Do Not Say We Have Nothing is a novel written by Canadian author, Madeleine Thien, and was first published in 2016. The novel follows a young Chinese-American girl, Marie, as she explores the impact of the Chinese Communist Party on her family throughout the years before their migration.
The book covers many historical points, including Mao Zedong's reign (1940’s), the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). It draws upon the impact of, for example, the land reforms, on the Chinese people and the resulting consequences.
The book won Thien numerous awards, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General's Award (2016). Thien also refers to many political songs throughout the book, including "The Internationale", by Eugène Pottier, which was used by the Communist Party of China during their reign.
