The Red Car to Hollywood

by Jennie Liu

Los Angeles, 1924

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American girl. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes―and then is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents―she’s in a tough spot. Horrified that Ruby’s reputation is at risk, her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband. Ruby is determined to foil their plans. But how?

Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star Anna May Wong, one of her neighbors in LA’s Chinatown. The girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen, and she scoffs at white people’s assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, surely Ruby can too.

Not everything is as it seems, though. Danger and betrayal lurk amidst the new possibilities. To build the life she wants, Ruby will have to contend with how others see her―and decide if she’s ready to truly see herself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Family, Audiobook, Asian American

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Jennie Liu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Having been brought up with an ear to two cultures, she has been fascinated with the attitudes, social policies and changes in China each times she visits. Follow her on Twitter @starnesliu and IG @jennieliuliu.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie Liu is the author of four young adult novels, including Like Spilled Water and Girls on the Line. Her latest, The Red Car to Hollywood, follows the misadventures of Ruby Chan, a Chinese American teenager living in 1920s Los Angeles. Ruby gets into hot water when her parents discover she has been dating one of her white classmates from high school. Rather than let her help manage the family’s antique business in Chinatown, her father is convinced he must marry Ruby off to keep her out of trouble and maintain the family’s propriety in the community. Of course, Ruby has other ideas about her future, and along the way she meets Anna May Wong, who is still working in her father’s laundry despite her burgeoning fame as a film star. Ruby and Anna May are two like-minded gals. They have a lot of fun together—and sometimes get into a bit of trouble!

As the daughter of Chinese immigrants who has described herself as having been “brought up with an ear to two cultures,” Jennie Liu does a masterful job of weaving Anna May Wong’s story together with her protagonist’s imagined one. Anna May’s recent surge in popularity has spawned a number of novels that either include her as a character or characters inspired by her. The Red Car to Hollywood is my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. You can tell the amount of care Jennie has put into the research—in fact, that’s how we first connected. Jennie emailed me around the time we were both finishing up first drafts of our manuscripts and we traded a few newspaper clippings.

Her book was such a joy to read because unlike nonfiction, where one has to stay firmly tied to the facts, it imagines the world that Ruby and Anna May inhabited in a way that is incredibly satisfying. For example, I’ve always known that Anna May’s career caused strife at home. Her parents didn’t always agree with her acting but they were willing to look the other way when she brought home fat paychecks. But there are no recorded conversations Anna May might have had with her parents (other than episodes she recounted in interviews). In Red Car, we actually get to see and hear how her family might have responded to things like seeing her stripped down to that scandalous Mongol slave’s costume for The Thief of Bagdad.

With all this in mind, Jennie and I got together to discuss where the idea for her book came from and how she set about writing it. You can read our full interview here: https://halfcastewoman.substack.com/p...

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

While romance is my favorite genre, I do have a soft spot for historical fiction. And after reading quite a few romance books it was great to dive into this new story, especially one about an underrepresented community! Ruby felt like a real character and some of the solutions she came up with in her predicaments were fun to watch.

I loved how the author included actress Anna May Wong in the story. Though an influential figure, she’s (sadly) not one of the first people to be thought of when someone mentions Hollywood’s golden age. Her friendship with Ruby helped make her feel more human rather than just a passing figure. The author pulled from real history and it definitely shows!

I also appreciated how, while the story ends on a high note, not everything gets resolved with a neat bow. Some of the perpetrators that Ruby dealt with never receive any comeuppance, and that felt like a more honest way to portray the landscape of the 1920s for Chinese Americans rather than sugarcoating it (as much I would’ve loved seeing her get justice).

I would’ve liked to see Ruby helping out in her father’s store before she had gotten in trouble. She has a huge passion for it, but the story only tells us she’s really good at working there before showing it. A scene or two showcasing her savviness with sales would’ve been a great addition. I also wish her relationship with James had more of a resolution. I don’t see them dating, but a continuation of their friendship would’ve been sweet.

I hope this book receives more attention, it’s a good one!

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: racism, sexism, sexual assault

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American teenager. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes and is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents, her life gets locked and chained. Her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband and her dad will also look for a husband on his business trip to China.

Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star, Anna May Wong at her family’s laundromat and the girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen and she scoffs at others' assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, so can Ruby.

I could really tell the research Jennie Liu had done with this novel and appreciated how she showed the issues Chinese teens dealt with in the 1920s. This isn’t a time in history I read too often so it was a learning experience for me as well. I have read about a few laws that were put into place in America around the 1940s but was not aware some of them were put into place decades before.

