Feeding Ghosts

Tessa Hulls's graphic memoir, Feeding Ghosts, delves into the complex history of three generations of Chinese women, tracing the profound impact of political upheaval and personal trauma across a family. It begins with Sun Yi, a Shanghai journalist swept into the turmoil of the 1949 Communist victory, whose subsequent persecution and flight to Hong Kong led to a bestselling memoir and a mental breakdown. Her daughter, Tessa's mother, grew up navigating the weight of this unexamined trauma and mental illness.

Tessa Hulls embarks on her own journey, initially seeking escape in remote parts of the world, only to find herself drawn back to confront the inherited fears and silences that haunt her lineage. Through evocative illustrations and a deeply personal narrative, the book explores themes of love, grief, exile, and identity, making a sweeping period of Chinese history accessible while illuminating the enduring power of family connection. This compelling exploration offers a vivid and heartbreaking account of survival and the search for understanding within a family shaped by historical forces and personal struggles.