Long Way Home: Journeys of a Chinese Montanan

by Flora Wong, Tom Decker

In 1936, seven-year-old Flora Wong, her parents, and her seven siblings left their home in Boston and set out across the Pacific Ocean on a twenty-one-day voyage to return to their parents' home village in rural southern China. Flora's father and mother sought a new, quiet life for their young family in their native land.

But this was a different China, and Flora's family would not find the peace they sought. China's Communist Party had begun its rise toward revolution. And in 1937, Japan invaded China. Within a few years of her arrival, full-scale world war engulfed Flora s new home.

Amid the turmoil, Flora and her family managed to build a modest life in their small village. In time, this young girl whose only home had been Boston, learned to tend the rice and vegetables, draw water from the town well, sew simple clothes and trap frogs and beetles. Her education ended in the second grade.

At eighteen, Flora was told she was engaged to be married. Working to ensure the survival of her six daughters, Chen Sun Ho had set a plan in motion to arrange marriages for each in the United States so they could return to the safety of their home country.

Flora began a new life in rugged Montana, worlds away from her small village. It was here that the timid girl grew into a wife, mother, business owner, and athlete. Now, some sixty years later, Flora Wong retraces her family's odyssey as she shares candid insights, heartbreaking tragedies, and personal triumphs.

Hers is a story of an authentic, ordinary person facing extraordinary challenges---the story of one Chinese Montanan's long way home.

Genres: Biography

248 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family history with much to offer any reader with an interest in immigrant experiences.

[Concetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have known Flora Wong since the late 70's. There is so much to know about Flora and this book really tells the story not only of her life, but of history. Flora is an extraordinary woman. Due to her outlook on life and her fitness, one would never guess she is 83! Read this book to better understand what was going on in China during the period beginning in the 30's, how one woman found her way to America, and came to build a life and family. I did not want it to end!

[Melissa Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandmother's story has taught me more than I could have imagined about our family's history. In speaking with other people who grew up during the same time period, her story is not an uncommon one...just one that is untold. Like many other Chinese Americans their history have rough edges. Being a "picture-bride" could not have been easy, but understanding the love that my grandmother found in my grandfather Charlie is one for the books. As one of my biggest role models, Flora tells the story of her not-so-easy start to what has become a very passionate tale of a very determined woman whom I strive to emulate.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love biographies of people like Flora Wong. She has had an amazing life although she probably sees it as quite ordinary. She has had experiences many of us can never dream of like responsibility for her family's food supply from the ages of eight to eighteen, arranged marriage, life in a foreign country without any understanding of the language, giving birth several times without understanding she was pregnant and the list goes on. This is an enjoyable story of a remarkable woman and I am glad that someone convinced her to write it down and share it with the rest of us.

[Linda Gabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story of Chinese woman and her family living in Helena in the 1950’s to 2000s A caring, strong independent woman who was raised in China. A glimpse of life and customs in China prior to 1949. Too bad that the writing is not better. It’s pretty much ‘just the facts’ type of book.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chinese family living in Boston decided to move back to China; to the village their ancestors were from, to a simpler life. In 1937 the mother could see the government change. She started sending her teenage daughters to the US. As a good mother she was protecting them from the communist way of life. Flora one the five daughters married a prosperous Chinese man from Helena, Montana. Flora loved the city and in 40 years there has witnessed a lot of growth and change.

[Julie Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting, her life, etc. most fascinating is that I was there then! High school at the same time as her kids and working at Helena YMCA when she learned to swim! Small world. Can’t wait to get home to check my yearbook for her kids.

[zabbb · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUE INCREÍBLE LIBROOOO
Flora pasó por una vida dura, pero que debido a todas sus experiencias pudo crecer como persona y tener una vida feliz y sana.
La verdad es que desde el primer momento la historia me atrapó y nunca me aburrí leyéndolo.
Me gustaría mucho conocer a Flora Wong :)

[Susan Baranek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening addition to Helena history!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. This book should be turned into a movie! This is a powerful story about family and determination.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good!
The first half covers Flora's childhood in China in the '30s and '40s, and it was like a nonsensationalist account of an Amy Tan or Lisa See novel (without violence and rape following war with Japan).
The rest of the story detailed Flora's life here in Helena, Montana. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about life in downtown Helena in the '50s and '60s, before urban renewal changed it forever and box stores sprung up on our farmlands to choke the community into soulless homogeny. It was a delight to learn about local history from this endangered point of view and recognize people I've heard of (like a friend's late husband who shot the man robbing the Wong's store). And it was fun and interesting to follow Flora's development in our culture, like using diapers on her babies instead of slitted pants. There's so little left of Helena's - and Montana's - once-thriving Chinese culture; I'm so glad Flora documented her life.
This book is a great choice for anyone wanting to learn more about the Chinese in recent American history.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flora Wong has led a fascinating life, very different from the experiences of most of us. She was born in Boston, but then went back to China with her family and grew up in a Chinese village in the 1930s. She came back to the United States in an arranged marriage in between World War II and the take over of the communists, and settled in Helena, Montana. There she raised a family and flourished. This book weaves the exciting times in her life with details about the living in an informative and engaging way, though I'll admit that the somewhat circular writing style was a struggle for me, particularly in the beginning.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Way Home tells the story of Montanan Flora Wong - her Boston beginnings in 1928, the family's return to China in 1936 and subsequently Flora's arranged marriage to Helena (Montana)resident Charlie Wong. Flora recalls her childhood in a remote village in China and her adjustments to a completely different life as a Chinese American wife and mother in Helena during the 40's to the present day. What an indomitable spirit. What an extraordinary look at life in both China and in Montana during mid-20th century.

[Tom E Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful memoir!

This is a heartfelt, insightful description of a family’s journey in times of great change. The book highlights the complexity of immigration and the perseverance needed to adapt to challenges in a new country and community.

[Nel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not hold my attention ... slogged my way through it.