I appreciated Ruby’s growth and determination about forging her own path but still trying to be somewhat respectful. Though the story ends on a high note, it’s not wrapped up sweet and nicely and leaves room for the reader to imagine Ruby’s story beyond the time we read with her.

Overall, this is an informative, coming of age, historical fiction about growing up as a female Chinese American in Los Angeles’ Chinatown in 1920 that any historical reader would enjoy.

*Thank you Carolrhoda Lab and LibraryThing for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

When word gets to her parents that sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan was seen with a white boy, they immediately pull her out of high school and hire a matchmaker to find a husband for her. She may be American born, but as far as anyone in 1924 Los Angeles is concerned, she is Chinese, and needs to learn her place. When her Ba leaves for one final purchasing trip to China, he threatens to find a Chinese husband for her who will also serve as an overseas contact for their curiosity shop in Chinatown. With the current crackdown on immigration, leaving the United States could mean losing her citizenship. But Ruby has no intention of marrying, either here or in China. When she meets and becomes friends with Anna May Wong, the Chinese American movie star, she’s impressed with Anna’s determination and drive to succeed, and wonders if there is a place for her in the booming business of Hollywood. Liu expertly portrays the experiences of Chinese Americans in California after the completion of the railroad. Ruby’s development as an adolescent rebelling against the traditional expectations of her parents and then gradually gaining insight into the complex realities of their world will feel authentic to teens of all backgrounds. The exploration of Orientalism and sexual harassment in the work place adds depth and tension to this slim but insightful novel.

[petitepageturner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hollywood in the 20's, that alone intrigued me enough to request this book.

The Red Car to Hollywood follows Chinese-American teenager Ruby Chan as her life is imploding amongst the racially segregated Hollywood in the 1920's. Ruby has done the unthinkable by dating a white (affluent) teenage boy, an act that brings undue attention, criticism and shame to her traditional Chinese family who owns a shop in Chinatown.

Ruby is full of teenage angst and rebellion and tries to strike out on her own to make money to run away before her Ba returns back from China and marries her off in order to quell the criticism of her previous actions. She meets and befriends Hollywood Actress Anna May Wong, typecast in stereotypical roles due to her "exotic" background. Ruby learns the hard way that the world does not favor her culture, and sees her as a pawn that can be played with.

I did not find Ruby likeable, which made it hard for me to sympathize with how she treated others in certain scenes. I also did not like the revenge scene, I thought it was tacky and unbelievable.

For a short novel, it does have powerful messages and wraps up quickly and a little bit too neat for my taste. But I enjoyed reading about this time in Hollywood through the lens of an outsider.

[H.R.H. Carpathia]

Ruby is in trouble. How? Her parents have found out about her dating a white boy and now wish to protect the family reputation by arranging a marriage for her. Ruby happens to meet Anna May Wong, a movie star who has only had small roles due to her being Chinese. These two form a friendship and Ruby seeks a way to escape the matchmaker.

I thought Ba was rather mean to his daughter. I understand the concern for scandal, but he had such a strong reaction. I guess it is realistic though. A lot happens to Ruby over the course of the story which does not span too much time. As far as main characters go, I prefer mine to be a bit…smarter. Ruby makes some silly choices, but since she is so young, I’ll excuse it because she very much behaves like a teen stereotype. I guess I just did not like her as a character since rebel teens are just not my favorite. Sorry, Ruby.

Anna May is a real person and an interesting character. How she wants to open her own studio for Chinese people, by Chinese people is after my own heart. So, I found myself cheering for her. However, I am glad the writer chose to introduce the Wong family through a fictional character’s eyes. I find this format works better than using real people at the center of the story. It gives it a layer of respect.
James was rather boring. The narrator did a good job, but I did not care for her male voices. It distracted me.
Russel. Who cares about Russel? I disliked him from the word go.
The revenge part is weird too.
The best characters are Ma, Mr. Lo and Anna May.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to LibraryThing & Lerner Books for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

From the eye-catching cover to the last page, this book kept me turning the pages. I enjoy young adult novels, especially ones that explore a culture different from mine. And this one took place in the 1920s, so the combination of coming-of-age, historical fiction, and second-generation Chinese teens made this an appealing read.

Author Jennie Liu explains how she was inspired to write about Ruby Chan, a “fictional second-generation Chinese girl walking a line between traditional Chinese patriarchal values of obedience and American ideals of individualism and quality. The 1920s was a dramatic period of social change and unrest, and in the Los Angeles of the early twenties, Hollywood was the global center of the rising silent movie industry.”

With Hollywood as a backdrop to Ruby’s personal story, Liu includes real-life film star Anna May Wong in the novel. The teenage actress, who befriends Ruby, helps her to explore becoming independent and self-reliant without resorting to marrying a Chinese husband through a matchmaker set up by her parents.

