Fire Scar: The Untold Story of the 1887 Burning of San Jose’s Chinatown

by Lily Lee, Lily Tan

A successful young woman, a motherless ten-year-old girl, a shared trauma separated by over a century. Jessica and Jasmine are united by a nearly identical scar. As Jessica searches for clues about the past, including untold truths about her own family history, she uncovers unspeakable acts of violence that shaped the lives of early Chinese American immigrants, culminating in a brutal act of arson that threatened to destroy their dream of inclusion. With passion, heart, and unflinching candor, Lily K. Lee explores the actual circumstances of the 1887 fire that decimated San Jose’s Chinatown against the backdrop of decades of tragedy, loss, and courageous resilience. (Expanded Edition)

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2021