Spring Pearl: The Last Flower

Girls of Many Lands

by Laurence Yep, Kazuhiko Sano (Illustrator)

After the deaths of her parents, 12-year-old Chou Spring Pearl is taken into the home of her father's wealthy benefactor. Unlike most Cantonese girls, Spring Pearl has learned to read and write, but she must now learn a new skill-how to survive in Master Sung's hostile household. While the Second Opium War rages in the streets and harbor of Canton, Spring Pearl faces battles of her own.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Middle Grade, China, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2003

About the author

Born June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. He was in his own words his neighborhood's "all-purpose Asian" and did not feel he had a culture of his own. Joanne Ryder, a children's book author, and Yep met and became friends during college while she was his editor. They later married and now live in San Francisco.

Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had actually been thinking that it would be good if American Girl published books about historical girls in other countries, because I learned much more American history than world history when I was in school. Well, just wait long enough, and large successful company will introduce related products ...

This book was pretty good. I've recently re-read some of the original American Girl books, and found them frustratingly short (to be fair, they were written for kids, not adults). This "Girls of Many Lands" is for slightly older readers because the characters are 12 instead of 9. I had heard of the Opium Wars and gunboat diplomacy before, but it had never quite sunk in that Britain had attacked China to force them to trade with them. Or to force China to accept British opium. I also was intrigued to read that girls in China in the 1850s wore trousers instead of skirts.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Set in Canton, 1857, the story features 12 year old Spring Pearl. Orphaned after the death of her mother, Pearl is taken in by her father's wealthy friend, Master Sung. Unlike most girls of this time, Pearl's mother and father believed in teaching her how to read and write, skills that aid her in adjusting to life with the privileged Sung family.

Laurence Yep does a wonderful job of creating an exciting story, touching on Canton life, political intrigue, and invasion by the British and French during the Second Opium War. It is steeped in Chinese tradition and proverbs.

[Rlygirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful and well written adventure about a sweet Chinese girl who becomes orphaned. Spring Pearl goes to live with a family friend, and has to try to fit in with the well-off Sung family and their haughty daughters and overconfident teenage boy. Then trouble strikes and Spring Pearl uses her street sense and wit to show that she is brave, refined, and strong spirited. I enjoyed this read, especially how quickly the plot moved, and the beautiful descriptions/imagery of Chinese culture and fashion.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been interested in this era of Chinese history since high school and think that Yep dod a good job of setting the seen, though sometimes it sounds over-explained. The ending was a bit vague.

[Joyce Xiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

LIFE GOAL: Meet Doggy's granny.

The first parts aren't really interesting. Some scenes are overly detailed, but it certainly pays off at the end :)

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took place in China during the Opium Wars, which is a topic I studied in one of my college classes. I thought I had retained nothing from that class, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I recognized many of the events that were going on during that time. Having a preexisting connection to this book made the material much easier to digest.

Spring Pearl as a character was just okay. I wanted to roll my eyes at her a lot. She's pretty much perfect at everything (except for sewing, I guess?) and not a chapter goes by in which she isn't impressing someone with her wit and bravery. Really, if I didn't know she was supposed to be twelve years old, I would've thought she was much older. That seems to be a trend with many of the protagonists in this series, I'm finding.

One thing I enjoyed about this book (although I'm not sure if it was historically accurate) was that all the characters, regardless of sex, age, etc. were granted quite a bit of freedom of speech. Usually in children's historical fiction (especially GOML), everyone is quaking in fear that they will do or say something that is out of line, and then be punished severely by an authority figure. There were definitely standards to aspire to in this book, but overall it was refreshing that Spring Pearl could actually speak her mind without being penalized.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about the Opium Wars from this book--something never mentioned in any of my studies about China when I was in school. Never underestimate a juvenile novel. What I especially like about this series of books is the section in the back which has photos and tells the reader about things from the time the book was set--clothing, traditions, etc.

[Autumn Maisy Raquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really want to read this one it looks good hope it's not sad or has a disease I cannot take books like those they make me hurt

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Pearl is my favorite so far in this series. Laurence Yep's prose is vivid in description, yet efficient at showing historical context and making it interesting. I especially enjoyed the characters, and seeing how Pearl had to carefully navigate the drastic changes in her life. Mistress Sung unexpectedly became an intriguing personality in her own right.

There is a good balance of history and entertainment here, and a bit more maturity to the character writing than in the others I have read of this series.

[Jocelyn Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read over a short shift at work. I’m taking a break from the classic Pleasant Company/American Girl and moving onto this very interesting series they did aimed at older readers.

This was a nice little read that reminded me a lot of a novel I read a few years ago called “Spring Moon”. That book is a much more adult read of this period in history. I enjoyed this, but it lacks the depth and feeling of the classic series’. That is understandable though as this is just a single book.

[Diane Eskridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoyed the characters and the details of this well told story, especially the main characters. it is a nice quick read, with a rich dose of cultural and historical education in spite of the fact that it's fiction.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think, unless the last 3 books really wow me, that this is my favourite GOML book. I loved Spring Pearl's character. The story was riveting. The history was fascinating. I loved that it covered a mature subject so well.

[Danae Mckain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and think it would be good for my classroom. Students can get to know a little about Chinese culture while also connecting to a strong female role model who doesn’t give up and does hard things.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful historical fiction, but it felt like almost nothing happened directly to the character(there was a lot of danger around her, but not much threat to her). But it was enjoyable, and I really liked the characters.

