The setting of the book starts in Tianjin, next the family moves to Shanghai, then she moves back to Tianjin, Then she moves to Hong Kong.
The main characters in the book are Aunt Baba, Aunt Baba– Adeline’s loving aunt. She’s one of the few ones who takes Adeline’s side in the family, is also Adeline’s mother’s best friend. Niang (Mother) – Adeline’s stepmother, is a French woman; married Adeline’s father one year after his wife died. She takes over after Nai Nai died.
Some of the other important people in the book are Mother/Mama – Adeline’s real mother,