It Could Happen Here CZM Rewind: CZM Book Club: "The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu
Jan 4, 2026
Margaret shares a poignant tale about rebuilding a ruined peach orchard and the deep emotional ties between characters. The narrator's reunion with Lane unearths years of absence and hidden pain. Through the enchanting Monkey King story, questions of immortality and betrayal surface. A life-altering decision leads to reflections on loyalty and sacrifice. Amidst anger and regret, a hopeful vision for regeneration emerges, suggesting collaboration to plant new beginnings. Expect insights into emotional storytelling and the art of craft.
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Reunion In The Dead Orchard
- Margaret Kiljoy reads Kelsey Yu's story about two friends reuniting in a ruined orchard after years apart.
- The narrator waits at the lone surviving tree hoping to mend a friendship damaged by choices during collapse.
Return Of The Hardened Friend
- Lane returns gaunt and hardened after eight years away, confronting the narrator about betrayal and survival choices.
- The story shows how scarcity and grief transformed relationships and hardened moral judgments.
Folklore As Political Language
- The narrator uses myth (Monkey King and peaches) to reconnect and translate cultural memory into political critique.
- Folklore becomes a shared language to discuss inequality and the dragons' hoarding of resources.