I appreciated learning about life and the issues Chinese teens in the 1920s had to deal with, such as Ruby’s secret relationship with a forbidden white boy, developing her business skills at her father’s shop, and her struggles working at an upscale department store. The novel also vividly describes the racism as well as sexism of the time, which makes this a book to add to every high school student’s reading list.

This is a realistic portrayal of friendship, coming of age, women’s independence, and family relationships in Los Angeles’ Chinatown of the 1920s.

[Kassidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to read The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu in exchange for a review. #TheRedCartoHollywood #NetGalley

Ruby Chan is not your ordinary Chinese American girl, she is determined to make a named for herself and her family. One major things gets in her way and that is Ruby’s relationship with a white boy is discovered by her community’s church leader. To cover up her act, the family must pay and enlist in the help of a Chinese Matchmaker. Ruby’s father even goes as far as not allowing her to work in her family’s antique store which she loves. Her Ba makes a plan to leave to not only find her a husband, but also goods for their store. Ruby has four months to either find a husband on her own or find another way out. As a Chinese American woman in the 1920s her options are limited. Will she join the movies and play scandalous roles like her friend Anna May or will she find another way to make a named for herself.

Liu crafts a pivotal piece about the discriminating treatment that Chinese Americans women experienced during the 1920s on and off the screen

[Agd]

3.30.25. second half 8+. 1 brief sx scene. Sx assault attempt. Very little lng. No vio.

1924 LA.

American-born Chinese Ruby (16) is facing a tough future. Her parents recently discovered she has been dating the son of a prominent wealthy White family. Or she was until the relationship came to an abrupt end. Embarrassed, her parents have called in a matchmaker who could arrange a marriage to a guy in San Fransisco. Or even back in China. Fortunately, Ruby's father already had plans to travel to China to purchase more goods for their Chinese antiques shop, so the matching process is on hold for 4 months. Ruby sees this as an opportunity to take control of her own life. She wants to get a job, help the store, work her connection to famous Chinese actress Anna May Wong, and maybe find her own romantic connection. But almost nothing goes as planned, and the clock is ticking until Ruby's dad returns.

Like the afterward context about being female of Chinese descent on west coast in 1920s. Immigration Act of 1924 established quotas to limit immigration from China. Anna May Wong. Small population of Asian females torn between traditional families and individualism of USA.

[Natalie T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing, meticulously researched YA novel set in 1924 Los Angeles focuses on American-born Ruby Chan, whose adventurous spirit and independent thinking clash with her immigrant parents' notions of proper conduct for their 16-year-old daughter. Los Angeles is booming with development from the movie industry, and Ruby wants to make the most of her opportunities--but her freedom ends when her parents discover she has been "seeing" a white boy. That's a scandal that shames her family and ruins her local marriage prospects, so her parents desperately seek a match, any match, as soon as possible. But Ruby doesn't want to be sent to China to marry a stranger. How can she thwart the plans and live her own life?

A compelling story with interesting characters and little-known history: I was shocked to learn in the author's notes that there were so few Chinese-American teenage girls in 1920s Los Angeles: the 1920 census "counted just twenty-nine girls between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, out of 2,951 Chinese residents." No wonder Ruby is lonely and isolated, and viewed as "exotic" by men of all ages.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chinese community of 1924 Los Angeles is small and close-knit, so even the hint of scandal can ruin a girl's reputation. Teenager Ruby Chan finds herself in this predicament after her relationship with a white boy is found out. Her dad and other community elders are pressuring her to agree to an arranged marriage. Ruby would rather work in her parents' shop, helping to promote and sell Chinese antiques and cultural items. When she meets film star Anna May Wong, Ruby finds a friend and confidant.

The two teens examine the roles they've taken on and those forced upon them by society--both white society and their Chinese community. The satisfying story and well-paced plot take center stage, but the reader will learn a lot about roles of women and Chinese-Americans during this time period. Being typecast wasn't just encountered by actors. The ending was pleasing, and fit the 1924 time period, but would also be a solid ending in 2026. The backdrop of 1924 Hollywood and interesting details about the early film industry were fascinating.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby Chan lives in LA's Chinatown in the 1920's. After a disastrous relationship with a white boy, her family is shamed and basically blackmailed into paying an enormous sum of money. Her father is furious and will no longer let her help in their shop that sells Chinese goods but forces her to quit school and focus on domestic arts in preparation for immediate marriage. She ends up meeting Anna May Wong, the movie actress, in the course of events.

