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Gold Mountain
Working on the Transcontinental Railroad promises a fortune—for those who survive.
Growing up in 1860s China, Tam Ling Fan has lived a life of comfort. Her father is wealthy enough to provide for his family but unconventional enough to spare Ling Fan from the debilitating foot-binding required of most well-off girls. But Ling Fan’s life is upended when her brother dies of influenza and their father is imprisoned under false accusations. Hoping to earn the money that will secure her father’s release, Ling Fan disguises herself as a boy and takes her brother’s contract to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company in America.
Life on “the Gold Mountain” is grueling and dangerous. To build the railroad that will connect the west coast to the east, Ling Fan and other Chinese laborers lay track and blast tunnels through the treacherous peaks of the Sierra Nevada, facing cave-ins, avalanches, and blizzards—along with hostility from white Americans.
When someone threatens to expose Ling Fan’s secret, she must take an even greater risk to save what’s left of her family . . . and to escape the Gold Mountain alive.
Growing up in 1860s China, Tam Ling Fan has lived a life of comfort. Her father is wealthy enough to provide for his family but unconventional enough to spare Ling Fan from the debilitating foot-binding required of most well-off girls. But Ling Fan’s life is upended when her brother dies of influenza and their father is imprisoned under false accusations. Hoping to earn the money that will secure her father’s release, Ling Fan disguises herself as a boy and takes her brother’s contract to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company in America.
Life on “the Gold Mountain” is grueling and dangerous. To build the railroad that will connect the west coast to the east, Ling Fan and other Chinese laborers lay track and blast tunnels through the treacherous peaks of the Sierra Nevada, facing cave-ins, avalanches, and blizzards—along with hostility from white Americans.
When someone threatens to expose Ling Fan’s secret, she must take an even greater risk to save what’s left of her family . . . and to escape the Gold Mountain alive.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
21 people are currently reading
4199 people want to read
About the author
Betty G. Yee
1 book21 followersBetty G. Yee was born and raised in Massachusetts. She spent much of her early life reimagining her favorite stories or writing sequels to them.
Betty has been an elementary school teacher for over twenty years. When she's not teaching or writing, she enjoys traveling, bike riding, eating french fries and immersing herself in the words and worlds of other writers. She lives with her two bossy cats, Zara and Piper.
Her stories can be found in The Drum Literary Magazine, Hunger Mountain, Frost Fire Worlds, and RAZ Kids. She is the recipient of SCBWIs 2011 Multi-Cultural Works-In-Progress Grant. Gold Mountain is her first novel.
Betty is represented by Emily S. Keyes of Fuse Literary.
Betty has been an elementary school teacher for over twenty years. When she's not teaching or writing, she enjoys traveling, bike riding, eating french fries and immersing herself in the words and worlds of other writers. She lives with her two bossy cats, Zara and Piper.
Her stories can be found in The Drum Literary Magazine, Hunger Mountain, Frost Fire Worlds, and RAZ Kids. She is the recipient of SCBWIs 2011 Multi-Cultural Works-In-Progress Grant. Gold Mountain is her first novel.
Betty is represented by Emily S. Keyes of Fuse Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 20, 2022
This is a wonderful story of resilience, perseverance, strength and family devotion. I was gripped from the first page and couldn’t put this book down. Ling is a strong female character who goes to unimaginable lengths to save her family. The book is beautifully written and tells a heartbreaking story of a chapter in America’s history that I had not known much about. I am looking forward to future books by Betty Yee!
January 9, 2022
I found myself immersed in the world of Ling, first in China and then America in the 1860s, from the very first page. Betty Yee writes with an accessible, descriptive prose perfect for a YA novel. Readers will find themselves both connecting to the character's common human experiences and marveling at the strength and difficult choices Ling faces as she works on the Transcontinental Railroad. Yee handles topics of discrimination and challenge with a perfectly balanced hand. We see the ways that Chinese workers were treated as "less than" at every turn. We also meet allies and people who push back on this discrimination. This book is perfect for middle grade and young adult readers who wish to truly understand this important time period, the choices facing immigrants, and the individual stories that lend humanity to studying history.
