By Xiao Hei | Translated into English for the first time
 
A Tibetan Girl Called Ata is a haunting literary love story set against the backdrop of political unrest in modern Tibet. Originally published to acclaim in Taiwan, this powerful novel breaks new ground in Chinese-language fiction, tracing a tragic romance between a Han Chinese businessman and a young Tibetan woman during the 2008 Lhasa uprising.
 
Han Ge is an ordinary middle-aged man living a life of comfort and detachment in Chengdu. Everything changes when he meets Ata – a radiant, sharp-witted Tibetan folk singer. Their passionate connection defies social and political boundaries, but it also draws the attention of forces beyond their control.
 
As tensions rise in Tibet, the couple's journey takes them from the vibrant streets of Chengdu to the highland villages of Ata’s homeland. But when violence erupts, cultural divisions harden and personal safety becomes uncertain. Ata’s fight to protect her brother from the shadowy forces of state power pulls her and Han Ge into a web of danger that love alone cannot escape.
 
This deeply moving novel explores love, loss, courage, and the devastating impact of surveillance and nationalism on ordinary lives. A Tibetan Girl Called Ata is a unique and unforgettable story of two people torn apart by history.