The Phoenix Pencil Company

The Phoenix Pencil Company is a blend of magic, history, and family—no thin metaphors, just heart. In the 1930s, Yun and her cousin Meng's mothers run a pencil factory in Shanghai and discover a secret power to “Reforge” pencils, unlocking buried memories by pressing graphite into their veins. Their gift becomes a weapon in wartime espionage, and this is where things turn very interesting.

Fast‑forward to2018, Monica Tsai, the tech‑savvy granddaughter of Yun coding a social‑memory app, is determined to reconnect her grandmother to Meng who she fell out of touch with decades ago. The result is twin timelines rich in pencil‑sharp detail: old‑world war scars and modern‑day digital longing collide in a compelling debut novel.

Tangled with real history and emotional stakes. This book won’t pull you out of a reading slump, but it’s tender, layered, and quietly powerful.