December 28, 2021
A remarkable historical fiction. Loved the suspense right up to the end. Learned to much about the building of the railroad in the western US and how the Chinese were involved in that process. Can’t wait to share with my students!
March 17, 2022
I've always enjoyed stories about girls dressing up as boys to go on adventures, and the stakes couldn't be higher as Tam Ling Fan pretends to be her brother in order to save her father from an unfair prison sentence. She heads to the US to make her fortune, which she plans to use to bribe guards in exchange for her father's freedom.
The Transcontinental Railroad work is not only difficult and dangerous, but there is also sabotage afoot as others scheme for their own reasons. This is a gripping and fast-paced read, and I was rooting for brave and fierce Ling Fan all the way. I also really enjoyed this peek into a part of US history that is often erased or minimized. Thanks so much Betty for the ARC!
The Transcontinental Railroad work is not only difficult and dangerous, but there is also sabotage afoot as others scheme for their own reasons. This is a gripping and fast-paced read, and I was rooting for brave and fierce Ling Fan all the way. I also really enjoyed this peek into a part of US history that is often erased or minimized. Thanks so much Betty for the ARC!
April 15, 2022
First, I would like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Gold Mountain.
I absolutely loved reading this historical fiction YA story set in China and California in 1867 when the Transcontinental Railroad was being built. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and Gold Mountain did not disappoint. The author weaves important and interesting historical context into a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. What I loved most was the main characters innate goodness, which didn’t fade even as the challenges she faced multiplied. I found myself routing for her with each page turn.
The plot synopsis from NetGalley is below:
In 1867 Fifteen-year-old Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as her twin brother, journeys from her village in China to California, and works as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad—where she faces danger on multiple fronts—to earn the money her family desperately needs.
The plot was gripping and kept me hooked. I stayed on edge with these questions running through my mind: Would she live or die? Would she return to her home with the money she needed for her family? Would the inhuman treatment she endured on the transcontinental railroad break her?
The writing was just what a YA should be. I felt close to the main character, as though I was sitting right next to her. The writing style was active and engaging.
The characters were relatable and fleshed out. Not one of them was one dimensional and all were multi-faceted and fleshed out. Even for the villains there were motivations and struggles behind them ‘going bad’.
I really enjoyed this novel, and recommend you buy it when released in April 2022!
I absolutely loved reading this historical fiction YA story set in China and California in 1867 when the Transcontinental Railroad was being built. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and Gold Mountain did not disappoint. The author weaves important and interesting historical context into a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. What I loved most was the main characters innate goodness, which didn’t fade even as the challenges she faced multiplied. I found myself routing for her with each page turn.
The plot synopsis from NetGalley is below:
In 1867 Fifteen-year-old Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as her twin brother, journeys from her village in China to California, and works as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad—where she faces danger on multiple fronts—to earn the money her family desperately needs.
The plot was gripping and kept me hooked. I stayed on edge with these questions running through my mind: Would she live or die? Would she return to her home with the money she needed for her family? Would the inhuman treatment she endured on the transcontinental railroad break her?
The writing was just what a YA should be. I felt close to the main character, as though I was sitting right next to her. The writing style was active and engaging.
The characters were relatable and fleshed out. Not one of them was one dimensional and all were multi-faceted and fleshed out. Even for the villains there were motivations and struggles behind them ‘going bad’.
I really enjoyed this novel, and recommend you buy it when released in April 2022!
December 17, 2021
I was instantly immersed every time I opened this book. Betty Yee’s descriptions, writing, and details were wonderfully evocative. The story takes place in China and America during the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. There were more than ten thousand Chinese sojourners that worked to complete the railroad, yet little is known about them. In the Author’s Note, Yee says that she wrote the book because she wanted to tell the story of one of these nameless workers.
Yee chose the story of a fictional girl, Tam Ling Fan, who disguises herself as her dead brother so she can use his railroad contract to sail to America and make enough money to free her imprisoned father. It is a dangerous quest for a girl who is naively idealistic and loyal to a fault. And there was plenty of life-threatening scenarios and plot twists that kept me turning pages. But it was Tam Ling Fan’s inner conflicts—which she writes as messages for her dead brother and then burns to send them up to him—that were so poignant. Over and over I related to her struggles of reconciling her inner self with her outer one. It’s something we all confront on a daily basis, and I came away feeling as if Yee brought me new insight into it.
Yee chose the story of a fictional girl, Tam Ling Fan, who disguises herself as her dead brother so she can use his railroad contract to sail to America and make enough money to free her imprisoned father. It is a dangerous quest for a girl who is naively idealistic and loyal to a fault. And there was plenty of life-threatening scenarios and plot twists that kept me turning pages. But it was Tam Ling Fan’s inner conflicts—which she writes as messages for her dead brother and then burns to send them up to him—that were so poignant. Over and over I related to her struggles of reconciling her inner self with her outer one. It’s something we all confront on a daily basis, and I came away feeling as if Yee brought me new insight into it.
January 28, 2022
I loved this book!! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and Gold Mountain did not disappoint.
The plot was really fantastic, and it had me hooked from the beginning. It was full of historical information that I found very interesting. The characters were well fleshed out and relatable.
I feel like this is an important book to read. We don’t talk enough about exploitation of the Chinese railroad works. I loved this book and will be purchasing the physical copy.
The plot was really fantastic, and it had me hooked from the beginning. It was full of historical information that I found very interesting. The characters were well fleshed out and relatable.
I feel like this is an important book to read. We don’t talk enough about exploitation of the Chinese railroad works. I loved this book and will be purchasing the physical copy.
January 11, 2022
Gold Mountain by Betty G. Yee is a riveting tale of survival and a masterful work of historical fiction for young adults. Readers are transported to the mid-19th century amidst the cultural animosity and racism directed towards the Chinese sojourners who helped build the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. Disguised as her deceased older brother, Tam Ling Fan leaves her provincial home in China to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company in America. She endures the rigors of intense physical labor, treachery, and deceit as she perseveres to earn enough money and return safely to her family in China. Well-researched and readily accessible, this debut novel will shine a light on an important part of history that doesn't get much in-depth coverage. Highly recommended.
January 20, 2022
Wonderfully written, fast paced story. I feel like the topic of Chinese laborers is not discussed often enough in our present time so it was nice to read a book that sheds light on this topic. Very interesting story, highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
March 4, 2022
Betty Yee’s gripping story, set against the backdrop of the buidling of the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s, is absolutely stunning. The story follows fifteen-year-old Tam Ling Fan who, after her twin brother’s death and her father’s imprisonment, disguises herself as her brother in order to journey from China to California. There, still in disguise as a boy, she joins other laborers to lay railroad track through the Sierra Nevada. Up against treacherous conditions and racial hostility, Ling Fan fights to get the money she needs to secure her father’s release. I absolutely loved Ling Fan - she is a determined, resilient character who I was instantly rooting for. I was completely immersed in the rich historical setting, and the engrossing plot kept me eagerly turning the pages late into the night. Highly recommend this book, especially for lovers of well-researched historical fiction with beautifully layered heroines you instantly love.
December 15, 2024
When Tam Ling Fan's dad is put in prison in China, she decides to disguise herself as a young male and go to the United States to help build the transcontinental railroad to earn money to release him. Can she keep her secret from others? Will there be anyone she can trust, perhaps Wong Wei or Tan Lin who she meets on the ship ride over? What about the Americans who call them coolies, will anyone of them turn out to be friends? Building the rail is dangerous work. Will she be able to earn enough? What lengths will she go to speed up the process? And what will happen if and when she returns to China?
February 18, 2022
There is a special kind of disappointment when an author has a wonderful idea for a book but is simply not good at writing in a technical sense. Gold Mountain, Betty G. Yee’s young adult historical novel about a Chinese girl working as a “coolie” for the Central Pacific Railroad should have been great. At first blush it promises so much—a story about a “lesser known” demographic in a “lesser known” time period. The potential for excellence screams in 500-point neon font. And at a personal level, Gold Mountain is right in my area of interest, as exploring the complex truth behind Manifest Destiny propaganda is one of my particular armchair historian sub-specialties. I read the jacket copy and hoped desperately for a readalike to Stacey Lee’s
Under a Painted Sky
and/or C Pam Zhang’s
How Much of These Hills Is Gold,
two excellent “pioneer” books about Chinese immigrants, not to mention two of my favorite books in general.
