Description

Xiao Wei’s grandma is an awesome hawker, well known for her Hokkien oyster cakes. But Xiao Wei always wanted to know why this snack was so special to her. One day, when Xiao Wei visits Ah Ma at her stall, all is revealed. Ah Ma’s tale transports Xiao Wei and readers back to Hui’an, China long ago where, as a child, she harvests oysters by the sea and eventually, sails to Nanyang for a better life.

Oyster Girl is a charming celebration of family ties. It is also author Joyce Chng’s tribute to her late grandma who was indeed an awesome hawker and whose traditional oyster cake recipe is included in the book. Ah Ma’s story captures a slice of Singapore’s pioneering past and the hardworking Hokkiens who settled in Singapore a long time ago. It is a peek into Singapore’s diverse hawker heritage, which is listed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity