The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest

by Kelli Estes

Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2015

About the author

Kelli Estes is the USA Today bestselling author of SMOKE ON THE WIND, coming June 2025. Her first novel, THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK has been translated into twelve languages and was the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association Nancy Pearl Book Award and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Star Award (Debut). Her second novel TODAY WE GO HOME was the nationwide Target Book Club pick for September 2019. Known for dual-timeline stories that show how history is still relevant to our lives today, Kelli is passionate about learning all she can about people and events that shaped our world. Kelli lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons. Find Kelli on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.kelliestes.com.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historical context is important and well understood throughout the story line. The romance angle is a bit predictable and insipid.

[Sunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Story

It's an interesting story about how Chinese people were ill treated in the late 1800's in th USA.

A love story spanning the ages from the late 1800 to present times. It depicts the hatred of Chinese people in Washington and pther places in the USA. The story intertwines two families through an embroidered silk robe. The robe tells the story of one Chinese women who survived the drowning of hundreds of Chinese, her marriage to a white man and the raising of their son.








A love story spanning generations, a Chinese women marrying a white man, the raising of their son, the drowning murder of hundreds of Chinese, all embroidered on a blue silk robe. The story tells of the hatred towards Chinese in the late 1800 through current times. The present day love affair joins two people who look back and cannot keep the drownings secret anymore The author does a good job in developing the storyline which is based on truth.






the story is a love

[Frank Settineri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a novel based on historical events should be. Kelli Estes masterfully wove the past into the present, providing a poignant insight into the discrimination and horror that Chinese immigrants faced in the 1880s. I was unaware of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 when Chinese Americans were forced to leave their homes in the US and sent back to China - or worse - due to the hatred that existed. Although some parallels can be made to today's immigration policies, there exists a huge exception in which the present day deportation focuses on aliens who illegally entered our country. The term "illegal" indicates that a law has already been broken and those who broke it know the day would eventually arrive when they were exposed and sent back to their home country. I feel some sympathy for them, nevertheless they undermine the rights of immigrants who came to this country legally. And that is a paramount distinction between the past and the present.

[Joyce Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. The historical detail is exquisite. The author has managed to mix history with the magic of fiction and create a book that had me staying up at night and neglecting my day time chores so I could keep reading. I wanted to know how things ended between Inara and her father, Inara and Daniel and most of all between Mei Lien and Joseph. A beautifully written book that I never wanted to end.

[Suzie Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself wasn’t terrible but the writing wasn’t terrificc. The present day story was definitely weaker and too conveniently coincidental All the characters were too either all good , all bad, or background noise.
Also, after reading the authors note, it kind of seems an odd choice how she handled the ships fate.

[Mscheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history

Very good story about the prejudice against the Chinese in the late 1800's mixed with a story about a girl trying to keep her family's ancestral home on Orcas Island, Washington.

[Amy Koerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and recommend to everyone. Is a fiction book about 2 girls and how a embroidered sleeve twined these 2 together, though decades apart. It does have true Chinese history about immigrants back in the late 1800's added into the story.

[Kay Abell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating history

While I hated what was done to the people who once inhabited this place, I loved the outcome and the pieces of the story as they all came together . A great read.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chinese history

This book is very well written and made me aware of a situation that I was not aware. Highly recommend

[Eydieginn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book and learning about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that I was totally unaware of!

[Tina Gaskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that make you sad when it ends. I loved it.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story very interesting but it was too drawn out. It also felt incomplete and a rushed ending.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

PNW HISTORY

Based in Orcas Island and Seattle this book includes some of the history of the Chinese in the area. Excellent.

[Mekiah Muramoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. Another historical fiction novel I couldn’t put down. I loved how seamlessly it wove together the past and the present. It was absolutely heart-wrenching. I loved the characters and the character development. The island setting in Washington was everything!! I want to live there. Thanks grandma for the recommendation!!