Alas, alack, etc. My hopes were for naught, my expectations were unfulfilled. Within a few chapters, it became imminently clear that no matter how promising her premise, Yee simply does not have the writing chops to tell this story as it deserves to be told. As I continued to read, I was forced to conclude that Gold Mountain is a progressively worsening object lesson in how to utterly neglect the fundamentals of effective fiction writing.
Think of the elements that a successful novel needs. Prose that is clear and coherent yet stylized enough to gesture toward the vibes/aesthetic the author wishes to evoke. Fully-developed, three-dimensional characters whose goals and inner processes are understood by readers. Detailed and specific world-building. Realistic conflict that is appropriate to the characters and setting and which does not constantly remind the audience that there’s a puppeteer tugging strings behind the curtain. Convincing dialogue, character growth, the presence of an authorial vision and/or purpose. Y’know, all the stuff they teach you in creative writing programs.
In my opinion, Gold Mountain has approximately none of the above-listed elements.
This book’s most critical failure is that it isn’t meaningfully grounded in the historical period and culture Yee chose to write in. World-building is necessary for all genres of fiction, but it’s particularly important when the story takes place in “another world.” That may be the world of small, furry-footed travelers unexpectedly tasked with defeating a primeval villain; or it may be the world of an upper-class Han Chinese girl who finds herself pretending to be a boy in order to work as one of the thousands of exploited Chinese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad.
Although I fully credit that Yee did a great deal of research prior to writing Ling Fan’s story, the author’s knowledge base is not presented on the page. In her depiction of 18th century China and Chinese-American immigrants, there are no cultural, geographic, or historic touchstones presented. There are generic references to foot binding and the Taiping Rebellion, but even those are surface-level only. Yee does not mention—much less delve into—the ethnic and economic tensions present in Late Qing China which drove so many to perform backbreaking labor across the Pacific. She does not discuss the concepts of family honor and filial piety, ideals that should have been at the forefront of Ling Fan’s motivation throughout the text. In the latter portions of the text, the topics of both the treatment of Native Americans by white colonizers and the impact of the opium trade (not to mention white Europeans’ role in it) are not dealt with thoughtful nuance. Yes, this is a young adult book and not a 1,000 page historical epic, but clearly if Stacey Lee can do it, it can be done.
The second glaring issue with Gold Mountain is that Yee does not adequately develop her any of her characters—particularly her protagonist, Ling Fan. The book is written in superficial third-person narration that describes Ling Fan’s actions and her in-the-moment decision making, but doesn’t examine who Ling Fan is as a person or what her strengths, weaknesses, and flaws are. She is a name on the page, but not a fully-realized person.
Yee’s lack of depth in characterization is accentuated by the structure of her narrative. The plot of Gold Mountain happens to Ling Fan, and her choices are always a reaction to another character's. Ling Fan has no agency of her own, and, indeed, she appears to wait around for another character to arrive on-scene and do something—as if she’s constantly waiting for a cue from her stage director. And since the reader doesn’t have a strong grasp on Ling Fan’s personality, she ultimately looks foolish, naïve, and weak. Bad guy after bad guy after bad guy takes advantage of her, she never seems to learn to look out for herself, and she never shows an ounce of intuition or forethought.
Betty G. Yee clearly wants this to be a book about a girl taking charge of her own life, but she doesn’t appear to comprehend that in order to make that narrative believable, she has to write and present her story in a particular way. The way you frame events matters.
I could go on, but in general, Gold Mountain lacks a cohesive conflict and vision. The plot is choppy and awkward, the focus is blurry, and the author’s attempts to “educate” about history are clumsy and underdeveloped. Ling Fan inhabits the book like an afterthought rather than standing out as the star. Yee’s writing is unpolished and stylistically inferior.
Writing is hard. It’s skill that can be learned, but it’s also a talent that some people simply do not possess. I don’t know why, but the fact is that Betty G. Yee does not have the chops to pull this book off. I tend to write one-star reviews only when I encounter books whose theoretical framework or message I find to be objectionable, but this is the rare case where the premise is fine, but the execution is so poor that nothing can be redeemed for me. Gold Mountain deserves to be better than it is.
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Alas, alack, etc. My hopes were for naught, my expectations were unfulfilled. Within a few chapters, it became imminently clear that no matter how promising her premise, Yee simply does not have the writing chops to tell this story as it deserves to be told. As I continued to read, I was forced to conclude that Gold Mountain is a progressively worsening object lesson in how to utterly neglect the fundamentals of effective fiction writing.
Think of the elements that a successful novel needs. Prose that is clear and coherent yet stylized enough to gesture toward the vibes/aesthetic the author wishes to evoke. Fully-developed, three-dimensional characters whose goals and inner processes are understood by readers. Detailed and specific world-building. Realistic conflict that is appropriate to the characters and setting and which does not constantly remind the audience that there’s a puppeteer tugging strings behind the curtain. Convincing dialogue, character growth, the presence of an authorial vision and/or purpose. Y’know, all the stuff they teach you in creative writing programs.
In my opinion, Gold Mountain has approximately none of the above-listed elements.
This book’s most critical failure is that it isn’t meaningfully grounded in the historical period and culture Yee chose to write in. World-building is necessary for all genres of fiction, but it’s particularly important when the story takes place in “another world.” That may be the world of small, furry-footed travelers unexpectedly tasked with defeating a primeval villain; or it may be the world of an upper-class Han Chinese girl who finds herself pretending to be a boy in order to work as one of the thousands of exploited Chinese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad.
Although I fully credit that Yee did a great deal of research prior to writing Ling Fan’s story, the author’s knowledge base is not presented on the page. In her depiction of 18th century China and Chinese-American immigrants, there are no cultural, geographic, or historic touchstones presented. There are generic references to foot binding and the Taiping Rebellion, but even those are surface-level only. Yee does not mention—much less delve into—the ethnic and economic tensions present in Late Qing China which drove so many to perform backbreaking labor across the Pacific. She does not discuss the concepts of family honor and filial piety, ideals that should have been at the forefront of Ling Fan’s motivation throughout the text. In the latter portions of the text, the topics of both the treatment of Native Americans by white colonizers and the impact of the opium trade (not to mention white Europeans’ role in it) are not dealt with thoughtful nuance. Yes, this is a young adult book and not a 1,000 page historical epic, but clearly if Stacey Lee can do it, it can be done.
The second glaring issue with Gold Mountain is that Yee does not adequately develop her any of her characters—particularly her protagonist, Ling Fan. The book is written in superficial third-person narration that describes Ling Fan’s actions and her in-the-moment decision making, but doesn’t examine who Ling Fan is as a person or what her strengths, weaknesses, and flaws are. She is a name on the page, but not a fully-realized person.
Yee’s lack of depth in characterization is accentuated by the structure of her narrative. The plot of Gold Mountain happens to Ling Fan, and her choices are always a reaction to another character's. Ling Fan has no agency of her own, and, indeed, she appears to wait around for another character to arrive on-scene and do something—as if she’s constantly waiting for a cue from her stage director. And since the reader doesn’t have a strong grasp on Ling Fan’s personality, she ultimately looks foolish, naïve, and weak. Bad guy after bad guy after bad guy takes advantage of her, she never seems to learn to look out for herself, and she never shows an ounce of intuition or forethought.
Betty G. Yee clearly wants this to be a book about a girl taking charge of her own life, but she doesn’t appear to comprehend that in order to make that narrative believable, she has to write and present her story in a particular way. The way you frame events matters.
I could go on, but in general, Gold Mountain lacks a cohesive conflict and vision. The plot is choppy and awkward, the focus is blurry, and the author’s attempts to “educate” about history are clumsy and underdeveloped. Ling Fan inhabits the book like an afterthought rather than standing out as the star. Yee’s writing is unpolished and stylistically inferior.
Writing is hard. It’s skill that can be learned, but it’s also a talent that some people simply do not possess. I don’t know why, but the fact is that Betty G. Yee does not have the chops to pull this book off. I tend to write one-star reviews only when I encounter books whose theoretical framework or message I find to be objectionable, but this is the rare case where the premise is fine, but the execution is so poor that nothing can be redeemed for me. Gold Mountain deserves to be better than it is.