This is a great historical fiction story which encompasses a few important topics: Asian hate and the prejudices stereotypes that have infiltrated our society because of them; Anna May Wong and her important role in Hollywood history; family relationships, etc.
CW: racism

[Drew Paluch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like there wasn't really a climax to the story. The character experienced discrimination and other obstacles throughout the book but it felt very flat to me. The ending wasn't anything spectacular either. I will admit that this was the first book I've ever read that focuses on discrimination against the Chinese/ Chinese American population but I was a little disappointed! I feel like the author could've dug a little deeper. But I felt bad for the main character. She wanted to be free and to live life how she wanted to but was almost forced to do what her traditional parents wanted her to do. I'm glad there was a happy ending though.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ ve read biographical books about the Chinese American film star, Anna May Wong. Adding her as a character in The Red Car to Hollywood makes for a good story, especially because she appears as a role-model for the sixteen-year-old fictional character, Ruby Chan.
I appreciated reading about a Chinese American girl who lives in two cultures and I how she is learning to navigate life on her own terms.
This slim volume with the attractive book cover,using art deco font, will entice readers to enter 1920s Hollywood. Now I want to read more books by this author.

[D Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a real eye opener to me not realizing the racism that Chinese and many other people of different ethnic backgrounds faced not just back in the 1920's but now! I loved this book for the stories of friendships and the love stories. I look forward to reading more books by Jennie Liu in the future!

[Heidi Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a Chinese-American teen in the 1920s living in LA. The book shows the struggles with inter-racial relationships, the expectations of her traditional family vs her American view of life as a second generation Chinese-American, and a coming of age experience for Ruby, the main character. It’s a great book, that I very much enjoyed. I’m excited to book talk it to students.

Content warning: there is an assault by a man in power over Ruby.

[A.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lot packed into this novel. A story about friendship, the role of women, and what it means to fight for your own independence within societal restrictions. The time period, too - I learned so much about Chinese American life in early LA Chinatown, and Anna Mae Wong is a new historical hero for me. Impressive combination of story and history in this easily digestible book.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading stories about Old Hollywood and I thought having Anna May Wong as a side character was a really fun addition to this. I liked all the historical details about LA's Chinatown and filmmaking. I did feel like Ruby might be a slightly anachronistically modern girl but you know what, good for her.

[Kelly Roll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby Chan is a highly engaging protagonist and I enjoyed reading about he rlife in 1920s Los Angeles including someof the struggles she faced both racilly and within he rown family. I also loved Anna May Wong as a secondary character. Recommended for people looking for both the plce and the time in which the novle is set.

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jennie Liu for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Red Car to Hollywood. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love historical fiction and Asian stories. I thought the characters were interesting. I would check out other books by this author.

[Shannon Hitchcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of book—rich in historical detail and a peek into a culture I don’t know a lot about. Women have always suffered unwanted male advances, but women of color even more so. The author sensitively handles this aspect of the book. Without giving away too much of the plot, I will say I found the ending believable and satisfying. I will be thinking about Ruby Chan for a long time.

[Caitie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For such a short book, it really packs a punch with how much it covers: sexual violence and racism all in 1920s Los Angeles. I liked Ruby as a main character, she felt honest and didn’t want to be stereotyped. Highly recommend this one.

[Paula]

Loved this story and the narration. Ruby is a typical American teenager with the bonus of having a gift for business. Holding her back are her very traditional Chinese parents and the rampant racism and sexism of the 1920s. Actress Anna May Wong plays a supporting role!

[Staci Vought · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kept me intrigued & was nicely paced. Sometimes I felt like the MC was too narrowly fleshed out and the scope of what we knew about her was too small, which made it repetitive at times. It was an aspect of history that I appreciated understanding on a more personal level.

[Hannah Ayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded

I enjoyed this book, but it really wasn’t what I was hoping for. It was an interesting snapshot of a young Chinese-American’s life in the 1920s which I appreciated, but I also thought we were going to see more of Hollywood of this era.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable historical fiction novel set in 1920s Los Angeles. I loved getting to know Anna May Wong and I had to spend time scrolling through the internet looking at photos, movie clips, and articles. Enjoyed the teen angst and clash of cultures.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel tells a fictionalized tale of the real Hollywood actress Anna May Wong. Through the eyes of protagonist Ruby, the story explores the racism that Chinese Americans faced during the Chinese Exclusion Act. A quick read that history lovers will certainly enjoy.

[Sue Hagedorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story using the treatment of Asian Americans as its theme. She wrote it in an easy to understand manner.

[Emery Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars. A beautiful story of inventing yourself under the pressure of family and cultural pressure. A great book for a quiet weekend.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading about an unique perspective that I’m usually missing in typical books. I wish for the ending though that there was a little bit more, or perhaps an epilogue.