When the Chinese premier visits Harvard, international student Pei Lulu encounters a lone woman protesting who will drastically change her understanding of the People's Republic and her own place in the world. For the first time, Lulu learns of the 1989 protest movement and the government's violent response. Determined to find out more, she seeks answers from her family, who share surprising stories of their involvement. A formative university course prompts Lulu to pursue a line of PHD research focused on the protest movement. As Lulu navigates the nuances of academic politics in America, she also increasingly draws the attention of the Chinese government. Hamstrung and restricted in both China and the US, Lulu must ultimately come to terms with what it means to live in exile – forever between worlds. At once a compelling coming-of-age tale and a poignant tribute to the courage of activists, LOOKING FOR TANK MAN is a timely novel that explores with great depth and nuance the Tiananmen tragedy and warns against the dangers of authoritarian regimes.