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December 29, 2021
A solid YA piece of historical fiction- it reminded me a lot of How Much of These Hills is Gold. I love expanding my library with historical fiction pieces that aren’t just about WW2, which is the majority of what YA historical fiction seems to be about. Different time periods, different perspectives, all of these contribute to a more well-rounded library. Yee’s book will definitely be making it to our shelves.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
December 8, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are so many layers in it. After Ling's brother passes away from influenza, she disguises herself as him as she was always raised like a boy. She takes his contract to work in the railroads in America to make money for her family to free her Baba from jail. Ling's one goal is to make money. But as she makes friends along the way her situation becomes complicated. There are layers of racism and injustices in hard labor work that affects Ling's morale. She has a bit of a villain, selfish arc part way through which I appreciated because it made her reflect a lot on her values and made me root for her more. There is so much history in this story that I was not aware of and was so interested to learn more.
Something I wished we got more of was her struggle adapting to the hard labor. She had an existential crisis realizing that she is a woman who has never done hard labor or rough work before compared to her peers. Then when she gets to work, other than some aches she seems to magically fit in.
Something I wished we got more of was her struggle adapting to the hard labor. She had an existential crisis realizing that she is a woman who has never done hard labor or rough work before compared to her peers. Then when she gets to work, other than some aches she seems to magically fit in.
March 1, 2022
This was a really exciting read with a perspective that I don't think I've read before in historical fiction! I knew a lot of the facts about the transcontinental railroad and the Chinese immigrants who worked on the Central Pacific side, but this added a really interesting narrative element and got me thinking more on the individual and day-to-day level rather than the big-picture level. Based on a few things that happened in the first third of the book, I was worried that it was going to be very predictable, and while all of the things I'd predicted at that point came to pass, so did many other things that I didn't see coming.
CW: racism, sexism, rape threats made against a minor, deaths (including sibling and past parental deaths), incarcerated parent, injuries, drug use and dealing (opium)
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CW: racism, sexism, rape threats made against a minor, deaths (including sibling and past parental deaths), incarcerated parent, injuries, drug use and dealing (opium)
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2022
Gold Mountain provides us with a glimpse of the lives of Chinese laborers who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860's through the eyes of Tam Ling Fan. Following her brother's death, Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as her brother and takes his railroad contract to America, marking the beginning of her journey to earn enough money to secure her father's freedom.
While the plot of Gold Mountain is slightly predictable, Gold Mountain hit all the right notes for me, being a fast-paced YA historical novel with a fierce female protagonist. Don't let the YA label fool you -- I learned so much about the Transcontinental Railroad from Gold Mountain, such as how two railroad companies, the Central Pacific Railroad Company and the Union Pacific Railroad Company, were pitted against each other in the race to finish first. More importantly, I learned about the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on the lives of Chinese laborers and indigenous peoples. I think it's safe to say that Gold Mountain is a must-read YA new release.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, Carolrhoda Lab ®, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While the plot of Gold Mountain is slightly predictable, Gold Mountain hit all the right notes for me, being a fast-paced YA historical novel with a fierce female protagonist. Don't let the YA label fool you -- I learned so much about the Transcontinental Railroad from Gold Mountain, such as how two railroad companies, the Central Pacific Railroad Company and the Union Pacific Railroad Company, were pitted against each other in the race to finish first. More importantly, I learned about the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on the lives of Chinese laborers and indigenous peoples. I think it's safe to say that Gold Mountain is a must-read YA new release.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, Carolrhoda Lab ®, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2022
This gripping YA Historical Fiction debut from Betty G. Yee will keep you turning pages.
Tam Ling Fan takes on her dead brother's identity as well as his contract for work on the Transcontinental Railroad in Sierra Nevada. Her mission is to raise the money to free her dissident father from prison back home in Guangzhou.
Yee deals with complex issues like the meaning of breaking gender norms in an era where foot binding was still de rigueur for the upper classes. The nuances of racism play a role as well. In Sierra Nevada, Chinese immigrant workers are brutally harassed by the whites and put in grave danger, blasting through mountains which shade the home territories of native tribes who have been driven from their homes.
Yee's fluid language and powerful pacing along with her attention to historic detail drive this story of adventure and resilience. Tam Ling Fan is a memorable heroine with valor and chutzpah in droves.
