and the courage to chart one’s own path.

The book is soon to be release and can be obtained at website on Amazon in book stores: