The Original Daughter
ABOUT
THE BOOK
Singapore, 1996. Before Arin, Genevieve Yang was an only child. Living with her parents and grandmother in a single-room flat in Bedok, she is saddled with an unexpected sibling when Arin appears, the shameful legacy of a grandfather thought long dead.
At once collaborators and sisters, Gen and Arin grow up inseparable, navigating the intensity of life in working-class Singapore – where insistence on achievement demands self-immolation in the realms of imagination, work, and play. But as the rapidly modernising, winner-takes-all world threatens to leave one behind as the other’s star rises exponentially, the sisters must weigh their allegiances, the cost of success and reckon with who they’ve become.
NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei is a remarkable debut that exemplifies literary excellence through its deft balance of emotional depth, cultural insight, and narrative sophistication. Wei’s writing stands out for its clarity and control, drawing readers into a story that is both deeply personal and resonant with broader social commentary. What distinguishes The Original Daughter is the strength and subtlety of its prose. Wei crafts characters that feel fully lived in. Complex, flawed, and achingly real, without ever resorting to caricature. Her portrayal of intergenerational tension and personal identity is at once tender and sharp, revealing a critique of contemporary Singapore that is incisive yet never didactic. Nuanced and engaging, the novel rewards close reading while remaining accessible to a wide audience. It captures the quiet upheavals of family and self-discovery with striking emotional intelligence. Wei’s voice is confident, original, and timely, marking her as one of the most exciting literary talents of her generation. For its literary merit, thoughtful critique, and the richness of its characters and language, The Original Daughter is a worthy contender for this year’s award. (National Library Board of Singapore)