Highly recommended!
Tam Ling Fan takes on her dead brother's identity as well as his contract for work on the Transcontinental Railroad in Sierra Nevada. Her mission is to raise the money to free her dissident father from prison back home in Guangzhou.
Yee deals with complex issues like the meaning of breaking gender norms in an era where foot binding was still de rigueur for the upper classes. The nuances of racism play a role as well. In Sierra Nevada, Chinese immigrant workers are brutally harassed by the whites and put in grave danger, blasting through mountains which shade the home territories of native tribes who have been driven from their homes.
Yee's fluid language and powerful pacing along with her attention to historic detail drive this story of adventure and resilience. Tam Ling Fan is a memorable heroine with valor and chutzpah in droves.
Highly recommended!
April 7, 2022
I hope all the historical fiction fans will rush to read this book!
It's about the Gold Rush, but a part of the story you might not have heard. Let's just say it's an explosive story.
I loved Ling Fan! ❤ Her strength of spirit and character reminds me of She Who Became the Sun (but probably because I read it recently). She reminds me of what I love about the Mulan story (Disney or otherwise). Ling Fan is the best type of main character - smart, brave, strong - who saves herself! No knight in shining armor required, thank you!
"Out here on the Gold Mountain you have to clean up your own mess." (232)
It's about the Gold Rush, but a part of the story you might not have heard. Let's just say it's an explosive story.
I loved Ling Fan! ❤ Her strength of spirit and character reminds me of She Who Became the Sun (but probably because I read it recently). She reminds me of what I love about the Mulan story (Disney or otherwise). Ling Fan is the best type of main character - smart, brave, strong - who saves herself! No knight in shining armor required, thank you!
"Out here on the Gold Mountain you have to clean up your own mess." (232)
May 14, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoy finding historical fiction books that are set in times and places that aren’t frequently covered in the genre (cough WWII cough ). This book is about a Chinese girl who dresses as her brother to take his contract to work on building the railroad in the late 1800’s. It was pretty good overall but it could have been better.
March 25, 2022
This book was somewhat short but full of so much action. Ling Fan was a very likable character, and her motives are very reasonable and human. While it was a little bit disappointing that there wasn’t any romance, it’s also a good thing because Ling Fan is an independent woman and didn’t fall in love with any of the men she was surrounded by. The author did a lot of research on the Transcontinental Railroad, even researching how the Native Americans were oppressed by this railroad and created a character to sympathize for them. Ling Fan was a very sympathetic person, often trying to find validity into why the antagonist was doing certain things.
March 7, 2022
Ling Fan faces a mountain of obstacles - her brother is dead, her father in prison and she is about to be married off to take care of the family. She decides to run instead pretending to be her brother and travels to America to take her brother's work contract building the railroad. Hiding the fact that she is a woman she makes a few friends but feels like she can't trust many people there. Soon it becomes clear that only by taking the dangerous jobs will she make enough to free her father. When accidents begin to happen and it is clear that the railroad company isn't afraid to let a few Chinamen die to finish first in the rail race, Ling Fan takes action. Terrific historical fiction that will appeal to older middle school readers, young adults and adults alike. This is yet another example of how immigrants were treated unfairly yet contributed greatly to this country. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
March 1, 2022
This was a solid historical fiction YA book. Some things are a little too convenient for our protagonist, the story ties up every thread a little too nicely, but I was transported during the action and enjoy the historical context and obvious research that went into this book. I grew up in California so my knowledge of this era and these events is probably better than the average reader, but I still learned a lot and appreciated the attempt at including the struggles of Indigenous people during this time of "progress." I would certainly recommend this for any precocious young reader who loves historical fiction; it's a wonderful introduction to a lot of topics, and might ignite some further learning.
June 24, 2022
Betty Yee's MG historical fiction, Gold Mountain (Carolrhoda Lab 2022), is a delight. 1800s China is rough and corrupt with the rule of law more a dream than reality. Tam Ling Fan's twin brother received a lucrative contract to build America's transcontinental railroad. When he dies, Ling Fan assumes his identify so she can earn the money needed to free her father from prison for a crime he didn't commit. Her father raised her to be freer than most other women--without foot binding, educated and able to speak English--so she manages to carry of the trickery. When she arrives in California, she finds the life of a railroad worker is demanding and dirty with long hours and little rest. She is afraid to make friends for fear they will uncover her deceit so she keeps to herself, just working hard and saving her money.
