Tales from Gold Mountain

by Paul Yee, Simon Ng (Illustrations)

Eight original stories give readers a sense of the hardships faced by the first Chinese-Americans. In "Spirits of the Railway," a young man appeases the ghosts of dead railroad workers who were never properly buried. In "Forbidden Fruit," a father's prejudice keeps his daughter from marrying her beloved. Dramatic illustrations accompany the stories. "The brief, pithy tales strikingly reflect traditional Chinese beliefs and customs in New World circumstances. . . . A book not to miss."-- Booklist Starred Review

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Paul Yee never planned to be an author but got published in 1983 and followed up with over twenty books in his area of obsession: Chinese immigrants to North America. He wrote mostly for young readers, from picture books to Young Adult fiction, as well as histories for everyone. His university degrees in history, plus working as an archivist, plunged him into researching the past. His work has been translated into French and Chinese, and used in animated films as well as stage plays. Born in small-town prairie Canada, he grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, but Toronto tempted him away from that west coast paradise in 1988.

Reviews

[E]

These eight clever and playful stories illuminate the lives and experiences of Chinese immigrant families to Canada. Turning the stories into myth-like fable emphasizes and enshrines the importance of their experience while making it more universal than particular to one person.

I wish there was a second set continuing further into the 20th century.

[Kerri (Book Hoarder)]

Many people are unaware of the prejudice and tribulations that Chinese immigrants faced when they came to Canada.

This book is beautiful, with gorgeous illustrations - I still (hopefully) have a copy of it somewhere at home, given to me as a gift when I was younger. The book was my first introduction to the lives of the Chinese in Canada, and the place they forged here. Pictures and story meld together in a fascinating combination, and I reread this book several times. There's everything from ghosts to romance, and it's a good way to supplement education on the segregation and racism that Chinese immigrants dealt with.

[Claire]

I used to read this aloud to the fourth grade, it was a consistent favorite. These tales are of the Chinese who came to Gold Mountain (California) during the gold rush. An anthology of poignant, shocking, gross, vengeful, funny stories that display the Chinese immigrant story in many, many iterations and viewpoints. A number of the stories are truly unforgettable.

[David]

It's so awesome to read stories of the Chinese experience in AMerica. Though these stories are from the first immigration to work on the railroads, there are others about merchants at the beginnings of the China Town.

[Amanda]

I was not a huge fan, but I think it was because of the complete and total lack of any sort of rebellion and acceptance of the horrible treatment. Surely, Chinese American's weren't as happy about the prejudices and abuse they received from outside and even from within their own people.

[Kim]

Original stories with folktale feel.

[Clivemichael]

Entertaining tales with enigmatic pictures.