[Samantha]

read to gauge content level and it was very insightful for a middle grade (? lol) book.
I imagine after reading this, kids will want more books from this same period in history. would be great combined with a book about William Carey or the China Inland Mission.

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!I love the strong female character!

[Maria Smallwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read with a lot of educational information of Chinese culture.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Chris Gonzalez]

I adored this book

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated—PG (my personal opinion based on content)

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way i was OBSESSED with this book

[Katie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as lovely as I expected it to be. I love China.

[Anna Palaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for young girls wanting to learn about history and other places. Easy to read, Yep simplifies a war I order to make the story flow and easy to read

[Abrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put 4 stars because it was sad

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book, I wish I had actually read it when I was younger, found it in my room back home.

[vy (laufey’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

damn i forgot how entertaining these books would be. if i’d read this in elementary school, i probably would’ve given it a higher rating because the writing structure felt too info-dumpy and annoying for me

[sjisoul]

I only read this book because I saw it in my school library and I needed to read it for a project. But it was great, the main character was very humble of her own knowledge.

[nimrodiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old Chou Spring Pearl's life is in upheaval. Recently orphaned, she is taken in by the family of her scholarly father's friend and benefactor Master Sung. Raised in a bamboo hut located in the "rat's nest' poorer neighborhood of Canton Spring Pearl has been raised in an unorthodox manner for girls of her time. The daughter of a scholar who was known for his paintings she knows how to read , and write, and can speak some English, due to her father's business with British and other foreigners before they were pushed out of the city, but does not know how to sew, embroider, or play music. Spring Pearl's home was humble compared to the home of the Sung family and her foster sister's and the servants tease her about her humble beginnings.

However, during her time in the Sung household, Spring Pearl finds herself slowly being accepted as a part of the family. Her dedication to reviving the fading garden in the compound and her honor and loyalty to Master Sung show her to Mistress Sung in a more favorable light than that of the "leech" the mistress had thought of her when she first came into the household. Caught in a place where she isn't a servant, but also isn't one of the wealthy family, Spring Pearl fights to find her place in the household she has become a part of. When Master Sung is arrested for treason, and the French and British attack Canton again will Spring Pearl be able to use her talents and knowledge to help the family that took her in to stay safe and keep their home during the turmoil?

Spring Pearl the Last Flower is one of the Girls of Many Lands book series produced by the American Girls company between 2002 and 2005. This line of books and dolls was aimed at older girls and spanned several countries and time periods. I picked this book up from bookmooch to add to the books I was leaving at a little free library near the school I student taught at last spring. However, I hung onto the book to read because I thought it looked interesting and was written by the author of Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate which I read years ago when my younger sister cleared out her book collection prior to a move and had enjoyed very much. I found this book to be an interesting one that takes place at the start of the second Opium War in China. Spring Pearl is a positive strong heroine and would be a good role model for any tween. The book itself might be a little hard at times to read, there is a lot of historical detail included, and Spring Pearl's behavior is not what a modern reader might expect.

I wish that this line of books and dolls hadn't been so short lived. I love the range of countries and ethnicities included in the series. While this book looks at China in the late 1850's other books introduced Tudor England (1592), 18th century France (Pre Revolution), Yup'ik Alaska (1890), and Partition era India (1939).

As an adult reader I found this book to be fairly easy and informative historical fiction reading. I think it would be great for middle school aged readers with an interest in historical fiction.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book Spring Pearl The Last Flower by Laurence Yep. The story is about a girl named Spring Pearl who lives in Canton, China. When her parents die, she goes off to live with her father’s scholar friend, Master Sung. Master Sung’s family is very wealthy and Spring Pearl's was not. At first, it was hard for Spring Pearl to fit in with her new sisters, Miss Emerald, Miss Willow, and Miss Oriole. Her brother, Blessing was nicer to her and they played lots of games of cards. Master Sung was also kind to Spring Pearl, but Mistress Sung was very cruel and made Spring Pearl work very hard to earn her keep. Meanwhile, outside the house’s walls, a war was going on in China against the Chinese and the Europeans. Master Sung got captured and thrown into jail. Spring Pearl and her partner and friend, Doggy, use their lower-class knowledge and skills to help and protect the Sung family. Finally, the family looks at Spring Pearl in a new light, respect her and value her ideas. I think that Spring Pearl and Matilda have a lot in common. They both have parents and family who treat them like they are worthless and not loved. Spring Pearl has the Sung family especially Mistress Sung. Matilda has her parents, Mr. and Mrs. wormwood. Also, they both don’t let the meanness get to them and they stay strong and both prove that as Matilda says, “Even if you're little, you can do a lot.” So even though Spring Pearl is not high born like the Sung's, she is just as good as them and is capable of doing big things.

[Dominique Aguilera · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my mom's best friends gave this book series to me way back when I was probably 11, when she learned from my mom that I loved to read. As I began reading this one, it got a little boring to me - not as intriguing as Leyla The Black Tulip - so I stopped. Recently, years later, I picked it up again, and, while it was still just a little boring in some parts, I made it through. I'm kind of glad I didn't continue to read this at a younger age, because all this talk about the foreigners and war would've been more confusing then.
It was a little weird reading their names translated in English, but I figure that was done so young readers wouldn't have trouble pronouncing their names in Chinese.
It's a bit of a sad story, but there's plenty of hope spots in it, especially towards the end. I'm also glad that Spring Pearl and Doggy didn't happen to fall in love with each other, like I was kind of predicting would happen.