The heart of the story is as much how she stops at nothing to earn the money necessary to free her father as it is about how that changes her inside and out. She meets Americans, a culture she'd never before been exposed to, gets caught amidst the opium trade among the Chinese workers, and along the way, must decide how much to compromise her morals for the worthy goal of freeing her father. I applauded her energy, exulted in her cleverness, but hoped the hunt for money wouldn’t ruin her deepest self. To find out if that happens, you'll have to read the book!
This is well suited to expose students to a time in history most know little about. Thank you to the author and her publisher for the complimentary read.
--Though the book was complimentary, the opinions are my own and share my true attitudes.
The heart of the story is as much how she stops at nothing to earn the money necessary to free her father as it is about how that changes her inside and out. She meets Americans, a culture she'd never before been exposed to, gets caught amidst the opium trade among the Chinese workers, and along the way, must decide how much to compromise her morals for the worthy goal of freeing her father. I applauded her energy, exulted in her cleverness, but hoped the hunt for money wouldn’t ruin her deepest self. To find out if that happens, you'll have to read the book!
This is well suited to expose students to a time in history most know little about. Thank you to the author and her publisher for the complimentary read.
--Though the book was complimentary, the opinions are my own and share my true attitudes.
April 16, 2022
This felt like the best History Channel mini docu-drama ever and reminded me of another one of my favorite books "The Night Tiger". Our hero/heroine had a Mulan feel to her, the desire to save her father from prison and preserve the family honor chief among her driving influences. But we also get that view into Chinese society and family structure, the persistent gender roles, the arranged marriages, the binding of feet as a statement of beauty and even privilege; compared to the early history of America where the only thing that drives men is money and woe to any who get in their way. Its an important story and puts faces to the people who achieved so much while suffering just as much to feed their families. This is the kind of book that makes you want to dive into the actual history and learn even more. I only wish the art department had lived up to the task because this cover is just sad for such an amazing story.
April 30, 2022
An excellent example of historical fiction built on what limited research is available. What the author creates is a very fast read, but definitely not lacking in depth. Tam Ling Fan is a gutsy female protagonist who faces her fears when confronted with a nearly impossible choice: marry a boy she doesn't like, who will sell her late brother's railroad pass to pay gambling debts, or leave the only place she's ever known and disguise herself as a male in order to come to California in hopes of earning enough money to free her father from prison. In doing so, she not only learns just how resilient she is, she makes friends and helps uncover the people behind the acts of sabotage that are aimed at slowing the completion of the railroad. It's a very easy book to visualize as you read it. This is a great choice for any library where historical fiction is important.
May 10, 2022
I loved how immersive this book was, and the writing was so beautiful. Every day I looked forward to dipping into the story and following these characters' lives. There were quite a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming toward the end of the book, which I loved. It was a great journey to a satisfying ending. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!
April 26, 2022
I've read my fair share of transcontinental railroad books and this one definitely rises to the top in terms of the perspective that it shares and the writing. If you're interested in a counter-narrative to the American history you learned or read about as a kid, I would recommend this one!
January 20, 2022
Ling's story, heartbreaking and hopeful, should feel familiar to the reader as it reads a bit like the story of Mulan, and I have to assume that the author was inspired by the Ballad of Mulan and it's message of feminine strength and familial responsibility. I very much appreciate the parallels between Ling's choice to go off to Gold Mountain and Mulan's decision that lead her to Black Mountain, both fighting against stereotypical misogyny and gender roles in extreme circumstances in order to save their respective fathers.
I didn't expect this to be a retelling of any sort, rather than a historical fiction, but the reinterpretation of the folk story was a really clever and fresh way to approach the terrible exploitation of Chinese railroad workers in the 1800s, especially in a YA application.
I didn't expect this to be a retelling of any sort, rather than a historical fiction, but the reinterpretation of the folk story was a really clever and fresh way to approach the terrible exploitation of Chinese railroad workers in the 1800s, especially in a YA application.
February 9, 2024
SOOOOOO boring
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