'Feeding Ghosts' is a graphic memoir grappling with generational trauma
NPR's Book of the Day examines Tessa Hulls' investigation into her family's history, focusing on the impact of China's Cultural Revolution on three generations of women. The episode explores how Hulls' grandmother's experiences as a dissident journalist led to her institutionalization, and how this trauma affected both Hulls' mother, who was raised in a Hong Kong boarding school, and Hulls herself.
Through her research, Hulls uncovers the complex colonial influences that shaped her family's relationship with China and their cultural identity. The episode details how this investigation helped Hulls develop a deeper understanding of her grandmother's character, while also allowing her to address patterns of isolation in her own life and strengthen her relationship with her mother.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jan 1, 2026 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
Generational Trauma and Its Impact on Family Dynamics
Tessa Hulls explores her family's history, focusing on how her grandmother's experiences during China's Cultural Revolution created lasting generational trauma that shaped her family's dynamics.
The Legacy of Trauma
Hulls recounts how her grandmother, a dissident journalist during China's Civil War, documented her experiences in a memoir titled "Eight Years in Red Shanghai." The process of writing this memoir triggered a series of mental breakdowns, eventually leading to her institutionalization at Hong Kong's Castle Peak hospital. This trauma profoundly affected Hulls' mother, who was subsequently raised as an orphan at an elite Hong Kong boarding school. Her mother's childhood became defined by cycles of crisis and caregiving, creating complicated dynamics in her relationship with Hulls.
Navigating Cultural Divides
The family's relationship with China was shaped by complex colonial influences. Hulls' grandmother sought to access colonial power structures in segregated Shanghai, even having a child with a Swiss diplomat. This pattern of cultural separation continued when Hulls' mother attended an elite colonial boarding school in Hong Kong. Hulls describes feeling both disconnected from and indefinitely shaped by China, reflecting the broader impact of her family's severed cultural ties.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
Through her research, Hulls developed a more nuanced understanding of her grandmother's morally complex character. The process of investigating her family's history transformed Hulls' own life, leading her to move away from what she calls her "cowboy" lifestyle of extreme independence. By working closely with her mother on this project, Hulls was able to mend their relationship and gain deeper insights into their shared patterns of isolation and disconnection, ultimately finding a balance between independence and familial connection.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can explore your family history to understand generational patterns by starting a genealogy project using online resources and local archives. Begin by creating a family tree and reaching out to relatives for stories, photographs, and documents. This can help you identify recurring themes or events that may have shaped your family's dynamics and your own life.
- Create a personal memoir or journal to document your experiences and reflections, focusing on how your family's past has influenced you. Writing can be therapeutic and provide insights into your own behaviors and decisions. You don't need to aim for publication; the goal is self-understanding and capturing your narrative.
- Engage in open, empathetic conversations with family members about their experiences and feelings, aiming to bridge gaps in understanding and heal past traumas. Approach these discussions with sensitivity and without judgment, allowing space for each person to share their perspective. This can foster stronger connections and mutual support within your family.
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Generational Trauma and Its Impact on Family Dynamics
Tessa Hulls delves into her family history to explore the lasting effects of generational trauma stemming from her grandmother's experiences in Maoist China and their impact on subsequent family dynamics.
Grandmother's Mental Trauma From China's Cultural Revolution
Hulls shares the gripping narrative of her grandmother's life as a dissident journalist during China's Civil War and Communist takeover.
Memoir of Grandmother's Time as a Dissident Journalist During Civil War and Communist Takeover
Her grandmother's memoir, "Eight Years in Red Shanghai, Love, Starvation, Persecution," written upon fleeing to Hong Kong, captures the harrowing events that led to her mental trauma. The act of writing this memoir marked the beginning of a series of mental breakdowns that would lead to her eventual institutionalization.
Grandmother's Trauma Had Long-Lasting Effects on Her Daughter
The traumatic effects of the grandmother's experiences rippled through generations, significantly impacting her daughter, Hulls' mother.
Grandmother's Mental Illness Led To Institutionalization; Mother Raised As Orphan
Hulls’ grandmother was eventually institutionalized at Castle Peak, Hong Kong's first mental hospital. Consequently, her daughter, Hull's mother, was raised as an orphan by the elite Diocesan Girls' School in Hong Kong.
Mother's Struggle to Connect and Form Healthy Relationships Stemmed From a Childhood Cycle of Crisis and Caregiving
Hulls describes how her mother's life became entwined with caregiving for her own mother from a young age, shaping her perception of love as inextricably linked to suffering. This perpetual cycle of crisis and care instilled a fear in Hulls' mother that Hulls would inherit the grandmother's mental illness, creating a strain on their relationship.
