The Strength of Water

The Strength of Water wasn’t just another memoir for me—I wasn’t ready for how much Helen Yee’s story would stick with me. Born in 1923 to Chinese immigrants running a laundry in Detroit during the rise of the auto industry, Helen grew up fast in a world of hard work and prejudice. Her dad’s a stern guy, pouring his life into the business and sometimes lashing out, while her mom’s health keeps her distant and fragile. Jensen writes so vividly that I could feel the heat of the laundry’s irons and hear kids taunting Helen with “Ching, Ching, Chinaman” at school. Yet, her spunk—nicknamed “little monkey” for her playful energy—comes through in moments like her hopscotch games or dreaming of drugstore dolls. The gut-punch came when Helen, barely 12, moved with her siblings to China after her mom’s death, taken there by her dad only to feel like an outsider in her dad’s village because of her American ways.

Helen’s story is all about bending like water through life’s challenges without breaking. From facing racism in Detroit to building a life in Piedmont with a Sea Ranch cabin, she fights for her dreams. Jensen’s words are simple but hit deep, like when she describes Helen’s mom shelling melon seeds for her kids—a small act of love in a tough life. The push and pull of Chinese traditions versus American ambitions shapes Helen’s journey, making her feel real and relatable. A few threads, like her mom’s eerie spiritual moments, left me hanging, and the pacing slows a bit toward the end. But cheering for Helen as she sees her daughters graduate from college, their tassels on her mirror, felt like a personal win. This memoir’s about finding your place when the world tries to box you out, and it left me inspired to keep pushing forward.

The Strength of Water is an honest memoir that gets to the heart of resilience and identity. Jensen's ability to tell a story makes this a must-read for anyone who loves stories about real people overcoming real odds.