This collection, by noted historian and children's author Paul Yee, is based on the tumultuous and brave history of Chinese immigrants to North America. Drawing on the real background of the Chinese role in the gold rush, the building of the railway and the settling of the west coast in the nineteenth century, Yee has created eight original stories that combine the rough-and-tumble adventure of frontier life with the rich folk traditions that these immigrants brought from China.
In "Spirits of the Railway," a young man appeases the ghosts of dead Chinese railroad workers who were never properly buried; in "Forbidden Fruit," a father's prejudice prevents his beloved daughter from finding happiness with a man of another race; in "Sons and Daughters," a wealthy merchant finds that his obsession to leave his business to sons has tragic results; and in "The Revenge of the Iron Chink," Chinese salmon cannery workers achieve sweet and shocking revenge after they lose their jobs to an automated canning machine.
These tales are funny, sad, romantic and earthy, but ultimately, as a collection, they reflect the gritty optimism of the Chinese who overcame prejudice and adversity to build a unique place for themselves in North America. Accompanied by stunning and dramatic paintings by award-winning illustrator Simon Ng, this collection is a reminder of the important role the Chinese have played in the history of this continent.