The Author Grappled With Her Grandmother's Legacy
Hulls reflects on the comp ...
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Generational Trauma and Its Impact on Family Dynamics
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Start a personal journal to explore your family history and its impact on your life, focusing on patterns that may have been passed down through generations. By writing down your family's stories and your reflections, you can identify recurring themes and behaviors that may be rooted in past traumas. For example, if you notice a pattern of avoidance in relationships, consider how this might relate to your ancestors' coping mechanisms and think about ways to address it in your own life.
- Create a visual family tree that includes not just names and dates but also personal traits, significant life events, and mental health challenges. This can help you visualize the connections between your family members' experiences and your own personality or life choices. You might use colors or symbols to represent different aspects, such as resilience or hardship, and see how these have influenced your family over time.
- Engage in a creative project, like writing a ...
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Navigating Cultural Divides: Chinese Immigrants and Descendants
Hulls dives into the transcultural narratives encompassing a journey from the semi-colonial lifestyle of Shanghai to the elite boarding schools of Hong Kong, revealing how these experiences led to a family's complex cultural ties with China.
Grandmother's Chinese Immigrant Dissident Experiences Shaped by Segregation and Colonialism
Hulls recounts her grandmother's attempts to court the lifestyle of white expatriates in racially segregated Shanghai. During this era, her grandmother aimed to live the semi-colonial life that epitomized the perceived glamour of Shanghai's foreign-dominated quarters.
Author's Mother Raised Between China and Hong Kong
Mother Attended Elite Hong Kong Boarding School After Grandmother's Institutionalization
When Hulls' grandmother was institutionalized, her mother was sent to DGS, an elite colonial boarding school in Hong Kong. This experience continued the pattern of a lifestyle distanced from the cultural and social realities of China's broader population.
Author Felt Connection and Disconnection to China
China Was Distant yet Omnipresent, as She Faced Her Family's Severed Cultural Ties
The author, ...
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Navigating Cultural Divides: Chinese Immigrants and Descendants
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your own family's historical context by creating a visual timeline that includes major cultural and political events alongside personal family milestones. This activity helps you understand how larger societal forces may have shaped your family's experiences and decisions. For example, if your grandparents lived through a significant historical event, place that on the timeline and research how it might have impacted their lives, such as migration patterns or changes in social status.
- Start a cultural exchange journal where you document your experiences with different cultures, including your own, to better understand your connection to them. Write about cultural practices, foods, holidays, and languages you encounter, and reflect on how they make you feel connected or disconnected from those cultures. This could be as simple as trying a traditional dish from a country your ancestors came from and writing about the experience.
- Engage in inte ...
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Author's Journey of Self-Discovery and Reconciling With Family History
Tessa Hulls delves into her family's past, embarking on a transformational journey of self-discovery that alters her perceptions about her identity and place in the world.
Research Complicated Her Sympathetic View of Grandmother
Through her research, Tessa Hulls developed a nuanced understanding of her grandmother. What began as a sympathetic view evolved as she confronted the morally ambiguous choices her grandmother made. Hulls acknowledges that these revelations about her grandmother’s calculated decisions were a key part of her journey.
Researching and Writing Her Family's History Was a Transformative Experience for the Author
Hulls describes the process of researching and writing her family’s history as transformative. She shared how facing her mother and grandmother required her to move away from her "cowboy" lifestyle—characterized by extreme independence and adventures to remote places—and towards a softer, more connected approach.
Author Overcame "Cowboy" Mentality to Connect With Mother
The author realized that a pattern of generational trauma led to isolation and a lack of connection, traits that she, her mother, and her grandmother shared. By working closely with her mother on a book project and embarking on international research trips together, Hulls mended their relationship. The journey allowed both her and her mother to gain insight into each other's expressions of love, morality, and duty, despite their different cultural upbringings.
Author's Evolving Understanding of Identity and Place in the World Through Journey
From Freedom to Balanced Exploration and Connection
Hulls signifies that her researc ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Author's Journey of Self-Discovery and Reconciling With Family History
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Start a personal history project by creating a visual timeline of your family's past, including photos, documents, and anecdotes you gather from relatives. This can help you see the broader narrative of your family and identify patterns or traits that have been passed down through generations. For example, you might discover a history of entrepreneurship or artistic talent that you share with your ancestors.
- Write letters to older family members asking for stories about their lives and the lives of relatives who have passed away. This can foster a deeper connection with your family and provide a richer understanding of your heritage. You might learn about your great-grandparent's struggles and triumphs, which could give you a new perspective on your own challenges.
- Organize a "family story nigh ...
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